Class 




M^'UmM 



HISTOKY 



O F 



ANCIENT WOODBUEY, 

CONNECTICUT, 



FROM 



THE FIRST INDIAN DEED IN 1659 TO 1854, 



INCLUDING THE 






By WILLIAM COTHREN. 



" In the silent greenwood glade, 
In the dim old forest shade, 

By the gliding river, 
Are historic voices ringing. 
Music on the soft breeze Hinging, 

And they haunt me ever. 
I love them well, for they to me 
Are as some pleasant memory." 



WATERBURY, CONN.: 
PUBLISHED BY BRONSON BEOTHEES. 

1854. 






Entered according to Ace of Congi'ess, in the year 1854, bv 

WILLIAM COTHREN, 
in the Clei-k's Office of the District Court of Connecticut. 



PRESS OF CASE, TIFFANT AND COMPANY, HARTFORD, CT. 



^ 



PREFACE. 



To a casual conversation with a stranger, a few years since, the 
public is indebted for the following pages. They are not the result 
of hasty examination, or crude investigation, but have consumed the 
hours that could be spared from the incessant demands of a most 
laborious profession, for nearly seven years ; and, during all that 
time, have greatly encroached on the hours that should have been 
devoted to sleep. The labor of compilation was not undertaken for 
the want of other occupation ; but because, after a little examination, 
the historical incidents of the town were found to be of so important 
and interesting a character, I felt unwilling to see them irretrievably 
lost to the world. Nor did I undertake it with the hope of acquir- 
ing " filthy lucre," being fully assured, that such labors are never 
suitably rewarded — not even appreciated, by the thoughtless many. 
Notwithstanding this, labors not to be understood, except by those 
who have been engaged in similar undertakings, have been cheer- 
fully borne. More than fifteen hundred manuscript volumes of ec- 
clesiastical, ministerial, state, probate, town, and society records, and 
many thousands of old manuscripts, of all sorts, have been carefully 
examined, and the facts contained therein relating to the history of 
the town, collated. Every source of information has been laid under 
contribution, from the archives of the state, to the forgotten files of 
old papers in the neglected garret of the private citizen. 

When this work was commenced, if one had asserted that twenty 
pages could be written concerning the history of the town, he would 



IV PREFACE. 

have been greeted with the smile of incredulity. Yet the materials 
have grown on my hands, till a large work has been produced, and 
it would have been far easier to have written several additional 
volumes, than to have compressed the materials in hand within the 
present limits. It has been said by a worthy friend, that he, who 
can write a good town history, is well fitted to write an excellent 
book on any other subject. Whether this assertion be strictly cor- 
rect or not, it is certain that such an individual is well fitted for any 
kind of hard labor ! 

The difliculty attending an enterprise of this nature, is greatly 
increased by the apathy and indifference manifested by many indi- 
viduals, of whom information is solicited. And the same persons, 
who neglect or refuse to give information, are the first to comjilain 
of the errors or incompleteness of a work, when published. But 
amid the many discouragements of this kind, it becomes a pleasant 
duty to mention, in this place, the names of a few of the numerous 
friends, whose kindly sympathies and intelligent aid have cheered 
me on in these difficult and painful labors. But for these, it is prob- 
able, that continued iU health, and the pressure of other duties, 
would have caused the abandonment of the work, however much I 
might have regretted the stern necessity. 

To my fellow-townsman, and professional brother, Hon, Charles 
B. Phelps, who has been long a resident of the town, I have been 
indebted for many suggestions in the progress of the work, and for 
valuable assistance in the biographical part, in addition to his sketch 
of St. Paul's Church. 

Hon. Seth P. Beers, of Litchfield, Conn., and Dr. Avery J. Skil- 
ton, of Troy, N. Y., have very essentially aided me in the genealog- 
ical chapter. 

To Charles C Thompson, Israel Minor, and Augustin Averill, 
Esqrs., of the city of New York, I am under great obhgations for 
their active cooperation with me, in various ways, in accomphshing 
the objects of the publication. 

Gen. Daniel B. Brinsmade, of Washington, Conn., and Joseph A. 



PREFACE. V 

vScovill, Esq., of New York, have greatly assisted me by well-timed 
labors. 

In the genealogical and biographical portions of the work, I have 
received indispensable assistance from Mitchell S. Mitchell, Esq., 
William E. Curtis, Esq., Col. John Lorimer Graham, Robert M. 
C. Graham, Esq., and Alexander Eraser, Esq., of New York ; the 
venerable Roger Sherman, of New Haven, Conn.; Col. Henry Stod- 
dard, of Dayton, Ohio ; Hon. Amasa Parker, of Delhi, N. Y, ; Dr. 
E. T. Foote, of New Haven ; Rev. Samuel Fuller, D. D., of Ando- 
ver, Mass.; Rev. Wm. S. Porter, of New Haven, Conn.; Heniy H. 
Martin, Esq., of Albany, N. Y.; Hon. Henry Dutton, of New Ha- 
ven ; Rev. Fosdick Harrison, Rev. A. B. Chapin, D. D., of Glas- 
tenbury, Conn.; William Moody, Esq., of Washington, Conn.; Rev. 
Grove L. Brownell, of Sharon, Conn.; Eliphalet Whittlesey, Esq., 
of Salisbury, Conn.; Rev. William T. Bacon, Hon. Thomas BuU, 
and Garwood H. Atwood, M. D., of this town ; Dr. Laurens Hull, of 
Angelica, N. Y., and others, too numerous to mention. Many ladies, , 
also, entered into the spirit of the work, and lent me their valuable 
assistance. 

To my friends, Philo M. Trowbridge, Willis A. Strong and David 
S. Bull, who have proved themselves " friends in need" to me, and 
true lovers of their native town, I am under more than ordinary obli- 
gations for the continued and indispensable aid they have alforded 
me, during the entire progress of the work. 

In regard to the spelhng of Indian names, entire uniformity has 
not been attempted. As a general rule, however, the orthography 
of Capt. John Minor, the early settler and Indian interpreter, has 
been followed. Christian names have been spelled in the mode 
adopted by those who bear them. Throughout the work, tradition 
has been discarded, and fjxcts introduced in its stead. Where state- 
ments were well authenticated, they have been stated without quali- 
fication ; but where there has been any doubt, they have been intro- 
duced with some qualifying term. Whatever suited my purpose in 
any author, has been taken, without hesitation, giving credit where 



VI PREFACE. 

the amount appropriated seemed to warrant it. In discussing every 
question, entire impartiality lias been the aim of the author. 

The utmost pains has been taken to have the work free from 
errors ; but in a book of this nature entire accuracy is not to be 
expected. Errors will doubtless be discovered by careful antiquari- 
ans, but it is believed that it will be found as free from such defects, 
as it is possible for painful solicitude and indomitable labor to make 
it. Many persons, undoubtedly, will take up the work, and, glancing 
hastily and carelessly over its pages, pronounce this or that state- 
ment erroneous, without consideration or investigation. Such read- 
ers will invariably be wrong in their criticisms, while a careful 
reader may detect mistakes.^ 

A town history gives an author very little scope for the display of 
any literary or artistic ability he may possess. I have given myself 
still less opportunity than usual for any display of this sort. For 
although the collection of the facts has occupied my leisure time for 
nearly seven years, yet the composition of the work has occupied 
only seventy-five days, with frequent interruptions from professional 
business. Notwithstanding this, in submitting the following pages 
to a candid and intelligent public, the author neither courts nor dep- 
recates criticism. He has only to say, that whoever will follow in 
his footsteps, and present to the public a work with fewer imperfec- 
tions than he has done, a feat which can probably be accomplished, 
will deserve and receive, not the criticisms, but the encomiums of 
the writer. 

Woodbury, January 2, 1854. 



1 Persons discovering errors in tliis volume, are respectfully requested to commu- 
nicate them to the author. 



CONTENTS. 



Introduction, and map of Indian purchases, 



CHAPTER I.— PHYSICAL HISTORY 



Situation, boundaries and rivers, . 11 

Orenaug, Bethel and Castle Rocks, 12 

Geology — Trap formation, . . 12 

Bacon's Pond; Quanopau"; Falls, . 13 

Nonnowaug Falls ; Steep Rock, . 14 



Mines and minerals, . . 14, 16 

Mine Hill — Spathic iron ore, . 15-19 
Chalybeate springs, ". . . 19 
Squaw Rock ; fruits ; trees ; wild ani- 
mals, .... 19, 20 



CHAPTER H.— HISTORY OF THE.INDIAN PURCHASES. 



Tautannimo's deed. 

First, or Pomperaug purchase, 

Yohcomge's deed, . 

Cheabrooke's deed, 

Wesunck's deed, 

Second, or Shepaug purchase, 

Pootatuck purchase. 



21 Third, or Quassapaug pu^'chase, . 26 

22 i Fourtji, or Nonnewaug purchase, . 27 

23 , Fifth, or Kettletown purchase, . . 28 

24 Sixthj or Confirmatory purchase, . 29 

25 Promiseck purchase, . . . .31 
25 South puishase, .... 31 
31 



CHAPTER HI.— CIVIL HISTORY. 

Church dissensions at Stratford, . 82 | Pomperaug granted, . . .35 

Causes the settlement of Woodbury, 32 Mr. Walkei-'s church removes, . . 35 

Rev. Mr. Walker begins to preach, . 33 Good Hill prayer, .... 36 

Three hours allowed him each Sabbath, 33 The old " White Oak," . . .36 

Mr. Walker excluded the church, . 33 Location of the settlers, ... 37 

Main Street the old Indian trail, . 38 Fundamental articles, . . .39 

Division of lands, . . . . 41 1 Reflections, 42 



CHAPTER IV.— CIVIL HISTORY, CONTINUED. 



Woodbury incorporated, . . 44 

Signification of its name, . . .44 

Paugussett Ferry, .... 45 

King Philip's War, . . . .46 

The people driven to Stratford, . 47 

Advice of the General Court, . . 48 

Woodbury patent, .... 65 

Parson Walker's letter, . . .48 



Inhabitants ordered back, . . .51 
Rev. Z. Walker moves his family, . 51 
General Court establishes town boun- 
daries, .... 52-64 
Town first represented, ... 54 
Representatives' salary, . . .54 
North pmxhasa granted, . . 56 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER v.— CIVIL HISTORY, CONTINUED. 



Character of Capt. John Minor, . 58 

Character of Capt. WiUiam Curtiss, 60 

Life of Hon. Samuel Slierman, . CO 

Life of Lt. Joseph Jndsou, Senior, . 61 

Life of John Judson, ... 61 



Character of Lt. Israel Curtiss, . . 61 

Character of Col. Joseph Minor, . 62 

Character of Hackaliah Preston, . 62 

Character of Hon. Williara Preston, 62 



CHAPTER VL 

List of early settlers, 1082, 

Divisions of land. 

Home-lots of the early settlers, 

Palisaded houses. 

Old Parsonage house, 

First, second and third mills, 

First meeting-house. 

The drum for a church bell. 

First marriage, birth and death. 

First wheehyright, 

First clothier, .... 

Town brand ; roads, . 

Fh"st physicians, 

Localities, .... 



—CIVIL HISTORY, CONTINUED. 



Buckskin clothing, 

Wooden shoes, .... 

Matters of etiquette. 

Advent of Sir P^dmund Andross, 

List of inhabitants of 1702, 

First blacksmith. 

First divorce, .... 

Bachelors' accommodations. 

Fortifications, 

Parson Stoddard kills two Indians, 

Indians restrained, . 

List of inhabitants of 1712, 

Wood Creek expedition, 

Reflections, 



75 
75 
76 
76 

77 
78 
78 
78 
78 
79 
79 
80 
80 
80 



CHAPTER VIL— INDIAN HISTORY. 



Formation of ti-ibes, 
Oppression of tlie Mohawks, 
Pomperaug's burial-place, 
Succession of chiefs, . 
Nonnewaug's grave. 
Human sacrifices. 
Legend of Bethel Rock, 
Legend of Squaw Rock, 
Legend of Nonnewaug Falls, 
Numbers of the Pootatuclis, 
List of principal Pootatucks, 
Watchibrok's disclosure, . 
The belt of wampum, 
Shepaug garrison. 



Caleb Martin's petition, . 


99 


Lt. Warner's petition. 


. 99 


Indian treaty. 


99 


Indian orchard at Pootatuck, 


. 100 


Petition of Hatchet Tousey, . 


101 


Mowehu's petition. 


. 103 


Life of Weraumaug, 


105 


Mr. Boardman's prajing-match. 


. 106 


Scatacook clan. 


106 


Moravian missionaries, 


. 107 


Last sale at Pootatuck, . 


107 


Last Pootatuck Indian, 


. 108 


Remnants of the red men, 


108 


Remarks, . . . 


. 110 



CHAPTER Vm.— ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 



113 



115 



Half-way covenant system, . 
Church at Stratfox'd divide on this 
question, .... 
Chauncey and Wallcer correspond- 
ence, .... 115-130 
Mr. Walker ordained, . . . 131 
Church covenant, . . . 132 

Second chiirch moves to Woodbury, 133 
Walker and Reed story, . . 133 



Life of Rev. Mr. Walker, . . 134 

Settlement of Rev. Mr. Stoddard, 135 

" Build him an house," . . 136 

Mr. Stoddard ordained, . . . 137 

Prosperity of the church, . . 137 

Second meeting-house, . . . 139 

New Style, 139 

Life of Mr. Stoddard, . . . 140 

Review of ninety years, . . 142 



CHAPTER IX.— CIVIL HISTORY, CONTINUED FROM CHAPTER VL 



Land divisions, . - • 145-147 

Education, 148 

Apple-trees and cider mills, . 148 

Seasons of great mortality, . . 148 

Northern Liglitj, .... 149 

HubbeU's Ferry, .... 150 

Hmman's Feny, .... 150 

Bridge built by Washington, . . 150 



Burial grounds sequestei'ed, . 151 

Ministerial lands 152 

Eflbrts to form county of Woodbuiy, 153 

Mine Hill, 155 

Wolves and wild-cats, . . . 155 

" Town House" repaired, . . 156 

Casualties, 156 

Ancient iron kettle, ... 167 



CONTENTS. 



Model tea-party, 
Ruloof Butcher's estate, 
Umbrellas, calico, witchcraft, 
List of original proprietors, . 



157 I Expedition to Havaniia, . . . 163 

158 , The French Neutrals, ... 163 
158 French and Indian Wars, . . 166-170 

161; 



CHAPTER X.— REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY. 



Cause of the war, . • • 172 

Convention of 1766, . . . 173 

Town meeting of 1774, . • 174 

" Great Boston Alarm," . . • 175 

Town accepts American league, . 176 

Continental articles of association, . 177 

Capture of Ticondcroga, . . 182 

Tories — Committee of Observation, 184 

Rev. Mr. Marshall suspected, . 184 

Dr. Wheeler " must have salt," . 186 

Committee of inspection appointed, 187 

Copy of Tory complaint, . . 188 

Enlistment bounties, . . . 189 

Council of safety, . . . .190 

Life of Daniel Sherman, . . 190 

Soldiers' wives provided for, . . 191 

Supplies furnished by the town, 192 

Events of 1775, .... 194 

List of companies, .... 195 

Events of 1776, .... 195 

All the militia go to New York, . 196 

The eight sailor prisoners, . . 197 

Rethle'iu vohiuteers, . . .197 



Woodbury census. 

Sugar-house prisoners. 

Col. Ethan Alien taken prisoner. 

Alarm lists, .... 

Events of 1777, |". 

Danbury alarm, 

Draft of 1777, 

" Three years' men," 

Capt. Nathan Stoddard killed, 

Appearance of Continental armv 

Events of 1778, ..." 

Events of 1779, 

Events of 1780, . 

Abel Wakeley, 

Volunteers to take New^ York, 

Bounty for enlistments, . 

Events of 1781, 

La Fayette passes through Woodbury, 213 

Events of 1782, . . • .214 

I " The Johnsons," .... 215 
I Peace declared, . - . .215 

j General review, .... 216 



198 
199 
200 
200 
201 
201 
203 
204 
205 
205 
206 
207 
209 
209 
210 
210 
212 



CHAPTER XL— HISTORY OF SOUTHBURY AND SOUTH BRITAIN SOCI- 
ETIES, AND THE TOWN OF SOUTHBURY. 



Southbury society incorporated, 219 
Remonstrance by sixty-three persons, 219 

Society line changed, . . . 221 

First meeting-house, . . . 221 

Rev. Jolm Graham settled, ... 222 

Church " embodied," . . 224 

Character of Mr. Graham, . . 225 

Mode of church singing, . . . 226 

Rev. Benjamin Wildm'an settled, 227 

Second niorting-house, . . . 227 

Character of I\lr. Wildman, . . 228 

Rev. Elijah Wood settled, . . 230 

Rev. Daniel A. Clark settled, . 230 

Rev. Thomas L. Shipman settled, . 231 



Rev. Williams H. Whittemore settled, 231 

South Britain society incorporated, 231 

Ministerial " settlements," . . 233 

Church organized, .... 234 

Life of Rev. Dr. Tyler, . . 235 

Rev. Matthias Cazier .settled, . . 235 

Rev. Bennct Tvler, D. D., settled, 235 

Rev. Noah Smith settled, . . 336 

Rev. Amos E. Lawrence settled, . 236 

Rev. Oliver B. Butterfield settled, . 236 

List of deacons, .... 236 

Town of Southbury incorporated, . 236 

Present state of the tov\n I, . . 237 



CHAPTER Xil.— HISTORY OF BETHLEHEM SOCIETY, AND THE TOWN 

OF BETHLEM. 



North Purchase settled, . . 239 

Bethlehem society incoi-poratcd, . 240 

First meeting-house, . . . 241 

Rev. Joseph ""Bellamy, D. D., settled, 241 

Rev. Dr. Bellamy's Church History, 242 

Great sickness of 1750, . . 243 

Half-way covenant practice abolished, 244 

Old and New Lights, ... 244 

" Great Awakening," . . . 244 

Characterof first settlers, . . 247 

First currant bushes and elm trees, 248 

Second meeting-house, . . . 248 



Life of Rev. Dr. Bellamy, 
Rev. Azel Bac. js, D. D., settled, 
Origin of Sabbath schools, . 
Character of Rev. Dr. Backus, 
Rev. John Langdon settled, 
Rev. Benjamin F. Stanton settled 
Rev. Paul Couch settled. 
Rev. Aretus G. Loomis settled, 
Town of Bethlem incorporated. 
Third church built. 
Present state of the town. 



249 
253 

263 
253 
256 
256 
256 
257 
257 
257 
258 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XIII.— HISTORY OF JUDEA AND NEW PRESTON ECCLESIAS- 
TICAL SOCIETIES, AND THE TOWN OF WASHINGTON. 



Judea first settled, . . . 259 
Judea society incorporated, . . 260 
Piev. Reuben Judd settled, . . 261 
Church gathered, . . . .261 
Location of settlers, . . . 261 
First church built, . . . .261 
Eev. Daniel Brinsmade settled, . 262 
Rev. Noah Merwin settled, . . 262 
Rev. Ebenezer Porter, D. D., settled. 263 
Character of Rev. Dr. Porter, . ' 263 
Second and third churches, . . 265 
Great mortality, .... 266 
Murder of Caleb Mallory's Himily, . 266 
State of the church, . . 265, 267 
Rev. Stephen Mason settled, . 267 
Incident at church, .... 267 
Settlement of Rev. Cyras W. Gray, 267 



Rev. Gordon Hayes settled. 

New Preston society incorporated, 

First meeting-house, 

Rev. Noah Wadhams settled, . 

Location of school-houses. 

Rev. Samuel Whittlesey settled. 

Church gathered. 

Rev. Jeremiah Day settled, 

Rev. Charles A. Boardman settled. 

Rev. Robert B. Campfield, 

Rev. Benjamin B. Parsons, . 

List of deacons, 

Town of Washington incorporated. 

Rev. HoUis Read settled, 

Revolutionary incident. 

Present state of the town, 



267 
268 
269 
269 
269 
270 
270 
270 
271 
271 
271 
271 
271 
271 
272 
272 



CHAPTER XIV.— HISTORY OF ROXBURY ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY, 
AND THE TOWN OF ROXBURY. 



Shepaug settled, .... 273 

" Winter Privileges," . . . 274 

Eoxbury society incorporated, . 275 

First church built, .... 276 

Eev. Thomas Canfield settled, . 276 

Church gathered, .... 276 

Ancient ordination, . . . 277 
Mr. Canfield dies, . . . .280 



Town of Eoxbury incorporated, . 281 

Eev. Zephaniah Swift settled, . 281 

Eev. Fosdick Harrison settled, . 281 

Eev. Austin Isham settled, . . 281 

List of deacons, .... 281 

Casualties, 282 

Lt. Thomas Weller killed, . . 283 

Present state of the town, . . 283 



CHAPTER XV.— HISTORY OF THE OTHER CHURCHES BESIDE THE 
CONGREGATIONAL. 



Eeview of ecclesiastical law, . 284 

" Signing-ofi'" certificates, . . 286 

Zechariah Beers' certificate, . 286 

Episcopal church, Woodbury, . 287 
Rev. John R. Marshall, first rector, 288 

Church edifice built, . . . 289 

" Father Sherman," . . .290 

List of clergymen, . . . 291 



Episcopal church, Roxbury, . . 292 

p]piscopal church, Judea, . . 293 

Episcopal church. New Preston, . 295 

Episcopal church, Bethlem, . 297 

Baptist church, Roxbury, . . 297 

Methodist church, Woodbury, . 298 

Methodist churches, Southbury, . 299 



CHAPTER XVI. 



-ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, CONTINUED FROM 
CHAPTER VIIL 



Eev. Noah Benedict settled, . 301 

Half-way covenant practice abolished, 302 
Eev. Worthingtou Wright settled, 303 
List of deacons, .... 303 
Eev. Henry P. Strong settled, . 304 

Life of Rev. Mr. 15enedict, . . 304 



Rev. Samuel R. Andrew settled, . 305 

Character of Rev. Mr. Andrew, . 305 

Hon. Noah B. Benedict's bequest, 306 

Rev. Lucius Curtis settled, . . 306 

Ministerial fund, .... 306 



CHAPTER XVII.- 



-HISTORY OF THE STRICT CONGREGATIONAL SOCU^ 
TY IN WOODBUEY. 



Society controversies, 
Committee of 1795, . 
Committee of 1814. 



308 1 Seventy-one sign off, ... 310 

309 Meeting-house law, ... 310 

310 I Prepare to bxiild a church, . . 311 



CONTENTS 



Become a Baptist church, . . 312 

Strict Congregational sociotv incoi'- 

porated, . . '. . 312 

Reuben Walker's certificate, . 312 

Church organized, .... 313 



Rev. Grove L. Brownell s^ettled, . 314 

Rev. John Churchill settled, . . 315 

State of the church, ... 316 

Ministerial fund, .... 317 



CHAPTER XVIII.— CIVIL HISTORY, CONTINUED FROM CHAPTER IX. 



Slavery in Woodbury, . . 318 

" Rcdcmptioners" — Mattlicw Lyon. 320 

Small-pox hospital, . . ' . 321 

Town approves U. S. constitution. . 321 

Ravages of canker Avonns, . . 322 

Public libraries, .... 322 

Guernsey to\vn i-obbery, . . 323 

Funeralof Wa-^liingtoii, . . . 324 

New Milford fever." . . . 324 

War of 1812, . . . . . 325 

" Hartford Convention." . . 327 

Constitution of 18iy, . . . 328 

Daniel lUicon's town liall. . . 328 



Influence of localism, . . . 329 

New burial gi-ound laid out, . 331 

Mexican War, 331 

South academy, .... 331 
Nortli academy, .... 331 
History of Masonry, ... 331 
Bethel Rock Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., . 339 
Pomperaiig Division S. of T.. . 339 
Woodbury Bank, . . ' . .340 
Savings Bank and Building Associa- 
tion, . . . ' . . 341 
Present state of the town. . . 341 



CHAPTER XIX.— r.lOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF NATIVES AND RESI- 
DENTS OF ANCU:XT WOODBURY, WHO HAVE REMAINED IN THE 
TERRITORY. 

The names will be found in alphabetical order, 343 



CHAPTER XX.— SHORT BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF NATIVES OF 
WOODBURY, WHO HAVE EMIGRATED FROM THE ANCIENT TOWN, 
AND BECOME DISTINGUISHED IN THE PLACES OF THEIR ADOPTION. 

The names will be found in alphabetical order, 412 

Alphabetical list of distinguished persons, 466 



CHAPTER XXL— GENEALOGICAL HISTORY. 
The families, eighty-eight in number, are aiTanged in alphabetical order. 



481 



CHAPTER XXIL— STATISTICS. 



1. Members of Congress, 

2. Judges of Superior and County 

Courts, .... 

3. County Commissioners, 

4. Roll of Assistants and Senators, 

5. Justices of the Quorum, 

6. Judges and Clerks of Probate, 

7. Town Clerks, . 

8. Roll of Representatives, 

9. List of Post Masters, . 

10. Sovereigns of England, . 

11. Governors of Connecticut. 

12. Census of Woodbury, 

13. Tax Lists, .... 

14. Justices oif the Pe.ace, 

15. Members of the Constitutional 

Convention, 

16. Members of the Convention for 

ratifying the Constitution of 
the United States, 



760 



766 


IS. 


. 766 


19. 


766 




. 766 


20. 


767 




. 768 


21 


768 


oo 


. 774 


23 


774 


24 


. 774 


25 


775 


26 


. 775 




776 


27 



77: 



777 



List of Soldiers in the Fort Wil- 
liam Henry Alarm, 

List of Revolutionary Soldiers, 

List of Soldiers in the war of 
1812, 

Same list of statistics for the 
town of Washington, 

Same for tlic town of Southbury. 

Same for the town of Bethlcm, 

Same for the town of Ro.\.bury, 

Woodbury Chronology, 

Great Fresliet, . . . . 

List of the present inhabitants of 
Woodbury, 

Roll of the members of the First 
Congregational Gluirch in 
Woodbury, 



777 
778 

787 

789 
792 
793 
795 
796 
798 

798 



815 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



INTRODUCTION. 

Less than two hundred years ago, these pleasant hills and sunny 
valleys, now teeming with life, intelligence and happiness, were one 
vast solitude, unvisited by the cheering rays of civilization. Here 
roamed the savage wild beasts, and untutored men more savage still 
than they. From Wyantenuck to Mattatuck, and from Pootatuck to 
Bantam, were heard the dismal howl of the wolf, and the war-cry of 
the red men of the forest. Amid these secluded wilds sported the 
timid deer, and coy doves built their lonely nests. Among these hills 
the red hunter pursued his game, and sauntered by our murmuring 
streams, drawing thence his daily food. Here desperate fights and 
deadly ambuscades were planned. Here did the prisoner of war 
suffer the extreme tortures of his enemies. Here the romantic lover 
" wooed his dusky mate" in primitive simplicity. Here too the pow- 
wow held his dread incantations, and if tradition is to be believed, 
offered human sacrifices to appease the anger of Hobbamocko, the 
spirit of evil, the author of all human plagues and calamities. Here 
too in the golden days of the Indian Summer, the poor savage mused 
of the Great Spirit, the benevolent Kiehtan, giver of his corn, beans 
and tobacco, who lived far away to the south-west, in whose blest do- 
minions he hoped, at death, to find his happy hunting-grounds. 

Everything now is changed. The desert waste that met the first 
gaze of our pioneer forefathers, has been made to bud and blossom 
as the rose. Where once were but scattered huts of the former race, 
ai-e now enterprising and busy villages. The ceaseless hum of ma- 
chinery, giving employment, competence pnd happiness to hundreds 
of families, is now heard in our valleys, a ' "ch, in those early days, 
but echoed the growl of the bear, or the crv of the panther. Instead 
• . 2 



10 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

of the wretched orgies of the powwow, and the inhuman sacrifices 
of the midnight of barbarism, are churches dedicated to the service 
of the living God, where prayer and praise are wont to be made. 
Where once were cherished the savage instincts of men, and a taste 
for war, now are cultivated the arts of peace, and schemes for the 
happiness and advancement of mankind. Intelligence and enterprise 
now take the place of ignorance and sloth. These hills and vales 
that groaned with scenes of violence and blood, have been made 
vocal with the praises of the Great Creator. Instead of a race 
groping in the shadow of dim imaginings, we find one filled with hopes 
of a rational and glorious immortality. Our fathers found a howling 
wilderness ; we behold to-day as the result of their labors, from which 
they long have rested, one of the most happy and beautiful of New 
England's many lovely villages. An upright and an honored race, 
they wrought well and their works do follow them. 

The simple, unfortunate race of the early days has departed — 
faded from the view, and almost from the memory of men. In their 
lowly, unnoticed, Und unknown graves, they sleep well. " The chiefs 
of other times are departed. They have gone without their fame. 
Another race has arisen. The people are like the waves of the 
ocean ; like the leaves of woody Morven ; they pass away in the 
rustling blast, and other green leaves lift their heads on high." 



CHAPTER I. 



PHYSICAL HISTORY, 



Location ; Boundaries ; Face of the Country ; IIili.s and Mountains ; Riv- 
ers, Streams AND Cascades; Geology; Mineralogy; Forest Trees and 
Fruits ; Soil and Productions ; Clijiate ; Wild Animals ; Capabilities, &c. 

The ancient town of Woodbury possessed very extended limits, 
and for many years after its settlement was one of the largest and 
most important of the towns in the western part of the Colony of 
Connecticut. It was about fifteen miles in length from north to 
south, and about ten miles in width. It was bounded on the north by 
Bantam, (Litchfield,) east by Mattatuck, (Waterbury,) south by the 
Pootatuck (Housatonic) River, and west by Weantinogue, (New Mil- 
ford. 

It is watered on the south-east by the Eight Mile Brook, taking its 
rise in Quassapaug Lake, a beautiful sheet of water lying in its eastern 
limits. Through the center of the territory from north to south, runs 
the Pomperaug River, receiving as tributaries the East Sprain' from 
the north-east. North Sprain from tlie north, West Sprain from the 
north-west, and further on in its course the Hesky Meadow and 
Transylvania mill streams. On the west, through the whole length 
of the town, flows the Shepaug River, taking its rise in Bantam Lake, 
in Litchfield. The three principal streams mentioned above, empty 
into the Pootatuck River. This river is now called the Housatonic, 
but its earlier and more appropriate name was the Pootatuck, from 
the tribe or clan of Indians which had its principal village on the 
northern side of the river, about two miles above Bennett's Bridge. 

The present town of Woodbury is situated in Litchfield county, 
Connecticut, near the center of the ancient territory, in latitude 41" 
33' N. and longitude 73° 14' W. It is on the southern border of 



1 Erroneously spelled Sprane in the accompanying map. 



12 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

the county, adjoining New Haven county, twenty-five miles from New 
Haven, thirty-six from Hartford, and ninety from New York. The 
central village is pleasantly situated in a level and extended valley 
on the Pomperaug, near the confluence of the small streams which 
form that river. It is surrounded on every side by high hills, form- 
ing a kind of amphitheater. Beautiful walks and drives abound in 
every direction. The hill lying immediately east of the main street, 
known as the Orenaug* Rocks, is of considerable elevation, and on its 
southern descent, fronting the west, the rocks descend perpendicular- 
ly, presenting a front similar to those of the East and West Rocks, 
near New Haven, though upon a much smaller scale. The same is 
true of the eastern side of this range of rocks. They give the land- 
scape a bold outline as one enters the village, while from their sum- 
mit a most delightful view toward the west is obtained. On the 
eastern side of Orenaug is Bethel Rock, of which more will be said 
hereafter. 

South of the village, on the west of the Pomperaug, Castle Rock, 
said to have been the location of the fort of the chief from whom the 
river takes its name, rears its hoary head. 

These cliffs are all of the trap formation, and are particularly de- 
scribed by Percival, in his Geological Account of Connecticut, as 
folloAvs, viz. 

"The trap in this formation forms only a single range, presenting in its 
whole extent, a well marked curvature, and divided by cross valleys, into three 
distinct sections, succeeding each other in receding order. Of these the south- 
ern extends from the south-east point of the range, to a pass crossing the latter 
at the road from Southbury to Roxbury ; the middle extends from that pass to 
the Pomperaug, south of Woodbury village ; while the northern includes all 
the remaining portion of the range. The curve of this range is apparently 
formed, throughout a great part of its extent, by a series of parallel ridges, 
overlapping each other in a greater or less degree, and arranged, toward the 
opposite extremities in reverse order; namely, in advancing order toward the 
southern, and in receding order toward the northern extremity. This arrange- 
ment is mobt remarkable at the two extremities of the range ; its middle por- 
tion, for some distance, presenting only a single line of elevations, nearly in 
continued order. Apparently, the small extent of the basin has, as it were, 
compressed the range, particularly at its extremities, and thus prevented its 
extension into a long continued ridge, or the formation of a gradual curve. 
The range at its southern extremity, presents an abrupt front to the south, 
formed by the points of its parallel ridges, and recedes back, toward the north 
at its south-east point, where it approaches very near the eastern border of the 
basin. The larger ridges, at this southern extremity, toward its south-west 

1 In the map Oren$ug is a misprint for the above. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 13 

point, present each, two distinct ranges, separated by a band of friable red 
shale, with beds of bituminous shale and limestone, containing fish impressions. 
The eastern and higher of these ranges, consists of compact, crystalline trap ; 
the lower western, of a porous amygdaloid. The latter, in the most western 
of these ridges, is underlaid by sandstone, and the same rock occurs, at the 
south points of the more posterior ridges, between the amygdaloidal range, and 
the trap range of the more anterior ridge. This arrangement in the ditferent 
ridges, corresponds very exactly with that along the west front of the eastern 
line of elevation, in the southern basin of the larger secondary formation. The 
main trap range, in its southern section, and the south part of its middle sec- 
tion, is bordered on the east by an apparently distinct range of a very porous 
chloritic and decomposable amygdaloid, forming a series of low, rounded 
swells, generally covered with the rock in small fragments. This latter range 
is accompanied, at least toward the south-east point, by a bituminous shale 
and limestone, recently excavated for coal. Similar excavations have been 
made in the bands of the shale at the south-west extremity of the main range. 
" The northern section rises, in strong receding order, east of the Pomperaug, 
in the south part of Woodbury village, and extends N. N. E. in a group of parallel 
ridges, east of that village, so arranged as to present at their northern extremity, 
a distinctly curved outline, convex to the north. These ridges rise in low points 
toward the south, and attain their greatest elevation toward the north. This 
group may be considered as divided into two parallel sections by a deep valley 
opening north and south ; the eastern being projected rather further north than 
the western. Each of these sections presents a middle, higher ridge, composed 
of a more compact crystalline trap, and two lower lateral ridges, composed of a 
more amygdaloidal trap, abounding at different points in prehnite and agates. 
On the east this group approaches very near the primary, being separated only 
by a narrow valley, at one point of which, the primary and trap rocks are 
nearly in contact." 

Besides the Quassapaug Lake before mentioned, which is of con- 
siderable extent, is a small artificial pond, called Bacon's Pond, cov- 
ering some six or eight acres of laiid at the north end of the rocks 
above described, in a quiet, sequestered spot, where one, wearied with 
the cares of life, can well be^lfl^' a leisure hour. 

At the north end of East Meadow is a beautiful cascade, called the 
Quanopaug Falls, where a considerable stream of the same name 
falls some twenty feet over a projecting ledge of rocks. This stream 
is also known by the name of East Meadow Brook. It is a lovely, 
sylvan retreat, embosomed among the sturdy giants of the forest. 

Fair stream ! thou call'st me from the busy cares 
With which I am surrounded, and bid'st me 
For the time forget this fleeting life is 
Full of evil. Thou makest me forget 
That all is not as bright and beautiful 
As thine own fairy form, whilst thou in haste. 
Art pressing on to join old Ocean's tide. 
2* 



14 HISTORY OF AXCIENT WOODBURY. 

On the East Sprain, near the north-east corner of the town, are 
the Nonnewaug Falls, which are a succession of cascades, three in 
number, in an exceedingly romantic and beautiful dell. The whole 
descent must be from forty to fifty feet. At a short distance below 
these falls, near an apple-tree, beneath his stately hillock, repose the 
remains of Nonnewaug. The murmurs of the falling waters, and the 
evergreens which surround the falls, whisper a perpetual requiem 
over the sleeping chieftain, and the silent braves around him. 

A large part of the present town of Washington is elevated and 
mountainous. There is in Judea Society, as it is called, about two 
miles south-west of the center, a place called " Steep Rock." The 
ascent to this eminence from the north is easy, and from its top, the 
spectator has one of the most interesting and lovely prospects in the 
State. The scene presents at the south, an area in the form of an 
amphitheater, the sides of which are covered with the primeval for- 
est. The Shepaug River is seen flowing in a beautiful circle at the 
base of the bluff, inclosing in its curve, cultivated fields, the whole 
scene furnishing to the admiring beholder, one of the finest land- 
scapes in nature. 

Nature has done much for this part of the old town. Iron ore has 
been found in several places. Ocher, fuller's earth, and white clay 
have also been found. Limestone abounds in many of its valleys, 
and several quarries are worked, from which large quantities have 
been raised. The greater part of the latter, however, are not inclu- 
ded within the limits of the ancient town. Percival gives the follow- 
ing description : 

"The great limestone valley extends from the north of Bethel, along the 
course of Still River, through Brookfield, to the Housatonic, at New Mi]ford> 
whence it is continued through New Preston, to its north-east termination, near 
the Shepaug. The rock in this valley consists chiefly of white limestone, par- 
ticularly toward its northern extremity, alternating with a light grey, generally 
even, striped micaceous gneiss, with large beds, in some parts, of a very coarse 
white granite, and with occasional beds of a light gray porphyritic rock, quite 
similar to that accompanying the limestone in the south section. The limestone 
in this valley is generally dolomitic, but beds of it occasionally occur of a purer 
carbonate of lime, one of which, in the north-east part of Danbury, has been 
lately wrought by Mr. L. S. Piatt, for purposes of agriculture. Usually the 
limestone is fine-grained, partly very decomposable, and in part, harder and of 
a pure white, forming an elegant marble. The marble quarries of New Pres- 
ton, near the north termination of the valley, have long been noted. A vein of 
galena has been worked to a small extent, in the limestone west of Still River, 
in Brookfield." 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 15 

A great variety of minerals is found in the ancient territory, but 
mostly in small quantities. In the present town of Woodbury, have 
been found in the trap range, agates of considerable beauty, though 
small in size ; an abundance of balls and veins of prehnite, epidote, 
chalcedony, crystals of purple quartz, (amethyst,) and specimens of 
plumbago or black lead in small lumps, of a pure quality, in the 
Orenaug Rocks. 

In an excavation made some years ago, in search of gold, which 
proved fruitless, magnetic iron pyrites were found in a hornblendic 
gneiss, traversed by seams of epidote. The only deposit in the State, 
of sand well suited to the manufacture of plate and flint glass, and 
porcelain ware, is found on the shores of the Quassapaug Lake. It 
consists, almost exclusively, of quartz, the grains of which are color- 
less, transparent, and of great purity. 

In Bethlem, albite and galena are found. Washington is rich in 
its varieties. There have been discovered there, white copperas in 
Brown's Mountain, dyalogyte, triplite, gypsum, kyanite, mesotype, 
andalusite, spar, hornblende, botryoidal chalcedony, idocrase, garnet, 
magnetic iron, and large quantities of dolomite employed as marble. 
Some sixteen mills for slitting this into slabs have been erected, but 
are not all kept in constant operation. The average yield of the 
quarries per annum, in rough blocks, is between seven and eight 
thousand dollars ; and neai'ly the same amount is derived to the mills 
and marble shops of the immediate vicinity, for preparing the marble 
for use.' 

In Southbury, are found bitumen, calcareous spar, grayish black 
bituminous limestone, compact limestone containing ichthyolites, 
clayey marl, hydraulic limestone, kilns of which are occasionally 
bui'nt, radiated chlorite, prehnite, lymonite, purple quartz, chalcedony, 
opal, chrichtonite, mispickel and yellow copper pyrites. Slight tra- 
ces of coal have been discovered in bituminous shales, in the trap 
region, but the coaly matter is compact bitumen. It ignites slowly, 
and burns without flame or odor. 

In Roxbury, are found mica, mica-slate, chrichtonite, blende, fine 
shestoze, gray granite, gneissoid flagging stone, galena and yellow 
copper pyrites. All these are found on and around Mine Hill. 

But far the most important and valuable mineral in the whole 
territory, which has hitherto been almost wholly unapjjreciated, is 



1 Shepard's Geol. Survey of the State. 



16 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

the spathic or steel ore of Mine Hill in Roxbury. This has been 
overlooked as an ii-on ore in this State, nearly to the present time>; 
and still continues to be almost totally neglected, although it is by 
far the most remarkable mine of this ore in the United States. The 
mine was discovered at a very early period, and the abundance and 
peculiar properties of the ore excited a high degree of curiosity and 
expectation. Numerous attempts were made to work it as a silver 
mine, and immense sums expended, without exciting even a suspi- 
cion of its value for iron. 

Spathic iron ore is one of the most disguised of all the ores of iron 
possessed of economical value. Its high specific gravity, added to 
the development of iron-rust occasioned by exposure to the weather, 
are the only properties by which its ferruginous character is generally 
detected. Its name of spathic (or sparry) iron was bestowed in 
allusion to its brilliant and easily effected cleavages in three direc- 
tions, and which result in rhombic fragments of constant dimensions. 
Its hardness is greater than that of calcareous spar, and its color 
when freshly taken from its repositories is a light yellowish gray, 
which passes, however, by exposure to the air, to a reddish brown. 
It is composed of protoxide of iron from 57 to 60 per cent., carbonic 
acid 34 to 36 per cent., with a proportion of manganese from 0.5 to 
1.5, and about the same quantity of lime and magnesia. The lime 
and magnesia, however, are liable to slight variations in their pro- 
portions. 

The spathic iron mine in question occurs in a mountain about 
three hundred and fifty feet in height, situated on the west bank of 
Shepaug River in Roxbury, about six miles above its junction with 
the Housatonic. The mountain is known in the vicinity by the 
name of Mine Hill, The rock of which it is composed is, for the 
most part, concealed by a soil supporting a fine growth of hard wood. 
Wherever the rock makes its appearance, however, it exhibits a 
remarkable uniformity in character and arrangement. The direction 
of the strata is nearly N. E. and S. W., with a dip of 25 or 30° to 
the north-west. The ore occupies a perpendicular vein from six to 
eight feet in width, cutting directly across the strata ; and has been 
detected at numerous places, from the base of the hill, near the banks 
of the river, quite to its summit, a distance of above half a mile. 
The course and width of the vein, wherever exposed, appear uniform. 
The vein stone or gangue of the ore is white quartz, which frequently 
preponderates in bulk over the ore. No other substances deserve to 
be mentioned as entering into the composition of this very remarkable 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 17 

vein — minute portions of iron pyrites, yellow copper pyrites, galena 
and blende, being the only foreign substances present, and as these 
occur ^principally near the summit, where the most extensive explo- 
rations were made for silver, it is altogether likely that blende was 
the principal object of search. 

Whoever examines this vein, must be convinced of the abundance 
of the ore, as well as struck with the ftxcility of its situation for being 
wrought. The expense to be incurred in raising it from its reposi- 
toiy, and its delivery upon the banks of the Shepaug, where the 
necessary water-power is afforded for carrying on extensive iron 
works, must be comparatively trifling ; while an abundant supply of 
hard wood is at hand for fuel, and a land carriage of four miles 
would connect the works with the navigable waters of the Housa- 
tonic. 

The spathic iron being an ore of such unusual appearance, and 
nowhere wrought in the United States, it is not surprising that the 
remarkable deposit here alluded to, has been so long treated with 
neglect. Public attention, however, can in no way perhaps be better 
excited toward so valuable a resource, than by making known its 
extensive use in other countries, and by pointing out a few of the 
leading facts connected with its conversion into steel. It furnishes 
almost exclusively the well known German steel, so largely manu- 
factured in the Austrian dominions. Thus in the Tyrol, the annual 
produce is two thousand quintals, and in Carinthia seventy thousand, 
and large quantities are manufactured in several other countries of 
the Old World. 

Dr. Shepard, in his " Report on the Geological Survey of Con- 
necticut," from which the foregoing account is mostly extracted, also 
gives the history of this mine, as follows, with slight alterations : 

" The first digging at this place was made about the middle of the last cen- 
tury, by Hurlbut and Ilawley, but the history of their operations is nearly lost. 
The second company, organized by the Messrs. Bronsons (brothers) near tlie 
year 1764, prosecuted the enterprise with much spirit. 

" They sunk a shaft into the vein near the top of the mountain, one hundred 
and twenty-five feet deep, besides carrying down another of considerable depth 
for the ventilation ol' the first. The working was conducted under the direction 
of a German goldsmith of the name of Feuchter, who carried on his processes 
of pretended separation and refining with great secrecy. It is said that he 
produced occasionally small quantities of silver, which kept alive the hopes of 
his employers. 

" Thus the undertaking went forward for several years, until the means of 
the company were wholly exhausted. The result of this experiment might, in 



18 HISTORY OF ANCIEKT WOODBURY. 

all probability, have pvit the working of the mine for silver completely at rest, 
except for a circumstance which occurred, connected with the departure of the 
German. When he left, he was assisted by a slave in removing a number of 
very heavy boxes, one of which accidentally falling to the ground in the journey 
between Southbury and Derby, burst open and revealed to the eyes of the negro 
a quantity of bars, which he described as having the appearance of silver. 
The agent was now suspected to have carried on the working of the mine 
fraudulently, and to have caused its products to be surreptitiously conveyed out 
of the country for his private advantage; consequently the mine again acquired 
the character of a valuable deposit of silver. 

" A new company was organized in the city of New York, who took a lease 
of the property for forty-two years. They commenced operations on a much 
wider scale, and have left behind them proofs of a very heavy expenditure. 
The excavations made by this company exhibit more skill in the working of 
mines. They descended the mountain toward the river, in the direction of 
the vein, removing at intervals the accumulations of soil and loose rocks which 
conceal it throughout its whole distance, until they reached half-way to the 
base of the mountain, when they commenced carrying in a level having the 
full width of the vein, and which was prosecuted seven rods to the vein, and 
two rods on the vein. The result of this enterprise was equally unpropitious 
with the former one, though not sufficiently discouraging to lead to the final 
abandonment of the project. Still another company was formed, consisting 
chiefly of persons living in Goshen, who recommenced the diggings at the top 
of the mountain, and persevered in the undertaking until the failure of several 
of the stockholders compelled them to relinquish it. 

" The last working of the mine was by Mr. Asaliel Bacon, an extensive 
landholder in that neighborhood. It finally began to attract attention as an 
iron mine, and considerable quantities of the ore, raised by the difierent com- 
panies, were carried to Kent, and there reduced along with the hematite of 
that place, with which it is said to have formed a very tough and excellent 
iron. An unskillful attempt was afterward made to reduce the spathic iron by 
itself, in a furnace at no grent distance from the mine, which proving unsuc- 
cessful, no farther notice has been taken of the ore. 

" The present proprietor of this mine, Mr. David J. Stiles, of Soutlibnry, 
procured a sample of pig-iron, obtained during the last mentioned trial, and 
caused it to be forged into steel under his own inspection, by an expeiienceil 
iron-master in Salisbury. The operation was attended with great facility; 
and a variety of cutting instruments were manufactured from the steel, all of 
which proved of excellent quality." 

Within the last three years, the " old shaft " and side drain have 
been cleaned out, and spathic ore has been raised in considerable 
quantities on various parts of the vein, by a company from New 
York, who had bought the old mining title. A powder-house, dwell- 
ing-house and furnace were erected by them, and they were pro- 
ceeding with their operations, when legal proceedings were com- 
menced against them by Mr. David J. Stiles, who holds the title of 
Mr. Bacon. Suits are still pending in the courts, for the purpose of 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 19 

testing the title to the mine. But it is believed that the suits will 
prove a richer mine to members of the legal profession, than the ore 
in question to the contending parties for years to come. The belief 
in the existence of an exceedingly rich vein of silver, some two feet 
in diameter, traversing the entire extent of the vein of spathic iron, 
about one hundred and twenty-five feet below the surface, has again 
become paramount in the minds of the litigants ; and it must be 
admitted that there are many facts tending to show that belief well 
founded. It is much to be regretted that the parties can not agree 
on a compromise of their claims, and turn their energies and resources 
to the working of the mine, acknowledged to be one of the richest in 
the world, for at least spathic iron ore. 

There are three chalybeate springs in the territory, of some effi- 
cacy. One of these is situated in Woodbury, by the side of the road, 
not far from the house of Mr. James Morriss ; another in Washing- 
ton, by the road-side, between the furnace and the marble quarries ; 
and the other on Mine Hill, at no great distance from the " old shaft " 
of the mine. 

The village of South Britain is nearly surrounded by high hills 
and ledges, and the place, viewed from the south, has a very romantic 
appearance. The two principal bluffs are called Squaw Rock and 
Rattlesnake Rock — of which more will be said hereafter. 

The face of the country throughout the territory is of an undulating 
character, being pleasantly diversified with hill and dale. It is well 
watered with numerous streams besides those already described, fur- 
nishing an excellent water-power for numerous manufacturing estab- 
lishments. Upon the rivers and streams there are intervals of con- 
siderable extent, and other level tracts in the many valleys. The 
soil is generally a gravelly, and in some places a calcareous loam, 
warm and fertile, well adapted to the production of corn and the 
various kinds of grain. The lands are good for grazing purposes, 
and favorable for fruit of the various kinds. Valuable orchards of 
apples, pears, cherries, peaches and other fruit-trees abound. 

The natural growth of timber is oak of the different kinds, maple, 
elm, ash, bircli, walnut, chesnut and other deciduous trees. Hem- 
lock, fir, pine, cedar and other evergreens appear in various places. 

The climate is mild and healthful, and, in the valleys particularly, 
many degrees warmer than in the neighboring towns. 

The first settlers found here the bear, the wolf, the moose, the deer 
and the wild-cat, in considerable numbers. To these we owe at the 
present day some of our local names ; as Bear Hill, Moose Horn 



20 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Hill, Cat Swamp, "Wolf Pit, near the junction of the North and 
West Sprains, at Hotchkissville, and White Deer Rocks, near the 
head of Quassapaug Lake. Beavers were found on many streams ; 
otters were numerous many years after the settlement was com- 
menced, and some are now occasionally found. The Indians carried 
on quite an extensive commerce in the furs of these animals with our 
forefathers. Wild turkeys were also abundant. Shad and other 
choice fish were taken in the Pootatuck River. 

On the whole, Woodbury may be considered a good agricultural 
and manufacturing town, and our forefathers may well have con- 
gratulated themselves, that their "lines had fallen to them in pleas- 
ant places." In the quaint language of the Indian recommendation, 
when they were negotiating the sale of the First Purchase at 
Stratford, " it is a goodly place for many smokes of the white man." 



£ jLjf T A7<r 




w i i i i I if 

INDIAN PURCHASES 



165^. 



CHAPTER II. 

niSTORV OF THE INDIAN PURCHASES. 

Deed from the Pagassetts ; Six Purchases from the Pootatucks ; First, 

OR POMPERAUQ PURCHASE ; DeED FROM AVOMOCKOMOE ; KeTTLETOWN PUR- 
CHASE ; Second, or Shepauo Purchase ; Third, or Quassapauo Purchase ; 
Fourth, or Nonnewauq Purchase ; Fifth Purchase ; Sixth, or Confirm- 
ATORT Purchase ; Reservation, or " Purchase ;" Promisick; 1659 to 1753. 

The descendants of the founders of Woodbury can look upon their 
landed possessions as having come to them by fair, honest and legit- 
imate titles. No violence, no conquest, no stain of blood, attaches to 
the hem of the garments of our forefathers. They not only pur- 
chased their lands of the Indians, but, in some instances, several 
times over from conflicting claimants and dishonest pretenders. 
They were very particular in this respect, and had the alienations 
executed in legal and solemn form. They were the more careful, 
that they might, in this manner, more vividly impress on the minds 
of the Indians, the binding natui-e of their contracts. Some of the 
earlier purchases were made before there was any distinct idea, or 
perhaps any idea at all, of making here a new plantation. Some of 
these conveyances are lost. The earliest deed on record is given be- 
low. It is taken from the first book of Woodbury Land Records, to 
which it was transferred from the Stratford records. The first vol- 
ume of our records was copied, by vote of the town, about a hundred 
years after its settlement, and the original has been lost. By this 
means, much of the ancient spelling is lost. 

A Record' of a parcell of Land to Lew. Wheeler, by Tautannimo, a Sacliem 
at Pagasett, is as followetli : 

This present writing witnesseth, that I, Tautannimo, a Sachem at Pagasett, 
considerations moveing me thereunto, do freely and fully make over, alienate 
and give from myself, and heirs, and all other Indians, and their heirs, a par- 

1 Woodbury Land Records, Book L, p. 6T. 



22 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

cell of Land bounded as followeth ; Potateuk River southwest; Naugatunck 
'River northeast ; and bounded on ye northwest w^ith trees marked by me and 
other Indians; ye said Land I do, with ye consent of all Pagasett Indians, freely 
give it to Lew. Thos. Wheeler, and his heirs forever. And I do fully give ye 
s^ Lew. Thomas Wheeler full power to have it recorded to him, and his heirs, 
according to ye Laws and Customs of ye English. 

In witness hereunto I interchangeably set to my hand, this 20 of April, 1659, 
the names of ye Indians that subscribed. 
Subscribed in presence of 

John Wells Tautannimo 

Richard Harvey Paquaha 

Thomas Uffoot Pagasett James 

John Curtis Monsuck 

John Minor Sasaazo 

This is a true copy of the deed by me Joseph Hawley. 

This deed, as will be seen, is signed by the Sachem of Pagasett, 
(Derby,) and four of his sagamores, or counselors, and comprises a 
territory in Litchfield and New Haven counties, nearly as large as 
Litchfield county itself. This seems to have been the last sale of 
lands made by the Derby Lidians in this direction, and, no doubt, 
covered all the territory claimed by them at the north. Their right 
to sell the land at all, seems somewhat doubtful, as the most of the 
territory sold, was occupied by the Pootatuck^ tribe of Indians. By 
a deed to Joseph Judson, of Stratford, of a tract of land lying on Pe- 
quonnuck River, dated 9th Sept., 1661, signed by Wompegan, Sachem 
of Paugassett, supposed to be the nephew of Tautannimo, by Ake- 
notch, his sagamore, and Ansantanay, his father, it appears that 
Aquiomp, then Sachem of Pootatuck, and his equal in rank, was his 
relative, and gave his consent to that alienation on the 18th day of 
May in the next year, by a separate indorsement on the deed, in 
presence of other witnesses. In this indorsement, it is stated, that 
he was related to Wompegan. What the relationship was, whether 
by blood, or marriage, is not stated. It is certain that Aquiomp was 
independent of the Paugasett Sachem, and that his successors in the 
sachemdom, after that date, made numerous grants to the English. 

The record of the First Purchase from the Pootatucks, the Indians 
of our territory, marked 1 in the accompanying map of Indian Pur- 
chases, is lost, and can not now be found. Its date, however, was 
26th April, 1673. It is referred to in five later deeds, is called the 



1 This name was spelled in a great variety of ways, as Puttatuck, Potatuck, Pohta- 
tuck Potateuk, Putatuke, Pootatuck, &c. The latter spelling is the one adopted by 
the author, as it corresponds with the pronunciation of the word. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 23 

Pomperaug, or First Purchase ; the title to it confirmed and the 
boundaries given : 

" W" former purchase runs iibout foure miles North & South, and about two 
miles East & West, on both sides of y^ riuer, and compHiending y whole Town 
])latt of Woodbury ; Extending Northward to y" North end of y" East Meadow, 
and so running West to ye lowland, or meadow on West Spraine to M"' Judsons 
Woif-pitt, where y' West Sprayn & North Sprayn meet, and running South- 
ward nigh to, or facing upon y' place commonly called y* Bent of y' Riuer, 
taking in transiluania and rag-land, and so Easterly on homelots at known 
Boundaries."! 

It is curious to note, in the foregoing description, the inaccuracy, 
so common in early times, in giving distances and measurements. 
This grant is said to be about four miles in length, when, in reality, 
it is not far short of nine. The width of two miles, as stated, is 
doubtless, proportionably inaccurate. The north end of East Mead- 
ow is nearly a mile north of the North Meeting House, and the " Bent 
of y° River" is the curve in the Pomperaug, not far from the village 
of South Britain. The "Wolf-pit forms a good boundary, being loca- 
ted in the hill westerly of the new Shear factory, called Wolf-pit Hill. 
The pit is on the northerly side of the hill, near Weekeepeemee, and 
is a hole leading into the face of a rock, within which is quite a spa- 
cious chamber. This purchase was well chosen, comprising, as it 
does, much of the most fertile and desirable land, in the whole terri- 
tory of the ancient town. It is probable, though not certain, that 
some of those interested in the purchase, had been up to examine the 
lands, before the bargain was concluded. This deed was executed at 
Stratford. 

The next deed in point of time is that of Yohcomge and Avomock- 
omge. It makes mention of the Pomperaug Purchase, and is accom- 
panied by a rude map, showing the Pomperaug Purchase on both 
sides of the river, and the land by them granted, which was all the 
territory south and west of said First Purchase, between the Pom- 
peraug, Shepaug and Pootatuck Rivers. It is not known whom they 
represented, but it was probably one of the small clans, resident with- 
in the town, and dependent upon, or related to, the Pootatucks. 
This is rendered the more probable from the fact, that the deed is 
witnessed by Wecuppeme, who was, at a later day, sagamore of one 
of them. This grant seems never to have been regarded by the 
Pootatucks, or the settlers, as the tract conveyed was twice repur- 

1 Woodbury Land Records, Book II., p. 137. 



24 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUBY. 

chased afterward ; once within a few years. It comprehended even 
the Pootatuck village itself, the chief seat of that tribe. A copy of 
this conveyance follows : 

"July 14th, L(J73. 

" Yohcomge promiseth y' same Tract of land y' Avomockornge doth below, 
and in part of pay, received five shillings in powder. 

The very mark of ) 
Yohcomge 5 

" Avomockornge y' proprietor of y^ land w*" in this square, doth hereby ingage 
to sell unto M^ Sherman, Lieu' Joseph Judson, & ]VI^ John Minor y' above 
sJ Land; viz., what is w^^in the Comprehension of this sqi^are, both West & 
South of y« purchase at Pomperoge ; And hath allready received as earnest one 
grey coat at IP 10^ price this 17"' of May, 1673. 

" In consideration of y' uppermost purchase of Land upon y' West &: South of 
Pomperaiig purchase; viz., y' first purchase, July y« , 1G73, Avomockornge 
received one liatchett 4* & in lead & powder 10». 

Witness Kenonge Avomockomge 

his Crh^^ mark 




Wecuppemee 

English witnesses, 
Zechariah Walker, 
Samuell Galpin. 

From the consideration mentioned in this deed, it would seem, that 
the price of land was not very high in these Indians' estimation, how- 
ever doubtful may have been their title. 

A gray coat of homespun manufacture, a hatchet, a little powder 
and lead, seem very trivial payment, yet no doubt these untutored 
savao-es, who, as yet, considered their lands of little or no value, re- 
joiced greatly over the acquisition of such rare articles, and probably 
thought they had by far the best of the bargain. They knew not how 
soon they would be straightened for land, and their tribe scattered like 
the leaves of the forests. 

At a very early period, a large tract of land had been purchased 
of the Indians for the consideration of a brass kettle, and received, 
from this circumstance, the name of Kettletown, which it has borne 
to the present time. On the 16th of April, 1679, this tract was 
again sold by 

" Cheabrooke, an Indian, together with the consent and approbation of 
Coshusheougemy Sachem, the sagamore of puttatuck." 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 25 

together Avitli Quaker's Farms, in Derby, east of the Eight Mile 
Brook, to Ebenezer Johnson, of Derby, and his associates, in consid- 
eration of " corn & other goods, as allso of our meer love and Good 
will ;" the former being described as 

" Sam's field, or Kitle Town, Bounded on the west with puttatuck Riuer, 
that is to say, with the west side the Hand in the Riueffc y^ west Chanell of the 
Riuer & Bounded on the South East & North East with the Eight Mile Brook 
&; Bounded on the North & North West with the Hill aboue the playn called 
araugacutack, fe so to go with a straight line from the upper end of the playne 
to the Eight Mile Brooke." 

The Kittletown part of this conveyance is represented on the map 
by the division marked 5, being thus numbered from the fact, that it 
was the fifth of the subsequent regular purchases from the Poota- 
tucks. 

On the 10th of July, 1G82, another irregular deed seems to have 
been received by the town, through its committee, from Wesuncks 
and Wonnokekunkbom, for which the latter received " two pair of 
trading cloth breeches & one yard of trading cloth," and in consider- 
ation of which, they engaged that the inhabitants " shall have liberty 
to improve land anywhere west or south of their first purchase, where 
they shall see cause." TVhat claim they set up to the territory is not 
known. No notice seems to have been taken of it till nearly twenty- 
four years afterward, when it was confirmed in a deed ratifying all 
former sales, and it was not even recorded till two years after that.' 

The second purchase of lands from the full board of regularly con- 
stituted authorities of the Pootatucks, was made on the 17th of March, 
1685-6. This was the Shepaug purchase, comprising two-thirds of 
the present town of Roxbury, and part of Southbury, and is marked 
" 2" on the accompanying map. This deed was granted to Lieut. 
Joseph .Judson, Ensign John Wiatt, John Sherman, John Hurd and 
John Mitchell, in belialf of the town. It acknowledges and fully 
confirms the First Purchase, and then grants that 

" Tract of Land lying and situate nere to y' place Commonly called by us 
Munnacommock running in length w''' y' former purchase above exprest, about 
six Miles in length East and West foi about four miles and an halfe North 
and South. More p'ticularly Bounded on y^ North East w"" y« former purchase, 
and a little part of it at y' North end w"- Land not yet alienated ; Bounded on 
y« North w"' Land not yet sold ; The mark' trees or boundaries to bee made 
clere and ffayre and so to be kept between us, Bounded uppon y' West w'** Shee- 



1 W. Laud Records, vol. 2, p. 1. 
3 



26 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



paug Riuer ; And Bounded on y° South w"' a part of a hill, called horse-hill ; 
and so bending something South East from thence to w^'in a small matter about 
fourscore rod of y^ place called y'' bent of y' Riuer. More prticularly for 
y« Bounds wee refer to y' exact Bound Marks." 
It was signed by 
" Witnessed pr us & 
subscribed in o' p'sence 
Punnahun Interp''te' 



his 



John Banks 



larke 



his marke 



Waramaukeag 

Womoqui 

Keshooshamau g 
Chuhabaux 



his marke 

I I j his marke 

/^ ) his marke 



Nathaniel fferrand Sen' 
Nathaniel fferrand Junr 
Many othe"' or more Youngamoush 

both English & Indians were 



present at y= same time." 



Nuccaddamo 
Papenau 
Nemoumbam 
Poquanow 



o 



his marke 
his marke 
his marke 




his marke 



" This deed was acknowledged y' same day at y^ same time of ye subscrip- 
tion and delivery before Me. 

John Minor, Comiss'."' 

The Third, or Quassapaug Purchase, comprising a part of Wood- 
bury, Middlebury and Southbury, was acquired on the 30th of Octo- 
ber, 1687. This tract is marked 3 on the map, and was sold to the 
town for 

•' Severall sums of Money in hand received, And good Assurance, to receive 
in the whole to y« value of fifty pounds, and a mortgage of a certain parcell of 
meadow Land lying to y= Southward of y^ Road Northward or westward of 
ye Eight Mile Brook." 

This tract is described as a 

"Parcell of Land lying to y= East of y'^ first purchase, made by y^ Inhabitants 
of Woodbury, extending Northwardly about halfe a mile north of y^ first pur- 
chase, and so running due East, or Easterly to fourscore rod Eastward of 



1 Woodbury Land Records, vol. 2, p. 136. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



27 



y« Easternmost of ye pond called and commonly known by y^ Name Quassa- 
l^aiig; and so running Southward between Waterbery and us and Darby and 
us till it comes to y« i^lace where y" road between Woodbury and Darby cross- 
eth y« Eight Mile Brook ; and bounded West w"" y« first purchase y' y= s<^ Inliab- 
itants of Woodbury made." 



It was signed by 

Witnesses present Chevoramauge 



Israel Curtis 
John Wiatt 
John Minor Sen' 



his marke 



Punhone 
liis marke 



Youngstockum 
his marke 



CLr:) 



Kesoshamaug Sagamore 
his''"''^"^'-?*— marke 



Nunawauk 
his 



fcuiarke 



Wonokequambomb 

his_ I _ _ marke 




Chohee 

i. 



hees ^^^ 

lis marke CiX/ 

Indian witnesses 



Tantamohoh 

his ^^ -^^ marke 



LJ 



" Exactly recorded from y^ originall y* 29"' of May 1699 as attest 

John Minor recorde'" ' 

On the 18th of May, 1700, the inhabitants of the town, having 
become numerons for those clays, made tlieir fourth, or Nonnewaug 
Purchase. To this time, it seems that the sagamore of that name 
had retained his possessions in the valley of the Nonnewaug or East 
Sprain stream. But now it came his turn to make room, and it 
seems that he and his companions did it with a good grace, as the 
deed informs us, the sale was made 

" For valid considerations moveing thereto, besides y' y' desire y' is w"'in us 
of a friendly correspondency w"' y'^ English Inhabitants of s'' Woodbury." 

For these considerations and inducements they granted 

*' All y' parcell of Land, bee it more or less, by estimation six square miles ; 
And bounded on y« East w"' y« stated Boundaries between y^ inhabitants of 
s'^ Woodbury and Waterbury, Bounded North w'^ y^ Bound granted by 
y^ Gen"'' Court to y' s'^ Inhabitants of Woodbury; Bounded West w"' Land be- 
longing to Indians as yet not purchased by y' s'^ English at a Brook well known 
both by English and Indians, called y'' North-Spraine, taking in y* s"! Brook, 
as it runs North and South, so that this o' Deed of sale comp'hends all y^ Land 



1 W. L. R., vol. 2, p. 137. 



28 



HISTORY or ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



bounded West w'i> y' s'^ North-Sprainc, and East w"" Waterbury & Woodbury 
Bounds, taking in all y' land on botk sides of y« East Sprain. And bounded 
South w''' y* Land formerly purchased by y= English Inhabitants of s'' Wood- 
bury."' 



It was signed by 



"Witnessed by us 
Joseph Hurlbutt 
Robert Warner 

Wonibuminau 
his Sfpuiw 



>^^her 
^C mark 



Wunnuntconc 



Wombummaug 

NucquoUozomaug 

Mashagasse 
his mavke 






yy ins mavke 

P^^'lL^^ Cacapaltanees Sonn 
Urabouge 



c^ 



This Instrum' was ae- 
knowiedged before ine y^ 
same day by all y' sub- 
scribed as their flVee act 
and deed. 

John Minor Justice 



Jo" Banks 

Monianchewaug 
alias Cush 

Seawweag 



liis marke 
his marke 
his marke 

his marke 
his marke 

his marke 



r-:^. 



s marke 
his marke 



Nunnawakc^^ / / J his marke 

In yi^.behalf of himself and all potatuck Indians 
confirming this Bill of Sale 
Exactly recorded from y« originall this IGth day of May 1701 P' John Minor 
recordr"^ 

On the 25th of October, 1705, it became necessary to buy Kettle- 
town purchase for the third time. Something more than a quarter 
of a century had passed since the last sale, and by this time it is 
probable they felt the need of the " consideration." It is represented 
on the map by division 5, being the fifth regular purchase of the 
Pootatucks. Its description is obscure and defective, but it evidently 
means this division. It is described as being 

" Bounded northerly by our first and former purchases, bounded southerly by 
y" Heep of rocks or hill on y" south of a Brook called Transilvania, which 
rocks incompasse s'' brook, and all ye lowland rounding till it comes at our 
river; on y* South-East part of it & bounded on y= West with s'' rocks at an 
angle with a purchase' formerly made running from Chepague Falls to this 
tract."'' 

1 Meaning the First Purchase, or town plot. 2 W. T. R., vol. 2, p. 137. 

3 The Second Purchase. 4 W. Land Records, vol. 2, p. 137. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



29 



It was signed by 



Witnesses present 
John Minor sen' 
Jo Jiidson Jan. 
The Minor: In- 
terpreter 



the Indians y' 
subscribed & 
sealed appeared 
y^ same day and 
acknowledged y« 
above written to 
be their free act 
and deed before 
me John Minor 
Justice 



Tomseet 



Chyiondge 



Cots 



Wajiumbom 



niarke 




On the 2<Stla of May, 170G, the inhabitants of the town made the 
sixth, or confu'matory Purchase. This covered all former grants 
and purchases, and a considerable tract marked 6 on the map, to- 
gether with a piece of land eighty rods in width, from Steep Rock 
in Washington, to the mouth of the Shepaug, on the west side of 
that river. In this deed the Indians still retained a large tract of 
land called the Pootatuck Reservation. This reservation compre- 
hended the tract bounded on the north by a line drawn from Shepaug 
Falls to the " Bent " of the Pomperaug, east by that river, or by a 
line drawn parallel to and a few rods east of it, from the " Bent" to 
its mouth, south by the Pootatuck, and west by the Shepaug river. 
This reservation, afterward called " The Purchase," contained their 
principal village on the Pootatuck River. The deed is as follows : 

" Know all men p'' these presents, y' We hereunto subscribing, being ye propri- 
etors to all y« Lands and Accommodations belonging to y« Township of Wood- 
bury, being and belonging to potatuck, together w"' all oth'' fellow proprieto''s, 
both fo' o''selves, Heires successo^^, and all oth's, younge and Elde ; being desi- 
rous of neighbo''ly Correspondency, and Real friendship between us & o"' Neigh- 
bo''s, y'' English Inhabitants of Woodberry, in y« county of fl'ayrfield : in Her 
Majes" Collony of Connecticott, fo"" and in consideration of sufficient & valuable 
considerations, from time to time, and at several times, bearing Date w"" seve- 
rall Bills of sale perticuler for several tracts of Land as Exprest in those Deeds; 
And least any of those Instruments should be lost, or through any Mishap bee 
obliterated, or defaced, Wee hereto subscribing, this 28th May 1706; fully, 
absolutely, and to all intents, Ends & purposes, confirm unto y« inhabitants of 
y° s"^ Woodberry, theire Associates, Heires, succes6o''s and Assigns, all and every 
Deed & Instrument Bill of sale, or Deed of gift, obtayned, or procured by 
ye s** Inhabitants 

from any Indian or Indians w'soever; Altho' in y' formation something differ- 
ent from y= usuall forming of Deeds of sale. And yet more p^ticula^ly, wee say 
wee confirm, not only y^ first purchase, w*" was about five Miles North & South, 
y* very Town platt, and about two miles East & West, but also a Lat' pur- 



30 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



chase made by y° s'' Inhabitants as an addition Eastward quite honie to Water- 
bery Bounds. And also anoth' purchase Northward to y' extent of Woodbury 
then Bounds. And Also anotli'' purchase West to Sheepaug River. All 
W^ were subscribed by y° major part of y' Indian proprieto''s ; We do also 
Ratify and Confirm all oth' perticul' Bills of sale or lustrum'^ as p'ticuUly 
y' Mile square by Keesooshamaug to m' hawly of Stratford, Souwenys sale, 
and Chuhees, Matehack, Wonnekequumbom and Wesuncko; Wee say, all 
and every of them are hereby confirmed, as fully as if every of them had bin 
formally written and acknowledged according to law ; — All w^''" Bills of sale, 
more Gen" or perticul'', do conteyn, by estimation, seven Miles, at y^ North 
end, between Waterberry and Milford late purchase about fourscore Rodd 
West of Sheepaug River at y^ Steep Rock ; & so running on y'^ West side of 
s"^ Riv', of y« same breadth westward to y* mouth of s"^ River ; to y' great Riv'', 
till wee come to known Bounds below kettle town, and uppon y' East w"" Dar- 
by and Waterberry Bounds ; onely we have as yet reserved to o"'selves ; viz 
from y° falls uppon Sheepaug RiV to y^ great Rive', and from s^ falls Eastward 
to y^ Riv', y' runs through Woodbury Town at y^ Bent of y^ River, or little 
southward, contayning more or less as to y^ quantity. 



English p'sent and at y' 

subscription 
John Minor Interp''t' 
John Sherman Justice 
Elizabeth Minor 
Rebeckah Minor 

The Indians y' sub- 
scribed appeared p'son- 
ally y* same day of y^ 
date hereof and ac- 
knowledged y^ above in- 
strument to be y'free act 
& Deed before me this 
Twenty-Eighth of May 
in y' y' one thousand 
seven hundred and six 
John Minor Justice 

1706 May: 2S<h 



Nunnawaoke 

Tumaseet 

Chesquaneag 

Mauquash 

Wussebucome 

Accommy 

Wirasquancot 

Wussockanunckqucen 

Kehore 




, his marke 

his marke 
his marke 
his marke 

his marke 




his marke 



S4) 



Noegoshemy 



\r 



his marke 



his marke 



Recorded originally ye date 
Above written as attests 

John Sherman Record' ' 



Munmenepoosqua 



IMuttanumace 



7T h er marke 



her marke" 



1 W. T. E., vol. 2, p. 138. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 31 

A part of this reservation, at its south-west corner, west of the 
Shepaug River below the Falls, was sold to Doct. Ebenezer "Warner, 
March Gth, 1728-9. This tract was called Promiseck by the In- 
dians. The conveyance was executed by Manquash, Cockshure and 
Conkararum, in presence of Chob, John Chob, Passacoran, and three 
English witnesses. 

As the numbers of the tribe became reduced, and the white set- 
tlers cleared up the land all around them, so that there was no longer 
sufficient game to support existence, they made fui'ther sales of their 
Reservation. On the 18th of June, 1733, the Indians conveyed to 
a committee of the town, about one-half of the Reservation, and on 
the 3d of January next year, about one-half of the remainder. These 
two sales constituted what has since been known as the South Pur- 
chase. The consideration of the first sale was £160, four shirts and 
a gun ; and that of the last, £40. Both conveyances were signed 
by Quiump, Cockshure, Maucheere and Naucathora. After these 
sales, there was left to the Indians only a remnant of their posses- 
sions at the south-east corner of their Reservation, in which was 
situated their last remaining village, called the Pootatuck Wigwams. 
They retained their title to this last resting-place for the soles of 
their feet, for a quarter of a century, when, being reduced to a mere 
handful in point of numbers, in 1758, they parted with their cher- 
ished Pootatuck, and the remnant that remained took up their abode 
with other tribes. In all their late sales, however, they had reserved 
to themselves the right to take game on the lands forever — a right 
which was always religiously respected by the whites,, whenever a 
straggling Pootatuck revisited the graves of his ancestors, or wan- 
dered in his once wide dominions. 

Thus it is seen, that the early fathers fairly purchased every foot 
of this ancient tow^n, and took conveyances with due and proper 
solemnities. From the known character of the men, it is to be 
presumed that these bargains were fairly conducted, and it does not 
appear that any disputes of any account ever arose in regard to them 
between the parties. In the order of Providence, one race had 
arisen, another had passed away. Sampson's locks were shorn — his 
glory and strength had departed. The red man, with a sad prodi- 
gality, had parted with his only wealth. 



CHAPTER III. 

CIVIL HISTORY. 

Church Dissensions in Stratford the cause of the settlement of Wood- 
bury ; Action of the General Court in 1667, 1669, 1670; Pomperaug 

GRANTED, and SETTLEMENT COMMENCED IN 1672 ; FrESH ARRIVALS NEXT YEAR; 

Appearance of the country; Locations chosen by the settlers ; V%iite 
Oak ; Main street laid out on an old Indian trail ; Fundamental arti- 
cles; Remarks. 

The settlement of Woodbury was the result of difference in reli- 
gious opinions, among the inhabitants of Stratford. It was ushered 
in by " thunderings and lightnings, and earthquakes ecclesiastical." 
The first ministers in the colony being dead, and a new generation 
coming on the stage of action, alterations in respect to church mem- 
bership, baptism and the mode of church discipline were imperiously 
demanded. Great dissensions on these subjects accordingly arose in 
the churches at Hartford, Windsor, Wethersfield, and other places, 
and continued in various parts of the colony, from 1656 to about 
1670. The discord not only affected all the churches, but it "insin- 
uated itself into all the affairs of societies, towns and the whole com- 
monwealth." 

About 1664, while these contentions were going on at Hartford, 
and other places, the people at Stratford fell into the same unhappy 
divisions and controversies in regard to the same subjects. During 
the administrations of Mr. Blackman,* their first pastor, the church 
and town enjoyed great peace, and conducted their ecclesiastical 
affairs with exemplary harmony. About 1663, being far advanced 
in years, he became very infirm, and unable to perform his ministe- 
rial labors. The church, therefore, applied to Mr. Israel Chauncy, 
son of President Charles Chauncy, of Cambridge, to make them 
a visit, and preach among them. A majority of the church 

1 Trumbull's Hist, of Conn. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 33 

chose him for their pastor, and in 1665, he was ordained in the inde- 
pendent mode. But a large and respectable part of the church and 
town were opposed to his orduiation. It was therefore agreed, that 
if, after hearing Mr. Chauncy a certain time, they should continue to 
be dissatisfied with his ministry, they should have liberty to call and 
settle another minister, and have the same privileges in the meeting- 
house, as the other party. Accoi-dingly, after hearing Mr. Chauncy 
the time agreed upon, and continuing to be dissatisfied with his min- 
istrations, they invited Mr. Zechariah Walker to preach to them, and 
finally chose him for their pastor. Both ministers performed public 
worship in the same house. Mr. Chauncy performed his services at 
the usual hours, and Mr. Walker was allowed two hours in the mid- 
dle of the day. But after some time, it so happened that one day Mr. 
Walker continued his service longer than usual ; Mr. Chauncy and 
his people finding that Mr. Walker's exercises were not finished, re- 
tired to a private house, and there held their afternoon devotions. 
They were, however, so much displeased, that the next day they 
went over to Fairfield, and made a complaint to Major Gold, one of 
the magistrates, against Mr. Walker. The Major, upon heai'ing the 
case, advised pacific measures, and that Mr. Walker should be allowed 
three hours for the time of his public exercises. 

In May, 1669, these disputes came before the General Court, by 
petition of the parties, and 

"Upon the petition of the church of Stratford, tliis court doth declare that 
whereas y® church haue setled Mr. Chancey their officer and doe desire that 
they may peaceably injoy the full improueraent of their minister and adminis- 
trations without hlndreranse or disturbance, the court grants their petition 
therein, onely the court seriously aduiseth both parties to choose some indiffer- 
ent persons of piety and learning to compose their differences and setle an 
agreement among them, and that till October Court there may be liberty for 
Mr. Walker to preach once in the day, as they haue hitherto done by their 
agreement, the church allowing him full three howers between the church two 
meetings for the same."^ 

Notwithstanding this advice of the General Court, all attempts at a 
reconciliation were unsuccessful. The parties became more fixed in 
their opposition to each other, and their feelings and conduct more 
and more unbrotherly. At length Mr. Chauncy and the majority 
excluded Mr. Walker and his hearers from the meeting-house, and 
they convened and worshiped in a private dwelling. They were 



1 Trumbull's Colonial Eecords, p. 110. 



34 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

expelled in the face of the recommendation of the Coux-t in October, 
1669, advising them that 

" This Court therefore recommend it to the church of Stratford that Mr. 
Walker haue liberty the one jsarte of the Sabboth, whether parte Mr. Chancy 
will, and that they would hold communion together in preaching & prayer. 
But in case Mr. Chansey and the Brethren w"> him will not agree to that, it 
shall not be offensiue to this Court if Mr. Wallier and his Company doe meet 
distinctly elsewhere ; prouided each of them prouide well for the comfortable 
supply of their ministers."! 

It seems to have been apparent to some of Mr. Walker's party, at 
an early period in the controversy, that it would result in the settling 
of a new plantation. It is probable, that with this in view, some of 
them applied for liberty to purchase lands of the Indians, as we find 
it recorded as early as October, 1667, that 

"This Court grants Mr. Sherman, Mr. Fayrechild, L°' Curtice, Ens: Judson, 
Mr. Hawley & John Minor, liberty to purchase Potatuke and the lands adjoyne- 
ing, to be reserved for a village or plantation. "'^ 

In May, 1670, this vote was referred to, and an additional power 
granted the committee to arrange for a new settlement. 

" Whereas seuerall inhabitants of Stratford haue, Octob'', '67, had liberty to 
purchase Potatuck for a village or towne, the afoarsayd Committee w"" Mr. 
Sherman of Stratford are hereby impowered to order the planting of the same, 
if it be judged fitt to make a plantation ; prouided if they doe not setle a plan- 
tation there within fower yeares it shall returne to the Courte's dispose 
agayne."3 

These acts were rendered necessary, as a law had been framed at 
a very early date, that no person should "buy, hire, or receive as a 
gift or mortgage, any parcel of land of any Indians," except for the 
use of the colony, or the benefit of some town, with the sanction of 
the court. 

Pootatuclc was the Indian name of Newtown. The Pootatuchs 
owned the entire territory of that town, besides their possessions in 
Woodbury and other places. The territory of Woodbury was called 
Pomperaug, from an early distinguished chief or sagamore of that 
tribe, who had his principal residence and fortress on or near Castle 
Rock. It will be seen by this, that our forefathers might have been 

1 TrumbuU's Col. Rec, p. 124^ 

2 Trumbull's Col. Rec, p. 75. 

3 Trumbull's Col. Eec, p. 128. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 35 

the first settlers of Newtown instead of "Woodbury, had they not 
^chosen the latter for their residence. 

At length Governor Winthrop, affected with the unhappy contro- 
troversy and animosities subsisting in the town, advised that Mr. 
Walker and his church and people should remove, and that a tract of 
land for the settlement of a new town, should be granted for their en- 
couragement and accommodation. Accordingly we find on record. 
May 9, 1672, the following grant: 

" This Court grants Mr. Sam" Sherman, L"' Wm. Curtice, Ens: Joseph Jud- 
son and John Minor, themsehies and associates, liberty to erreet a plantation at 
Pomperoage, prouided it doth not prejudice any former grant to any other plan- 
tation or perticuler person ; i)rouided any other honest inhabitants of Stratford 
hau liberty to joyne with them in setleing there, and that tliey enterteine so 
many inhabitants as the place ^Vill conueniently interteine, and that they setle 
there witliin tlic space of three yeares."' 

This is the initial point from which the existence of Woodbury is 
dated. This graut being made at the May session, it was too late for 
our forefathers to move their families into the wilderness that season, 
but the preliminary arrangements were immediately commenced, and 
it is related, a few of the pi-oprietors came up, and raised some corn, 
which they secured in log cribs, but when they returned the next 
spring they found that the beasts or Indians had rifled them of their 
contents. 

Early the next spring, fifteen of Mr. Walker's congregation started 
with their families for the wilderness of Pomperaug. They were 
directed to follow the Pootatuck, or Great River, till they came to a 
large river flowing into it from the north. They were to follow up 
this stream about eight miles, when they would reach a large open 
plain on the river, which had been previously under the rude cultiva- 
tion of the Indians. They accordingly commenced their journey, 
and ai'riving at the Pomperaug, they thought it too small a stream to 
answer the description, and continued their journey till they came to 
the Shepaug River. Although this was scarcely larger than the one 
they had passed, they concluded to ascend it. After they had gone 
the prescribed distance on this stream, they found themselves near 
Mine Hill, in Roxbury. The country here was mountainous, and did 
not at all answer the description given them. They perceived, 
therefore, that they had passed the object of their search, and so jour- 
neyed in an easterly course over the hills, till arriving on Good Hill, 

1 Col. Rec, p. 177. 



36 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

they perceived the valley of the Pomperaug lying below in solitude 
and silence. Great was the gratitude of these pioneers of our town 
on this discovery, and it is related that Dea. John Minor fell on his 
knees, leading to prayer that little band of hardy adventurers, invo- 
king the blessing of Heaven upon their enterprise, and praying that 
their posterity might be an upright and godly people to the latest gen- 
eration. So far as his own posterity is concerned, his prayers seem 
to have been answered, for it has never since been without a Deacon 
to proffer the same petition.^ 

They encamped on Good Hill that night. The next day they pro- 
ceeded to the valley to examine their possessions. Much of the in- 
tervals and plains on the river, throughout the whole extent of the 
first purchase, had been divested of trees and undergrowth, by the 
Indian custom of burning over the woods in the autumn, and the na- 
tives had for many years raised their slender crops of corn, beans 
and tobacco, in these pleasant valleys, before the whites set foot in 
Connecticut. By this method, the forests were cleared of under- 
brush, so that the hunters could better pursue their game, and could 
have some open spots for their rude husbandry.^ 

The adventurers spent the day in examining the capabilities of the 
valleys, and at its close found themselves in that part of the present 
town of Southhury, now called White Oak. Here they encamped 
beneath the spreading branches of a large oak,^ and from this cir- 



1 A story is told iu several accounts, seen by the author, that one of the company 
of the name of Hiuman, put up a different sort of a petition from that of the Deacon ; 
praying that his posterity might always be blessed with a plenty of " Rum and Mili- 
tary GhryJ''' It is believed, however, that tliis story is apocryphal. It is not in accord- 
ance with the puritanical character of those Christian men, thus to make light of re 
ligious things. 

2 Dr. Hildreth, of Ohio, in describing the new lands at the West, no doubt gives a 
good description of our primeval forests : 

" While the red men possessed the country, and every autumn set fire to the fallen 
leaves, the forests presented a most noble and enchanting appearance. The annual 
firings prevented the growth of shrubs and underbrush, and destroying the lower 
branches of the trees, the eye roved with delight froin ridge to ridge, and from hill to 
hill ; which like the divisions of an immense temple, were crowded with innumerable 
pillars, the branches of whose shafts interlocking, formed the arch-work of support to 
that leafy roof, which covered and crowned the whole. But since the white man 
took possession, the annual fires have been checked, and the woodlands are now filled 
with shrubs and young trees, obstructing the vision on every side, and converting 
these once beautiful forests into a rude and tasteless wilderness." 

3 This oak has not been standing for many years, but some pieces are yet preserv- 
ed ; one of them is in the possession of Mrs. Whitlock, of Southbury. This piece was 
taken from the tree by the late Shadrack Osborn, Esq., a very respectable inhabitant 
of the town, on which appears in his handwriting the following: 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 37 

cumstance the locality has received its name. All of the first settlers 
that came that year, were not in this company. In a few days 
another company came, that encamped in 3Iiddle Quarter, and oth- 
ers followed. After fully examining localities, they began to select 
their home-lots. The Stileses, Curtisses, Hinmans and some others, 
chose their lots in White Oak. 

The Shermans pitched their tents in Middle Quarter, and it is re- 
lated that some of them spent the first night in a hollow walnut tree, 
that stood below the Gideon Sherman place. 

The first Sherman house was near that now occupied by Deac. Eli 
Summers. The Hurds located in the Hollow, near Mr. D. Curtiss', 
the Minors near Mr. Erastus Minor's, the Walkers near Mr, Levi 
S. Douglass', and the Judsons on the street leading north-west from 
the first Congregational meeting-house, called from them, Judson 
Lane, to this day. The Roots, who came later, settled in West Side, 
and the Johnsons, near the ancient burying-ground in Southbury. 
Some of the land thu^s taken up by the fii-st settlers, has never passed 
by deed, since the title was obtained of the Jndians, but still remains 
in the original names, having passed from father to son, by devise, or 
distribution, for nearly two centuries. The homestead of Mr. Eras- 
tus Minor is one of these tracts, the house of Capt. John Minor, his 
first ancestor in this town, having stood a little westerly from his res- 
idence, near the river. David J. Stiles, Esq., owns the home-lot of his 
first ancestor here. HHis house stood but a little east of that of his 
descendant, the present owner. 

Those who selected White Oak for their abodes, undertook to live 
on the intervals near the banks of the river, but a great freshet hap- 
pening soon after, drowned them out, and drove them up to the pres- 
ent street. The first framed house was built in Judson Lane, a few 
rods west of the residence of Mr. Merrit Piatt. The cellar is not en- 
tirely filled up to the present day. 



" This is a piece of the ancient white oak tree, taken from the trunk after it fell 
down, Aug. 19th, 1808, by Shadrack Osborn. 

' The sturdy oak, the boast of every clime, 
Must bow to the relentless hand of time.' 

^ The tree of which this is a part, stood about eighty rods east of the river, bj- the 
old field road, in the corner of the Mitchell land. The settlers of the ancient town of 
Woodbury encamped under it when they first explored the town. It gave the name 
of White Oak to the northern part of Southbury, and remained in a state of vegeta 
tion for a nixmber of years after the limbs were broken off, and the bodj' wa s part de 
cayed, and fell down in the year 1808. This piece was taken from the trunk, Aug. 
19th, the same year, by me Shadrack Osborn." 



38 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

The next was built near the residence of the late Hermon Stod- 
dard. Deac. John Minor's was built about the same time. These 
were covered with rent oak clapboards, in the old lean-to style. The 
most of the houses, in the early years of the settlement, were built of 
logs, and all of them in the first instance. These rude dwellings 
passed away with the first generation. 

That the intervals on the river were cleared up, to a considerable 
extent, before the arrival of the first settlers, and that this fact was 
well known, we have proof from the Colony Records. In May, 
1671, in order to encourage a settlement at Derby, the General 
Court, after granting a tract of land extending from Milford to the 
Pootatuck River, and reaching to twelve miles to the north, further 
granted, 

" That they shall have liberty to improve all the meadow lyeing on Pompa- 
ivraug River, allthoiigh it be out of their bounds, till the Court shall see cause 
otherwise to dispose of it." 

It might well be said to be out of their bounds, for the Court in 
1670, as already seen, had given authority to a committee to make 
a plantation at Pootatuck and lands adjoining, if they saw fit, and 
gave them four years to accomplish it in. But it does not appear 
that the Derby planters made any use of the privilege, as no consid- 
erable progress was made in that plantation till Hay, 1675, when we 
are informed that there were about " twelve famalyes setled there 
allreadey, and more to the number of eleven prepareing'for a setle- 
ment forthwith ;" and King Philip's war breaking out that spring", 
drove even this small band back to the towns from which they came. 

The present street, from the North Meeting-House in "Woodbury 
to the Southbury Meeting-House, was laid out nearly upon the old 
Indian trail leading from the Nonnewaug wigwams to Pootatuck 
village, passing the grave of Pomperaug by the rock, near the car- 
riage house of N. B. Smith, Esq. It was a custom of the Indians to 
have their trails pass the graves of their buried chieftains, and as 
each warrior passed the grave in his various expeditions, he dropped 
a pebble stone upon it in honor of his memory. A large pile of these 
pebbles had accumulated upon this consecrated spot previous to the 
settlement of the town, which remains till the present time. 

Among other preparations which the early fathers made for their 
removal into the wilderness, was a code of laws, or articles of agree- 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 39 

ment, for their government after their arrival at the place of desti- 
nation. This model constitution, containing all the elements of 
civilization, justice and religious liberty, has been preserved entire. 
These pages can be no better occupied than by a copy of it, which 
follows. 

Fundamental Articles agreed upon in order to y^ settlement of a 
plantation at Pomparague. 

We the committee appointed by ye Honored General Court for ye erecting a 
plantation at Pom2)arague in ye behalf of ourselves & our Society being met 
together ye 14th of feb"" 1672 and having been serious & deliberate in ye con- 
sideration of, ye benefit of ye s'' place, and ye prosperity of ye same have 
consented & Agreed to ye following perticulers : 

1. Imprimis : that y^e shall be so many admitted to interest in ye s<^ plantation 
as ye jilace may comfortably Accomodate : 

21y That These Inhabitants shall be accounted of these following Ranks or 
orders as to ye distribution of ye lands there to be distributed, viz: ye fijst 
Rank or order shall have 25 acres to their homelott : ye 2d order : 20 : ye 3d 
Rank 1S= the fourth order 16 : ye next shall have 12 : ye last &: least shall 
have ten acres to their homelott and each shall have ye same jiroportion of 
meadow ; or lowland to ye proportion of ye homelott that is to say one halfe 
joyning to their homelott where it falls it can be so and ye other halfe in 
ye next convenient place by ye order of ye Committee & in all other divisions 
of land to be proportional according to ye first proportion or order viz : 
ye homelotts : a fift part of which first proportion shall be homelott proper, 
ye other homelott division. 

3. Thirdly we agree & consent that all publike charges as it relates to this 
plantation shall be borne proportionable by ye inhabitants according to ye 
land each inhabitant shall Receive as below exprest : Which is agreed upon, 
to be with y' in lieu & consideration of all Ratable estate thereby included. 

41y We do further agree that y'' shall be Accomodation Reserved for ye minis- 
try besides what shall be allotted to ye first removing minister ; as also a 
parsell of land for y^ Incouriging a schoole y' learning may not be neglected 
to children. 

5 : We agree and consent that y^ power of selling ye homelotts to each inhab- 
itant as before exprest shall remaine with ye major part of ye committee the 
which we do promise and also purpose to be with our Greatest care for 
ye publick good and greatest advantage to ye plantation and ye satisfaction 
& comfort of each inhabitant as shall more fully appeare in ye acting 
ye same. 

61y We agree and consent that notwithstanding what is above exprest as to 
ye proportion of each inhabitants meadow or lowland it shall be considered 
in ye second division viz ; the other halfe of their proportion of meadow 
according as ye meadow either holds out or falls short : 
It: The committee aforenamed at another meeting upon ye 20th of March 
167|- amcRgst other perticulers by them apprehended for ye good & benefitt 



% 

40 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

of ye said plantation did agree & consent that all persons intending there to 
be inhabitants according to orders shall ingage to remove themselves & 
y' families to ye s<i plantation before ye first of next may come two years from 
ye date hereof. 

It: They are also to make ye same their dwelling place four whole years after 
ye such y' removal before they shall have liberty to dispose of their Accomo- 
dations yre granted them Granted to any other person in way of sale or 
alienation to prevent discouragement to ye s'' plantation & if any do sel after 
such time as he hath hereby liberty so to do he shall neither sell alienate nor 
lett ye same Accomodations to any other person but such as ye town shall 
approve of, the town also promises either to purchase ye accomodations of 
ye removing person or to approve of such blameless man in his conversation 
with certificates according to law : that shall be presented to buy ye same. 

It: It is further agreed on that in case of removal whereby any person con- 
tinues not 'ye whole above exprestviz: foure years they shall foriitt ye Ac- 
comodations to ye town only it is Granted & consented to that ye person so 
removing shall be allowed what he hath bettered the s*^ Accomodations by 
his Improvement, and it shall be paid by ye town within one twelvemonth 
after ye removing person so leaves ye s*^ plantation : death is no^wais intend- 
ed by ye s'' removal upon which ye s' Accomodations shall be forfit'' as 
aforesaid. 

It: It is further agreed on that in case of removal as above exprest the person 
removing shall be allowed whateuer money he hath layd out as to ye pur- 
chesses besides ye allowance for his improvement as aforesaid with ye prom- 
ise that if any man shall pay his proportion to ye purchess & then hold it in 
subpence without removal thither and improvement yr of during ye aforesaid 
two years spoken of he shall without any allowance or consideration from 
ye town lose both his money so disbursed and ye accomodation also. 

It: It is further agreed on that every person receiving land as before exprest 
and subscribing hereto shall ingage to pay scot & lott, viz: all publick 
charges to all ciuil and eccleseastical affaires in such ways and in such order 
as shall be judged most convenient for ye benifitt of ye s'^ plantation & 
ye comfort & advantage of each Inhabitant. 

It: It is further agreed on that ye purchess of ye said Pomparague together 
with ye charges expended about ye same be payd to ye committee or their 
order in Wheat pease & pork a third in each & in case of ye want of tliese 
sorts of pay then other ways to ye Committees satisfaction by each inhabitant 
hereto subscribing within ten months after his homelott be layd out upon 
forfiture of his land so layd out : and for as much as ye desire of y' remain- 
ing in theire peaceble injoyment of that way of chh disiplin which they are 
persuaded is according to God we do hereby ingage each for himselfe not 
only that we will not any way disturb ye peace y' in but also that we will 
personally subject ourselves to that Ecclesiastical Gouerment that shall be 
there established or practised agreeable to ye Word of God. 
We whose names are hereunto subscribed being desirous to be admitted In- 
habitants of ye new plantation that is to be erected at pomperogue do hereby 
ingage ourselues to ye strict obseuance and attendance of ye true interest of 
ye forgoing articles Acknowledging ye attendance thereof to be a condition 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 41 

upon which we shall injoy what land shall there be allotted & layd out 
unto us. 

Samuel Sherman Sen' Samuel Styles 

Joseph Judson Sen' Titus Hinman 

John Minor David Jenkins 

Israel Curtiss Moses Johnson 

John Wheeler Samuel Munn 

John Wyatt Roger Terrill 

John Sherman Eleazer Knowles 

John Judson Tiiomas Fairchild ' 
Joshua Curtiss 

These articles, as it appears, were executed early in the year 
1673, and the settlers probably arrived here in April or May the 
same year. By them it was stipulated, that all were to enjoy equal 
privileges, both civil and religious. The Committee, or principal men, 
composed a Court to judge between man and man, doing justice accor- 
ding to the " written word " until a town was legally organized. The 
expense of the original purchases of the Indians, and of obtaining 
the grant from the General Court, the expenses of the removal, the 
building of roads, bridges, and all other expenses of a public nature, 
were to be ascertained. When this was accomplished, each one was 
to have an interest in the lands of the township, proportional to the 
amount pf said expenses paid by him. But there was a restriction 
as to the quantity of land Avhich a proprietor might have. No one 
could have more than twenty-five acres for his home-lot, and the 
poorest among them was entitled to ten ; so that a few rich men 
could not control the township. It was desirable, in those early days, 
for the inhabitants to live near together. So that their entire home- 
lots were not then laid out on the street, one-fifth only being laid 
out as home-lots proper for their dwellings. The largest were there- 
fore only five acres in extent, and the smallest two. The remaining 
four-fifths were " home-lot division," and were laid in contiguous and 
convenient places. The remainder of the lands of the plantation 
were reserved for future divisions among the inhabitants, as exigen- 
cies should require, and to be laid out to sons arriving at majority, 
and to such newly admitted inhabitants as should be received. Ac- 
cordingly, as tl\e settlers cleared their lands, other divisions became 
necessary ; such as meadow, or lowland, woodland, uj^land, and pas- 
ture divisions. They also, in the early years of the settlement, had 

1 W. T. R., vol. 2, 175. 



42 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

common fields, to which all had a right. In all these divisions, each 
proprietor had his share in proportion to his home-lot. All taxes 
civil and ecclesiastical, were borne ratably according to the same 
rule. Adjustment books were kept, in which each planter was made 
debtor to the land he received, and was credited with what he sold 
for the equalization of taxes. 

From these articles we learn that here, as in all the other towns 
of New England, the settlers had a particular regard to the establish- 
ment of religious institutions. It was their design to erect churches 
in strict conformity to Scripture example ; and to transmit evangeli- 
cal purity, in doctrine, worship and discipline, with civil and religious 
liberty to their posterity. So great was the attention they paid to 
these interesting points, that they not only made ample provision for 
the minister, who was to remove with them, but they also sequestered 
lands for the future support of the ministry. 

Another truly New England feature is noticed, in this their first 
solemn agreement, in the ample provision made for a school, " that 
learning might not be neglected to children." Our fathers, though 
living under kingly rule, were republicans, rejecting with abhorrence 
the doctrines of the divine right of kings, passive obedience, and 
non-resistance. Upon these principles they formed their civil insti- 
tutions. This, like the other towns, in its constitution was a pure 
republic in embryo. They thought the church should be accompa- 
nied by the school-house, religious principle by an educated and 
ennobled understanding. In this way, they judged, intelligence and 
good morals could best be propagated. 

We notice also, the poverty of our ancestors at this time — the 
almost entire want of a currency. All the expenses growing out of 
the purchase and settlement of the plantation, were to be paid in 
wheat, peas and pork, in equal proportions, as to value, if these could 
be obtained, and if they could not, then in other articles to the satis- 
faction of the committee of the settlement. 

Under such severe difficulties were these pleasant dwelling-places 
and habitations, which we now enjoy, prepared. And yet our ances- 
tors were not the paupers nor the fortune hunters from the old world. 
They were the sturdy yeomanry, the intelligent mechanics and 
farmers, the middle classes, whose independent spit-its spurned the 
yoke of tyranny. Oppressed and harassed in the old country, our 
sainted sires sought in the wilds and fastnesses of this wilderness 
world, a place for that freedom of thought and of action, which they 
could not find in " Old and enlightened and self-satisfied Europe." 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 43 

Thoroughly impressed with the idea that time, faith and energy will 
accomplish all that can be done in this life, the most appalling difii- 
cnlties were met and overcome. They did not for a moment doubt 
that " God would raise their state," and build up his church in that 
excellent clime to which they had come." To their enlightened 
vision, there beamed from the distant west the light of liberty, which, 
like " another morn risen on mid-noon," Avould continue to shine till 
the " perfect day." 



CHAPTER IV; 

CIVIL HISTORY CONTINUED. 

POMPERAUG MADE A TOWN, AND CALLED WoODBURY, IN 1674 ; SIGNIFICATION 
OF THE NAME ; KiNG PhILIp's WAR IN 1G75 ; INHABITANTS OF WoODBURY GO 

BACK TO Stratford; Orders of the General Court; Watching and 
Warding ; Rev. Mr. Walker's Letter in 1676 ; Inhabitants return in 
1677 ; Town released from taxes for two years ; Action of General 
Court in relation to the Boundaries of the Town ; Town first rep- 
resented IN the General Court in 1684 ; Patent granted in ample 
form in 16S6 ; General Court grants the North Purchase to the town 
in 1703 ; Same purchased of the Indians in 1710. 

So numerous had the arrivals of our ancestors become in the new 
plantation of Pomperaug, during the year 1 673, that at 

" A Court of election held at Hartford, May 14th, 1674, 

" This Court grants that Paumperaug and the plantation there shall be called 
by, the name of Woodbury, which town is by this Court freed from Country 
Rates fower yeares from this date."' 

This was the only charter the town had till May, 1686, and was 
as formal as the charters or grants to the other towns of the colony 
to this date. In accordance with the usual gratuity to the new towns, 
it was freed from taxes for four years. 

The town continued to go on, in the full tide of " successful ex- 
periment," as we glean from the scanty means of information left us 
at this day. It had chosen a beautiful name, characteristic of its lo- 
cation and history. Our fathers, in a somewhat poetic vein of mind, 
as we may imagine, called their new town Woodbury. The word 
hury is a different orthography for hurg, hurh, borough. It signifies a 
house, castle, habitation, or a dwelling-place. Hence "Woodbury is a 
dwelling-place in the wood. There was a cluster of " burys" in the 
vicinity of this town within its first century. Besides AVoodbury, 



1 TnimbuU's Col. Rec, p. 227, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKY. 45 

this part of the State gloried in the names of Southbury, Eoxbury, 
Westbury, (Watertown,) Middlebury, Waterbury, Northbury, (Ply- 
mouth,) Farmingbury, (Wolcott,) and Danbury. 

In May, 1675, the General Court appointed " Capt" John Nash, 
Capt" Wm. Curtice and L"' Tho: Munson to lay out the highway 
from Woodbury to Pawgasuek, (Derby,) to the most convenient 
place for a ferry, and allso to lay out a convenient parcell of land for 
a feriy place. And the towne of Stratford are allso by this Court 
appoynted to lay out a country highway from their town to Pagasuck 
in the most convenient place where the ferry shall be settled." It 
would seem by this, that the inhabitants were becoming numei'ous, 
and that they wished to establish a good route to their former homes 
in Stratfoi'd, and the present abode of their friends and relations. 
In fact, their minister had not yet removed his family to their new 
town, but while part of his church had removed to Woodbury, a 
part remained still in Stratford, and he ministered to them as occa- 
sion allowed, in both places. It was therefore an object, much to be 
desired, to open a good and direct communication between the two 
places. 

At the same session it was enacted, that " This Court doth grant that Wood- 
bury shall haue liberty to choose of what county they shall belong to, Whether 
Hartford, New Haven, Fayrefeild."^ 

The first book of town acts is lost ; so that we find on record no 
action taken by the town upon this matter. Many of the interesting 
particulars of the settlement of the town are, for this reason, irrecov- 
erably lost. The people, probably, chose to belong to Fairfield 
County, as we find it always mentioned in the list of towns belonging 
to that county, from this date to 1751, when it became a part of the 
new county of Litchfield. 

The committee, mentioned above, to lay out a ferry and a road, re- 
ported to the General Court in May, 1677, two years from the date of 
their appointment. The reason of the delay will presently be obvi- 
ous. They say among other things, • 

" And first concerning the ferry, they order and appoynt it to beat the lower 
end of the old Indian feild, and that litle peice of land between the rocks and 
the gully or creeke to be for a place to build any house or houses upon, and 
yardes for secureing of goods or cattell that may be brought to the ferry from 
Woodbury, Mattatuck, &:c. 



1 TrumbuU's Col. Eec, p. 253. 



46 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

" Livetenant Joseph. Judson declared that if the inhabitants of Derby would 
put in a ferry man in convenient time, they were content, or els upon notice 
giueii they of Woodbury would put in one whome the towne or Derby should 
approue for an inhabitant, and that without any charge to Derby or the coun- 
t.y.'^i 

These facts are noted, and extracts made, with a view to present 
to the mind the extreme ditHculty and delay, which attended every 
effort to found this inland town. 

But far more serious evils awaited the adventurous pioneers, in this 
" dwelling-place" in the forest. In June, 1675, King Philip's war 
broke out, and filled this and neighboring colonies with the gloom and 
terror which always accompany Indian warfare. After the Pequot 
war, for nearly forty years, the whites had been at peace with their 
Indian neighbors. But now the news spread through the United 
Colonies, that a general combination of Wampanoags, Narragansetts, 
and other tribes, had been formed, with the desperate design of uttei*- 
ly removing the white race from their land. Philip, with his fierce 
bands of relentless warriors, appeared suddenly on the scene of ac- 
tion, and blood and misery followed in his trail. This war affected 
all the eastern colonies. The eastern part of Connecticut was the 
most exposed part of that colony, but every portion of it suffered 
from the predatoiy excursions of the savages, and continual alarms. 
The frontier towns, like "Woodbury, were particularly exposed to 
danger. 

In October, 1675, the General Court, deeply affected with the ap- 
parent danger, enacted military regulations of the most careful and 
vigorous kind. It was equivalent to putting the whole colony under 
martial law. Among their regulations were : " Sixty soldiers to be 
raised in every county ; places for defense and refuge to be immedi- 
ately fortified in every plantation ; neglect of order in time of assault 
to be punished with death ; no provisions to be carried out of the col- 
ony without special license ; no male between the ages of fourteen 
and seventy suffered to leave the colony without special permission 
from the council, or froti four assistants, under penalty of £100." 
Each plantation was also to keep a sufficient watch, from the shutting 
in of the evening till the sunrise ; to have one-fourth part of the town 
in arms every day, by turns, and those who worked in the fields to 
go in companies, and when going half a mile from town, to be not less 
than six in number, with arms and ammunition well fixed and fitted 

1 Trumbull's Col. Eec, p. 302. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 47 

for security." These orders were carried out by the towns, with 
alacrity. Many were partially fortified, and in all a constant guard 
was maintained. . Guards were stationed in the belfry of meeting- 
houses, on high hills and bluffs, and even in sentry-boxes erected for 
their accommodation, to watch for the enemy, and protect the inhab- 
itants. Every eifort was made for the public safety. 

This war continued during the winter, and at a meeting of the 
council at Hartford, March 16, 1675-6, the following action was 
taken : 

" In regard of the i^resent troubles that are vpon vs, and the heatlicn still con- 
tinuing their hostility against the English, and assaulting the plantations, to 
pervent their designs against vs. It is by the Councill ordered, that the watch 
in the severall plantations, about an hower at least before day, in each day, 
doe call up the severall inhabitants in each plantation within their respectiue 
wards whoe are forthwith ujjon their call by the watch, to rise and aim them- 
selves, and forthwith to march to their severall quarters they are appoynt- 
edto in theire wards and elsewhere, there to stand upon their guard to defend 
the town against any assault of the enemie vntiU sunn be lialfe an hower high 
in the morning, and then the warders are to take their places ; and scouts in 
each end of every town are to be sent forth on horseback, to scout the woods 
and discouer the approach of the enemie, and to continue on the scout goeing 
so far into the wods as they may return the same day to giue an acco' of what 
they shall discouer; and the scouts are to take direction from the chiefe millitary 
officers resideing in their respective townes, how and which way they shall 
pass, to make their discovery. And whosoeuer shall neglect to giue attend- 
ance to this order in all and euery of the particulars thereof, shall forfeit fine 
shillings for euery defect. This to be attended till further order. "^ 

It is to be particularly noted here, that the "watch" was to call up 
all the inhabitants an hour before day, and have them on duty till after 
sunrise. This precaution was taken from the fact, that men sleep 
soundest at this time, and as the Indians had knowledge of the fact, 
attacks were most frequently made at this hour. It is difficult, at 
this distance of time, to imagine the dangers, trials and alarms, that 
must exist in feeble communities, reminded as they were each moi'n- 
ing, of their desperate condition, by regulations such as these. 

This state of affairs drove the inhabitants of "Woodbury back again 
to Stratford. How long they continued to maintain their position in 
the new town is not known ; but they no doubt returned during the 
summer or autumn of 1675. A little light is thrown upon the ques- 
tion by the advice given by the General Court to Derby, which was 
nearer the old towns and in a somewhat safer position. 



1 Trumbull's Col. Eec, p. 416. 



48 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

" At a General Court held at Hartford, October 14, 1675. 

"The inhabitants of Derby having desired the advice of this Court, what is 
their best way to attend for their safety in this time of difficulty, the Court re- 
turn that they judg it the best and safest way to remoue their best goods and 
their corn, what they can of it, with their wives and children, to some bigger 
towne, who, in a way of Providence, may be in a better capacitie to defend it ; 
and that those that stay in the town doe well fortify themselves, and stand up- 
on their guarde, and hasten the removeall of their corn as afores'' what they 
may ; and all inhabitants belonging to the place may be compelled by warrant 
from any Assistant to reside there untill this may be done. The like advice is 
by this Court given to all small places and farmes thorow-out this Colony to be 
observed. "• 

Woodbury was at this time farther inland than any other western 
town in the Colony, and it is highly probable, that the " wives, chil- 
dren and best goods of the planters had, even before this advice was 
given, been removed to Stratford, a place of " more hopeful security." 
It is equally probable, that the resolute men of the town had remain- 
ed to bring off their crops. But fortunately we are not left to con- 
jecture as to the entire removal of the inhabitants of the town, al- 
though the day and month can not be noted. There is on record, in 
the archives of the State," an original letter, in the handwriting of 
Rev. Zechariah Walker, signed by himself and the first minister of 
Derby, asking to be protected if they should return with their people 
to their several plantations. It is a fine specimen of the style of the' 
early ministers' reasoning, and is deemed worthy of being inserted, at 
full length, in this place. 

To ye Honoured Gen'' Court convened at Hartford Octob' 12"' 1676— We 
whose names are hereunto subscribed do humbly propose as followeth. 

That whereas ye providence of God hath so ordered that by means of late 
troubles brought upon ye country, we the inhabitants of Woodbury and Derby 
have been necessitated to remove from o' dwellings. And a more lavorable 
aspect of providence at ye present inviting us to a return, & ye necessity of 
many of o'' families in part inforcing it; yet forasmuch as we cannot be assured 
but ye like danger may again arise ; we make bold before such o"" return, to re- 
quest this honoured Court to resolve us in one important inquiry, viz : in case 
the war w"" ye indians should be again renewed what we may expect & trust 
to, from ye authority of this Colony in order to o' protection & safety ? We 
humbly request that o"^ inquiry may neither be judged offensive, nor concluded 
irrational, till ye following grounds of it be considered. 

1. First we cannot be insensible of o"" former experience viz : that in a time 
when danger threatned ye loudest, & o'' two plantations afores'^ were probably 



1 Trumbull's Col. Kec, p. 267. 2 War, vol. 1, p. 115. 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 49 

in greatest hazzard, we were not only without any other lielp but o'' own lor 
ye guarding of Or said places but o"" own also, wch were indeed too few were 
taken from us, time after time, being pressed from ye sea-side towns when oc- 
casionally they came thither about necessary business, whereby we had more 
proportionally to o' numbers from o'' two plantations, iraployed in ye publick 
service, then (we suppose) any other town of ye Colony; And as by y' means 
we were forced to a removall, so y''in we had not the least benefit of any guard 
for ye safety ol' o"" persons or goods. 

2. Neitlier can we be insensible how unable many persons will bee, after a 
second remove to those plantations without ruineto yc families, to return again> 
to these older plantations : partly by means of y^ chargeableness of such re- 
moves & partly by means of what disapointments we have already met with. 

3. Thirdly we desire ye niutuall obligation betwixt rulers & subjects may be 
considered, viz : y' as ye latter owe subjection, respecting both ye persons & 
estates ; so ye former are obliged to protect both according to ye best ability 
providing that they may lead a quiet & peaceable life. 

4. Let it be considered ; that though tbrmerly the country had cause enough, 
because sin enough, to beget an expectation of afiiiction, yet y'' w^as little or no 
expectation, y' it should arise from such means, before it did begin ; tlie expe- 
rience y''fore of so unexpected an afiiiction aliords (notwithstanding a present 
seeming cessation) yo more cause to expect ye like again, sooner or later ; espe- 
cially so little of relbrmation any where appearing: If therefore new-begun & 
remote plantations, may not in such hazzards have any protnise of just protec- 
tion ; ye non-incouragm' of such, (as will endanger their desertion) so it will 
discourage any other persons from erecting any other, for ye inlargement of 
ye Colony, i.^ whether y' will not be much to ye disadvantage of ye Colony, we 
leave upon inquiry. 

5. The secureing of those two plantations of Woodberry & Darby will ac- 
cording to second causes, be one of ye most considerable securities, in a time of 
such dangers, unto ye two western counties, viz : of New Haven, & Fairlield '• 
for it can hardly be expected y' any strength of Indians will adventure to set 
upon any lower plantation, till they have attempted ours above & if they fail, 
they will be ye more shy of pounding themselves by coming lower. 

G. Though we cannot atTirm, yet we are not without some reason to suspect 
(ifc yfore only propound it as a conditionall argument) that ye charges expend- 
ed in other colonies, for garrisoning some of their out towns, & fetching offe 
ye parsons, & goods of some others, will come upon account in ye publick 
charges of y£ war, to be proportionably borne by ye three Colonies : which if it 
be, this Colony will be so much ye shorter in ye bill of expenses because they 
have not done ye like, & vertually fined to ye other Colonies, because they had 
not as extensive & generall a care of y^ out plantations y' were most exposed to 
danger as other Colonies had of theirs. 

We humbly request yo'" consideration of ye premises, & y' yo"^ worships will 
so far regard o'' infant plai:tations, as to afford us some intimation of yo'' pleasure 
concerning this o'^ inquiry. 

Yours in all due observance, 
JOHN BOWER in ye behalfe of Derby 



fy g cK4K^(xA A^^oJk 



-VK- in ye behalfe of Woodberry 



50 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

From this letter it appears that our forefathers were not only 
obliged to meet and brave all the dangers of the wilderness, all the 
horrors of Indian wai'fare, but that some of their best men were 
forced into service, when -they went into the older towns on their 
necessary business, which was frequently, as they were entirely des- 
titute of the conveniences and many of the necessaries of life. It 
seems, too, that these outrages were the immediate cause of their 
removal ; and that, had it not been for these, they might have been 
able to stand their ground against the incursions of the enemy. 
The argument contained in this letter is a cogent one, and the case 
well put. 

What action the General Court took in the premises does not 
appear. It is not probable, however, that any guard was furnished 
them, although one of the first settlers of Woodbury, John Minor, 
was sent to this session, as one of the Deputies from Stratford, prob- 
ably with a view of obtaining aid for the new town. He however 
might be said to be a resident of both places, having " large accom- 
modations " in both Woodbury and Stratford, and being for five or 
six consecutive yeai's the only town-clerk for both towns. The 
plantation was by no means given up, as, at the same session, their 
lands were put in the list of the towns whose valuation for taxation 
was made by a committee, and the valuation of Woodbury home-lots 
was within 5s. per acre of that of the more favo^jed towns in the 
Colony. This valuation was 20s. per acre for home-lots, and one- 
fourth of all other land improved for tillage, mowing and pasture, 
10s. per acre for the remaining three-fourths used for those purposes, 
and Is. per acre for all other land inclosed by fences. 

A part of the inhabitants went back to Woodbury in 1676, but 
not aU, for at the same session we find it still further enacted that 

" The inhabitants of "Woodbury haveing been much down at Stratford with 
their stocks this summer, and some are likely to winter there, all such persons 
and stocks, that shall so winter at Stratford are to pay rates in proportion as the 
rest there, but the others shall pay but a fourth part of those exterordinary rates 
to the country; which easement is as much priuiledg to them as other towns 
usually had at their beginning. "i 

The list of Stratford, at the same time, was ordered to be increased 
to the amount of property brought there by the inhabitants of Wood- 
bury. 

1 TrumbuU's Col. Rec, p. 299. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 51 

During the year 1G77, the inhabitants slowly returned to the new 
settlement. As late as May 15, 1G78, some were yet remaining in 
Stratford. Upon tlie application of those who had returned, the 
General Court at its May Session in 1678, ordered those who had 
taken up land at Woodbury, to inform the authorities of the town 
whether they would go there to reside, according to the regulations 
of the plantation, their answer to be sent within one month after 
notice, and their residence to take place by the first of November 
following. 

At the same session it was ordered 

•' And in regard the progress of the planting of that plantation hath been 
retarded by the kite warr & they have not rec'^ the Benefitt in the grant of the 
General Court which exeinpteil tlieni from Rates for Three yeares. This 
Cotut sees meet to grant them, the Town of Woodbury viz the persons there 
Inhabiting, a further exemption from coinitry rates for their estates of Wood- 
bury for the Space of Two yeares from October next."' 

Upon the passage of this order, the inhabitants of the town imme- 
diately held a meeting, and voted to avail themselves of the Court's 
action. A letter in Capt. John Minor's handwriting was accordingly 
addressed to those remaining in Stratford, informing them tliat the 
town had passed a vote, that if those who had taken up land in 
"Woodbury, did not personally, or by letter, within three weeks make 
known their intention of removing thither, they should allot their 
lands to others. They urge, 

" Ffriends it is farr from o'' desire y' any of you should be aboose'^ by this act 
of o* : wee covett not yo"^ Lands, but yo"' company. Wee desire not to displease 
any of you, but yett if wee cannot please you uppon lower termes y" by undoe- 
ing o''seiues, wee assure you, that wee cannott come to yt price ;"2 

Assuring them again at the close of the letter, tliat at the end of the 
three weeks, they should proceed to allot the lauds to others. 

This action of the Court and town probably brought up most of 
those who had lands. On the 27th of June, 1678, their minister, 
Mr. Walker, came with his family to reside permanently with his 
people at Woodbury. Previous to this time, it seems that his family 
had resided at Stratford, he having had liberal grants of land made 
him by the town of Stratford, while his church was the second church 
of Stratford, and before there was any decision to found a new town. 



1 TmmbuU's Col. Rec, p. 3, vol. 94, 95. 

2 Towns & Lands, vol. 1, p. 246. 



52 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

The controversy in Stratford had ended in dividing the ministerial 
lands between Mr. Chauncey and Mr. Walker, Mr. Chauncey having 
the first choice. A house had been built by Mr. Walker on his 
home-lot, and his family continued to reside there till the date above, 
after which he sold his land at intervals till nearly the close of his* 
life. But as a further account of these transactions will be intro- 
duced in a subsequent chapter, nothing more in relation to them will 
be said in this place. It is introduced now, to show that the action 
of the town was so decided that even their minister could not be 
excepted from it. An additional reason for his remaining at Strat- 
ford was, that a part of his church remained there, and he carried on 
his ministrations in both places. 

In 1675, the General Court first acted in relation to the bounda- 
ries of the new town. In various ways these gradually became 
settled, but had not been fully ratified till May, 1715, and the boun- 
daries of the North Purchase were not settled till 1724. The fol- 
lowing votes and reports explain themselves. 

"May 1675 This Court appoynts Lieut Jo' Judson, Mr John Bankes Ed- 
ward "Worcester & Wra Judd to view the lands of Derby, Woodbury, Matta- 
tock, Pottatock & Wyantenuck & the distance between place & place, & to 
consider what may be suitable bounds for each town & present the same to the 
Court in October next.' 

"October 1679 — This Court desires & order the committee appoynted by 
this Court, May 13, 1675, to view the lands of Derby, Woodbuiry, Mattatock, 
Potatuck & Wyantenug (fee. & to consider what maybe suitable bounds 'for 
each town, that they attend the sayd service as soon as may be, & make report 
thereof to the Court in May next, & that no farm be layd out within eight miles 
of either of those places, till the committee have made their return. 

■ " October, 1680. To all whom it may concern &c, be it known, that wehere- 
vnto subscribing in the behalfe of the plantations of Woodbury & Mattatuck, 
by the motion of honourable freinds & M^eighty arguments vs hereunto induce- 
ing, have had a meeting upon the 29th of June 16S0, in order to the settlement 
of the boundaryes between the sayd two plantations, and doe freely & vnany- 
motisly agree and consent as foUoweth viz. that there be a line run due east 
from the westermost part of the bounds agreed and concluded between Matta- 
tuck &: Derby to Mattatuck river & so that line to be runn from the sayd riuer 
two miles & twelue score rodd due west, & then a line runn from the easter- 
most part of the great pond, comonly Known by the name of Quassapauge, 
from such a part of the pond as by vs allready is agreed on fouer score rod due 
east, and then a straight line fronr that four score rod to the aforesaid west 



1 Towns & Lands, vol. 8, pp. 152, 153, 154. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 53 

corner between Derby & Mattatuck, & from the aforesaid corner fouer score 
rod due east from the aforesaid pond, — the bounds is agreed & conchided to 
run due north to the extent northward of each plantation bounds, and that this 
is our mutuall agreement and firm settlement of our diuident lines between our 
plantations aforesaid is signifyed by our subscribeing herevnto this 29th day of 
June in the year of our Lord Sixteen hundred & eighty. 

JOHN MINOR 
WILLIAM JUDD 
JOSEPH JUDSON 
THOMAS JUDD 
ISRAEL CURTICE 
JOHN STANDLY Jun 

<' May 16S1. This Court have granted that the bounds for the plantation of 
Mattatuck, shall runn eight miles north from the town plott, as their stated 
bounds, and doe confirme and rattify the boundaryes agreed upon by Mattauck 
& Woodbury plantations and the boundaries agred upon between Mattatuck & 
Derby inhabitants, which more at large is sett down in their subscribed papers 
by the hands of the committees appoynted by each plantation &: Mattatock 
bounds on the east shall be upon Farmington bounds. 

" Oct 1CS3. This Court grants that Woodbury bownds shall be seuen miles 
due west from Mattatuck west bownds which is eastward of the pond, about 
eighti rods from said pond at the road, and the Court grants them eight miles 
from the north bownds of Derby where the line runs between Woodbury and 
Derby. 

" May 16S5. This Court appoyntes John Stanly of Mattatuck & Abell Gunn 
of Derby to lay out the north & west bownds of Woodbury from the Noreast 
corner seuen miles west, & Irom thence south till it meets with Pototuck riuer 
& run by the riuer till it meets with Derby bounds. 

"May 16S6. This Court appoynts Lieut Ebenezer Johnson to joyn with 
John Standly of Mattatuck, in the laying out of the bowns of Woodbury accor- 
ding to the grant of the Court to sayd towne. 

" May 1715. These may certify the generall assembly of the Colony of Con- 
necticut in New England or any concerned, that whereas wee the subscribers 
were by said assembly appointed to lay out the north & west bounds of Wood- 
bury as may be seen upon record about the year 1GS5 or 86, pursuant to said 
act, wee began at their Northeast corner which was a white Oak tree standing 
in the dividing line between Waterbury and said Woodbury, and from thence 
wee measured a west line seven miles, which extended west over Chippaug 
River about eighty rods upon a rising land & there wee marked a white Oak 
tree and laid up stones near it, which was the extent of their north bounds 
then granted. Wee do further testify by these, that wee did upon the second 
& third days of Nov' 1714, draw a South line from said tree according to our 



1 Eighty rods. 



54 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

be?t skill, which ended or abutted South upon Potatuck riuer, which ended 
directly against a brook on the other side of the riuer supposed to be or known 
by the name of Yanumpaug brook, and set up plentiful monuments in said 
South line. 

EBENEZER JOHNSON 
JOHN STANLEY" 

The above return was accepted by the Court in May, 1715, and 
the bounds of the town became fixed till the acquisition of the North 
Purchase, which was simply an addition to the old town. 

At the May session of the General Court in 1684, Capt. John 
Minor and Lieut. Joseph Judson appeared as members. This was 
the first time the town had been represented, and at that session the 
Court granted that the " Woodbury sallery for their deputies shall 
be fifty shillings a session." This would probably be considered by 
the " magnates " who at present represent us yearly at the General 
Assembly, as rather a meager compensation. There was, however, 
a previous regulation, by which each town was to furnish the use of a 
suitable nag upon which its representatives might be carried, in 
proper state, to the place of legislation. 

About the same time, uneasiness began to arise in the minds of 
some of the inhabitants, in relation to the title by which they held 
their lands. The territory of the town had originally been granted 
to the committee of the Second Church at Stratford, under the in- 
junction or proviso, that they should receive as many inhabitants to 
rights and privileges in their lands, as the plantation would conven- 
iently accommodate. The extent of territory was large, and it was 
a much more desirable place for habitation than most inland town;>. 
Under these circumstances, many persons offered to be admitted to 
the privileges of proprietorship in the plantation, and the authorities 
did not see fit to admit all of them. It was very natural for these 
persons to question the rights of those already located there, and to 
threaten to have the title by which they held their lands inquired 
into. 

It is possible, that this was the particular moving cause, that 
induced the town to send deputies to the General Court this year, 
when it had rested very quietly without representation for ten years 
since its first legal organization as a town. Previous to this time 
the people had remained content with the measureT)f law and justice 
meted out to them by their committee of the principal men of the 
place, who ruled in accordance with the " written word." 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 55 

At the session of tlie General Court held in May, 1G85, the citi- 
zens petitioned for a Patent in due and ample form. For some 
reason, it was not acted on or not granted at that or the next session. 
But at the May session, 1G8G, it was granted in legal form, a copy 
of which follows : 

Woodbury Patent. 

Whereas the Generall Court of Conecticutt have formerly granted unto the 
Inhabitants of the town of Woodbury all those Lands within these following 
abutments viz. on Mattatucki Bownds & the Comons in i^art on the East, & on 
the Comons on the North, & upon potatuck Riuerthe Midle of the Streame & 
the Comons on the West, &: upon Derby Bownds on the Sowth, & is about 
Eight Miles in length & Seuen miles in bredth East & west; the Sayd lands 
haveing been by purchass or otherwise lawfully obteyned of the Indian natiue 
proprietors ; & whereas the prietors, Inhabitants of Woodbury in the colony 
conecticut in New England, haue made application to the Governor & company 
of the Sayd colony of conecticut, assembled the 14th day of May 16S5, that 
they might haue a patent for confirmation of the aforesayd lands to them, so 
purchased and granted to them as afores'* & which they have stood seized & 
quietly possessed of for some years last past, without Interuption ; now for a 
more full confirmation of the afoars** Tracts of land (as it is butted & Bownded 
afoars'*) unto the present proprietors of the sayd Township of woodbury, know 
yee; that the Sayd Governor & company, assembled in Generall court, accor- 
ding to the Commission & by vertue of the power Granted to them by our late 
Soveraigne Lord king Cliarles the 2'^ of Hajipy memory, in his letters patents, bear- 
ing date the Three & Twentyeth day of Aprill in the fowerteenth year of his s"^ 
Ma''" Reigne, haue giuen & granted, & by these presents doe giue, grant, rattify 
& Confirme unto Ln' Joseph Judson, M"^ Zachary Walker, Capt. John Minor, Mr. 
Jolin Hurd & Ensigne John Wyot, & all the rest of the Sayd present proprietors 
of the Township of Woodbury & tlieir heires & assignes for Euer & to each of 
them in such proportion as they haue allready agreed upon for the diuision of 
the same, all that afoarsayd Tract or pacells of lands as it is butted & Bownd- 
ed, together with all the woods, uplands, arable lands, Meadowes, pastures, 
waters, Rivers, Islands, fishings. Huntings fowlings, mines, Mineralls, Quarries 
& precious stones upon or within the sayd Tracts of land, with all other profiits 
& comodities thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining, & doe allso 
Grant unto the afoarnamed Ln< Joseph Judson, M' Zachary walker, Capt. 
Jn° Minor m"^ John Hurd & Ensigne John Wyott & all the rest of the present 
proprietors. Inhabitants of woodbury theire heires & assignes foreuer, that the 
afoarsayd Tracts of lands shall be foreuer hereafter deemed, reputed & be an 
Intire Townshijj of itselfe, to haue & to hold the Sayd Tracts of land & premi- 
ses with all &; singular thair appurtenances, together with the Immunities, 
priuiledges & franchizes herein giuen & Granted to the sayd Lnt. Joseph Jud- 
son, Mr. Zachary Walker, Capt° John Minor Mr. John Hurd & Ensign John 
Wyott & all other present proprietors Inhabitants of woodbury, their heires & 
assignes forever, & to the onely prosier use & behoofe of the Sayd Lni Joseph 

1 Waterbiu-y. 



56 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Judson, m' Zachary walker, Captn John Minor, m'' John Hurd & Ensigne John 
Wyott & others, all the present jjroprietors, Inhabitf^uts of woodbury their heirs 
& asslgnes foreuer according to the Tenor of his Ma''«s Manor of East Green- 
wich in the County of kent in the kingdom of England in free & common 
Soccage & not in Capitee nor by knight seruice, they yielding & payeing 
therefore to our Soueraigne lord the king, his heirs & Successors, onely the fifth 
part of all the oare of Gold & Siluer, which from time to time & at all times 
hereafter shall be there gotten, had or obtayned in I^iew of all rents seruices, 
dutyes & demands whatsoeuer, according to Charter. 

in Witnesse whereof we haue caused the Scale of the Colony to be herevnto 
affixed, this Seventeenth of May 10S6, & In the Second yeare of the reigne of 
our Soveraigne lord James the second, by the grace of God of England, Scot- 
land, france & Ireland, king, defender of the fayth &c. 

ROBERT TREATE Governor. 

pr. order of the Generall Court of Conecticut, Signed 

pr. JOHN ALLYN Secretary. 

March 30, 1GS7. pr. order of the Governor & Company of the Colony of 
Conecticut, Signed pr. JOHN ALLYN Secretary. 

The aboue written w"" that on the other side, is a true coppy of the originall, 
being Examined & compared therewith May 19, 16S6. 

pr. JOHN ALLY'N Secretary. 

At the May session, 1703, tliis Patent was confirmed, for what 
reason does not appear, except that an act was passed that session 
making the soil in all the patented towns an estate in fee simple. It 
is not known that any question in relation to its validity ever arose. 
The town during the same year confirmed all grants of laud which it 
had previously made. 

At the same session it was resolved that 

" This Court doe grant to Woodbury an addition to their township, viz' from 
the west bounds of Waterbury upon a parrallel line to the north-east bounds of 
the purchase made by the good people of Millbrd at Wiantenock." (New 
Milford.) 

This grant was not ordered to be surveyed till the October session 
in 1723. This was done by the surveyor of Fairfield County, who 
made his report to the May session of the Court in 1724. By it we 
learn that this tract, which was called the North Purchase, and 
included the present town of Bethlem and a part of Washington, 
contained seventeen thousand four hundred and eighty-two acres and 
sixty rods of land. A Patent, in due form, was issued, bounding it 
east by Waterbury, north by a line drawn from the N. W. corner 
bounds of Waterbury, W. 5" 30' N. to the N. E. corner of New Mil- ' 
ford, west by New Milford, and south by the original town of 
Woodbury. 

The town, having obtained this grant of the Court in, 1703, com- 
menced negotiations for the purchase of the same of the Indians, but 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 57 

did not complete the bargain till June 2od, 1710, when a deed was 
executed by Nunawague, Chesguneage, Cockshuiy, Wussuttanunck- 
quet and Sasaw, describing the tract as being by estimation " seven 
or eight miles east & west & about five or six miles north & south 
at ye east end & about two or three miles north & south at y° west 
end as granted to the town by the General Court," bounded east on 
Waterbury, south on the original town of "Woodbury, west on New 
Milford " alias Oantanuck," and " northerly on our own land as 
yet.'" This is the " North Purchase " shown on the accompanying 
map. 

The town had now full and undisputed title to its entire limits, 
both from the General Court and the native proprietors. Having 
been somewhat minute in tracing the title of our fathers to their 
habitations, we pass on more rapidly with other particulars in their 
history. 

1 W. T. R., vol. 2, p. 179. 



CHAPTER V. 



CIVIL HISTORY CONTINUED. 



Character of the First Settlers; Capt. John Minor; Capt. WiIliam 
CuRTiss ; Hon. Samuel Sherman ; Hon. .Iohn Sherman ; Lieut. Joseph 
JuDSON ; Lieut. Israel Curtiss ; Col. Joseph Minor ; Hackaliah Preston ; 
Hon. William Preston. 

We come now to a pleasing task, the contemplation of the char- 
acter of our forefathers, who subdued the wilderness, and left to our 
inheritance these pleasant valleys and hills. They were emphatically 
a moral and religious people, and retired to this forest land to enjoy 
more freely their religious opinions, than they could even in the 
older towns of the Colony. 

The original signers to the Fundamental Articles, as we have 
seen, were seventeen in number. Fifteen of these undoubtedly 
removed to the new plantation during the first year. It is not cer- 
tain that the two aged planters, Samuel Sherman, Sen., and Joseph 
Judson, Sen., ever resided here, although they had larger " accom- 
modations " than most of the other planters. 

Of their minister and head. Rev. Zechariah "Walker, who did not 
move with the first company, an account will be given in a subsequent 
chapter, and our limits will allow us only, to notice a few others, 
which may serve for a sample of the whole. 

First among the settlers, men of note in Woodbury, and foremost 
in all difficult undertakings, was John Minor, an interpreter to the 
Indians, a justice of the quorum among the magistrates, a captain 
in the mihtia, and a deacon in the church. He was also a surveyor, 
a necessary and important character in a new country. All the 
Indian deeds in this region were executed before him, from his being 
able to act as interpreter. He Avas town-clerk of Stratford for ten 
years from 1666, with the exception of a year, and held the same 
office in Woodbury for thirty years from its beginning. He was 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKY. o9 

also, for twenty years, almost ahvays a member of the General Court, 
held an influential poi^ition there, and was frequently appointed on 
committees for the composing of serious differences and the solving 
of ditficult questions. Early in life he acquired a good knowledge 
of the Indian dialects, and conversed in tliem with ease and fluency. 
In consequence of this, tlie rulers of the Colony wished to prepare 
him for a preacher of the gospel to the Indians. In accordance with 
which desire, the General Court, Sept. 14th, 1654, expressed by 
positive action, 

"Whereas, Notwithstanding former provision made for the conveyance of 
the Icnowledge of God to the Natives amongst vis, little hath hitherto beene 
attended through want of an able Interpreter, this Courted being earnestly desirous 
to promote and further what lyes in them a worke of that nature, wherein the 
glory of God & tlie euerlasting welfare of those poore, lost, naked sonnes of 
Adam is so deeply concerned, doe order that Thomas Mynor, of Perpiott shall 
bee wrott unto from this Courte & desired tliat hee woidd forthwith send his 
Sonne Jolin Mynor to Hartford, where this Courte will provide for his main- 
tenance >.t schooling, to the end hee nniy bee for the present assistant t(.) such 
elder, elders or others, as this Courte shall appoint, to interprett the things of 
God to y'" as hee shall bee directed and in the meanc time fitt himselfe to bee 
instrumental! that way as God shall fitt A; incline him thereunto for the 
future."! 

Upon tlie 23d of Sept., 1654, the subject was brought before the 
Commissioners of the United Colonies, and they enacted, 

" ^'pon a motion made to ye Commissioners bv Cap' Cnllick, from the Gene- 
rail Courte of Connecticott, to take into y' consideration ye instruction of ye In- 
dians in theire Jurisdiction, in ye Jcnowledge of God, and tlieir desire y' John 
Minor might be enterteined as an interpreter, to communicate to ye said Indians 
those instructions w<='' shall bee dt'livered by M'' Stone, M"^ Newton, or any 
other allowed by the Courte, and allso y' ye said Minor may be further instruct- 
ed and fitted by M"^ Stone to bee a meete instrument to carry on the worke of 
projiagating yc Gospel to ye Indians, ye Commissioners conceivieng ye said 
propositions to be much conducing to ye propogating y' hopeful! work, doe 
desire ye Magestrates of Connecticott to take care y' ye said Minor bee enter- 
tained at M'' Stones, or some other meet place, and they shall order y' due 
allowance bee made for liisdyetand education out of the Corporation Stock. ''^ 

Under this action, both John Minor and John, son of Thomas 
Stanton, were received and kept at school and college for two or 
three years. Minor lived with Mr. Stone for some time after, and 
acted as interpreter for him when he preached to the Indians. But 



1 Trumbull's Col. Ecc, 265. 2 Eec. U. Colomes . 



60 HISTORY OF ANCIKNT WOODBURY. 

he did not follow out the plan of his patrons. What induced him to 
turn his attention to other affairs, does not appear. He became, 
however, an honorable and useful citizen, turning his knowledge of 
the Indian tongue and his education to good account. He died at 
an advanced age, and was buried in the south-west part of the an- 
cient burying ground, but no stone remains to mark the spot — naught 
save a numerous posterity sleeping around him. 

Capt. William Curtiss was another early founder of Woodbury, of 
hio'h standing in the Colony, and one of the grantees of the planta- 
tion. He was from Roxbury, Mass. His name was usually spelled 
" Curtice." It does not appear that he bought an interest in the 
plantation himself, but he was its fast friend, and sent two of his 
sons, Lieut. Israel and Joshua, with the first settlers. He was a 
member of the General Court ten or twelve years from Stratford ; 
often a commissioner, or justice of the peace ; and from year to year, 
appointed by the Court on important committees in various parts of the 
Colony. He was ajjpointed Nov. 23d, 1673, captain of the forces 
raised in Fairfield County to serve against the Dutch at New Am- 
sterdam, (New York.) In Oct., 1 G75, he was appointed by the Gene- 
ral Court, captain of the sixty men to be raised in Fairfield County, to 
serve in King Philip's war, with power to appoint his inferior offi- 
cers. In May, 1G76, when the people of Woodbury were at Strat- 
ford, on account of this war, he and Mr. Samuel Sherman were 
appointed commissioners for " Stratford and Woodbury." 

Intimately associated with the last named, in all that related to 
the welfiire of the new town, was the Hon. Samuel Sherman. He 
was at the date of its settlement, undoubtedly the most distinguished 
man connected with the enterprise. He was from Dedham, Essex 
County, England, came to this country in 1634, and previous to the 
date of the new plantation, had been a leading man in the Colony. 
He had assisted in the settlement of several other towns in the Colo- 
ny, and now undertook the same for Woodbury. He had been a 
member of the Court of Assistants, or Upper House of the General 
Court, and supreme judicial tribunal, for five or six years from 1663, 
and held various olhces and appointments of honor and trust. He 
is referred to in ancient deeds and documents as the " Worshipful 
Mr. Sherman." In 1676, as stated above, he was one of the com- 
missioners for " Stratford and Woodbury." It is not certain that 
he ever resided here, although he took a first class " accommodation" 
in the grant of the General Court. If he did not remove personally 
to Woodbury, he evidently caused his lands to be improved, iu 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. Gl 

accordance with the articles of the settlement. They are " recorded 
to" him on the 26th of May, 1675, and on the 2-2d of June, 1679, it 
is further recorded that " Mr. Sherman having injoyed and improved 
his accommodations to this 22d of June, 1679, according to the grant 
of ys town," has now an " absolute and positive record to him of the 
same according to law." He deceased previous to Oct., 1684, and 
his sons, Matthew and John, agreed on a division of said lands. He 
may have resided here, but it is probable that, being advanced in 
in years, and comfortably settled in Stratford, he continued to 
reside there till he was "gathered to his fathers." He furnished 
one son (John) for the first company, and subsequently two others, 
Samuel and Matthew, for other companies. His son, Hon. John 
Sherman, was one of the first company, and his fame is more partic- 
ularly the property of the town than the two last. He was distin- 
guished not only in his town, but also in the Colony. He was a 
justice of the quorum, or associate county court judge for forty-four 
years from 1684, a representative of the town seventeen sessions, 
and speaker of the Lower House in ]May and October, 1711, and 
May and October, 1712. He was town-clerk twenty-five years, and 
captain in the militia, a high honor in those days. He was tlie first 
judge of probate for the district of Woodbury, froni its organization 
in 1719, for nine years. The district then comprised all the settled 
portion of the present county of Litchfield, and Waterbury in New 
Haven County. He was also an assistant for ten years from 1713. 

Lieut. Joseph Judson, Sen., another subscriber to the Fundamental 
Ai'ticles, was a man of note before the removal to this town. He 
came fi'om Concord, Mass. He was deputy to the Genei'al Court 
for some six years, and otherwise distinguished. After the settle- 
ment of Woodbury, he was sent as a deputy with John JNlinor to the 
session of 1684, being the first time the town had been represented, 
and continued to represent the town for four sessions afterward. 
He was one of the leaders of Rev. Mr. Walker's party at Stratford. 
He had a first class " accommodation," but it is not certain that he 
lived here till the close of his life, as a part of his land was after- 
ward sold to pay a ministerial rate. His son John, another " original 
sil'ner," was a prominent individual in the town and Colony. He 
died 12th Jan., 1709-10, aged sixty-three years. 

Lieut. Israel Curtiss, son of Capt^ William, was another of the 
" original signers," and took a prominent part in the settlement and 
interests of the town. He was a lieutenant in the militia, and 



62 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

represented the town at the May session, 1G89, and for seventeen 
sessions afterward. 

Colonel Joseph Minoi', son of Capt. John, was not one of the 
" original signers," but was one of the early settlers, and for eighty 
years afterward held a prominent position. He attained the greatest 
age to which any inhabitant of the town has ever arrived since its 
•settlement. He was born 4th March, 1G72-3, and died 20th Oct., 
1774, being nearly 102 years old. He was born sixteen days after 
the signature of the " Fundamental Articles," came to Woodbury a 
child, and spent a long life in its service. He passed through the 
various grades of military service to the rank of colonel, and was 
very efficient in preparing men for service in the French and In- 
dian wars. He was representative thirty-two sessions, town-clerk 
twenty-eight years, justice of the quorum fourteen years from 1725, 
and judge of probate thirty years. As above stated, he lived to a 
good old age, and retained all his physical powers to such an extent, 
that on his hundredth birthday he I'ode a horse through the streets 
of Woodbury. The fame of the feat is, however, marred by the 
fact that he did not alight, but fell from his horse. His descend- 
ants are still numerous in this town. He lived under the hill in 
rear of Erastus Minor's. He inherited a piece of land from his 
father, wdiich Erastus Minor, one of his descendants, now owns, and 
it is a remarkable fact, that it has never passed by deed since the 
deed from the Indians, nearly 200 years ago. It has passed from 
father to son through the probate court. 

Another early settler, but not an " original signer," was Hacka- 
liah Preston. He was a native of Wales, but came to Stratford from 
Turkey. Tradition says the Turks, for some reason, sought to kill 
him, and that he fled to save his life. He married Emm Fairchild, 
daughter of Thomas Fairchild, of Stratford, one of the principal 
planters and first magistrates of that town, who had come thither 
directly from England. He soon removed to AYoodbury in one of 
the companies of the first settlers. 

Hon. William Preston, son of the above, was born at Stratford, 
21st March, 167G, just before his father's removal to Woodbury, and 
was therefore, in one sense, a son of the soil, having spent his active 
life in the town, and rested from his labors 5th Sept., 1754, in the 
seventy-eighth year of his age. He was a leading man in the town, 
county and Colony. He was a member of the General Court thirty- 
five sessions, and stood high in the militia, having attained the rank 
of colonel. He was justice of the quorum eleven years from 1740. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. G3 

On the formation of the new county of Litchfiekl in 1751, he was 
appointed its first judge, which office he hekl for three years till his 
death, performing its duties to the credit of himself, and the interests 
of the people. He was a man of fine talents and commanding influ- 
ence — of sterling integrity and unflinching determination. He was 
active and efficient in all the walks of life, and died much lamented. 
Such was the character of the early men of Woodbury. We 
would gladly dijlineate the lives of more of them, did time and space 
permit. Such was the caliber of the men who laid the foundations, 
firm and sure, of our institutions, both local and general. It is of 
such ancestors a virtuous descendant has a right to be proud, and 
the memory of whom should shame into reformation any one, who 
may have departed from the boundaries of good character and correct 
principles. 



CHAPTER YI. 

CIVIL HISTORY CONTINUED. 

List of Settlers; Home-lots; 1672-1712; Old Parsonage of 1702; Pali- 
saded Houses; School Lot ; First Mill, 1674; Second Mill; Third Mill; 
Meetings at Bethel Eock; First Meeting House, IGSl; First Birth, 
Marriage and Death ; Samuel Munn, the first Wheelwright ; Abraham 
FuLFORD, the first Clothier ; Town Brand; First Ferryman; Docts. 
Butler Bedient and Ebenezer Warner, the first Physicians ; Localities ; 
Buckskin Breeches ; Wooden Shoes ; Ancient Titles ; Sir Edmund An- 
DRoss ; Shepaug Proprietors ; Dea. Samuel Bull, the first Blacksmith ; 
First Divorce ; Bachelors' Accommodations ; French and Indian War of 
1707; Fortifications and Garrisons; Action in relation to the Poota- 
tucks ; Parson Stoddard kills two Indians ; Soldiers at Wood Creek in 
1709; North Purchase Rate, 1712; Reflections., 

In this part of om- labor, we find considerable difficulty from the 
fact, that the first volume of town records is lost, together with its 
contents, except some portions, which could be deciphered from its 
fragmentary remains, and which were judged important by the town 
to be preserved. These were collected into what now forms the first 
volume of town records by Nathan Preston, then town-clerk, and 
certified by him March 6th, 1793, one hundred and twenty years 
after the founding of the town. The same is true in regard to the 
first book of proprietors' records, or acts of the town. These were 
in like manner copied in 1771, so far as could be done, or was deemed 
necessary, by Benjamin Stiles and Gideon "Walker, the latter being 
at that time town-clerk. 

Besides the original signers, there was a large number of families 
which removed to Woodbury before King Philip's war, but no record 
remams to tell their names. After that war, the inhabitants slowly 
returned, and new names appeared among them. The following list 
had arrived, in addition to the ori'ginal signers, and been assigned 
home-lots and divisions, previous to 1682, as nearly as can now be 
collected. 



niSTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



65 



Rev. Zechariali Walker 
John Hutlnvitt, 
John Skecls, 
Ambrose Thompson, 
Andrew Nichols, 
Hackaliah Preston, 
John Leavenworth, 
Thomas Leavenworth, 
Samuel Munn, 
John Mitchell, 
Ebenezer Blackman, 
Abraham Clish, 
John Huid, 
Ebenezer Hurd, 
John Stratton, 
Henry Hill, 
JMatthew Mitchell, 
Alexander Bryan, 
Benjamin Galpin, 
John Boot, 



Isaac Nichols, 
Samuel Hinman, 
Dennis Hart, 
Samuel Galpin, < 
Sgt. Moses Johnson, 
Thomas Drakely, 
Joseph Booth, 
William Frederick, 
Isaac Bennett, 
Henry Castle, 
Joseph Seelye, 
Nathan Hough, 
Joseph Hicock, 
Benjamin Hifock, 
John Minor, Jan., 
Jonathan Hurd, 
Joseph Hurd, 
Henry Castle, Jun., 
Jauie.s Beers, Sen., 
Zechariah Walker, Jr. 



Benjamin Stiles, 
William Martin, 
Samuel .Tenner, 
Matthew Sherman, 
Joseph Iliirlljut, 
Joseph Seelye, 
Samuel Nichols, 
Richard Beach, 
Isaac Curtiss, - 
Samuel Sherman, Jr., 
Samuel Hull, 
Thomas Hurlbnt, 
William Roberts, .^ 
Edward Ilinman, 
Jonathan Squire, 
Cornelius Walker, 
Caleb Nichols, Sen., 
Thomas Bedient, 
John Pierce, 
Thomas Appleby. 



All these had an interest in the land, and were householders. 
From this list of men, we may estimate the number of inhabitants in 
the town at this time, at four or five hundred. 

The settlers laid out their home-lots in quantities of from two to 
five acres, with narrow fronts, which were arranged on both sides of 
the main street, or "Indian Trail," as before described, from East 
Meadow to the " Bent" of the river.- The " home-lot division," four 
times as large as the home-lot, was laid out in rear of it, and extended 
back one mile from the street, that " run through the middle of the 
town from end to end of the town." On the west side of the street 
the same rule prevailed. This rule was adopted by an order of the 
General Court to all new towns, for protection against the Indians. 
Next followed the " meadow division " or lowland, which was laid 
on the intervals and plain lands. After this came the " upland 
division," laid out on the irregular, hilly gi'ounds. At the same 
time the " pasture division " was laid out for the accommodation of 
their cattle. In process of time came the " woodland division," after 
they had cleared their other divisions, and a provision for fuel be- 
came necessary. Still later, after they had subdued and brought 
under cultivation their other lands, came the " Good Hill division," 
and " White Oak Plain division," which designate their own locali- 
ties. All these divisions were assigned, or laid out, to the settlers in 
proportion to the size of their home-lot, and that was determined by 
the amount paid in, under the oinginal articles. 



66 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

It is impossible now to trace the exact localities of all the first 
settlers. Their home-lots Avere small, and the present holders of 
land occupy each several of the original sites. Several of the fami- 
lies have been before located in these pages. The first regular 
town miller lived where Hon. Nathaniel B. Smith now resides. His 
name was .John Kurd. After him Doct. Joseph Perry lived in the 
same place. -Rev. Zechariah Walker's house stood where Levi S. 
Douglass, Esq., now lives, and covered a part of the present cellar. 
Isaac Judson lived opposite the place occupied by Nathan Warner, - 
Jun., and his house was one of those surrounded with palisadoes, as 
a protection against the Indians. Another ])alisaded house stood on 
the site occupied by Horace Hurd's new dwelling-house. Capt. 
John Minor's, under the hill in rear of Erastus Minor's, was another. 
Another of the fortified houses was that of one of the Bronsons in 
Transylvania, now in existence. It had a look-out on its top by the 
chimney for observation. Doct. Jonathan Atwood's house occupied 
nearly the site of the " Old Town House." Adino Strong settled at 
Scuppo, but he came after 1700. The reservation of land for a 
school, as agreed in the " fundamental articles," was laid out north 
of the Cranberry Pond before 1700. In the next year some change 
was made, when Mr. Stoddard was settled in the ministry, and his 
home-lot was laid out on the 12th of May, in this place, then called 
Foot's Neck. It was part of the contract of the town with him, to 
build him a house of certain dimensions on this lot. It was immedi- 
ately commenced, and finished so that he could move into it late in 
1701. He alludes to it as his dwelling-house, in a communication 
written in 1702. It was surrounded with jialisadoes,' was the most 
strongly fortified house in the plantation, and could receive more 
peoijle than any other in case of an alarm. One of the bounds in a 
deed of the lot next north of this, dated olst March, 1702, was laid 
within a foot of " y" pallasadoes in Mr. Stoddard's fence." George 
W. De Wolf now occupies this, the oldest house in the county. The 
parsonage meadow division was that in rear of Hon. N. B. Smith's, 
the remainder of his home-lot was near John P. Marshall's, and his 



1 Houses were palisaded in the following manner, viz. : a deep ditch was dug 
ai'ound the house ; logs were then placed perpendicularly in the ditch all around it, 
leaving a space only for a gate. Tlie logs were sharpened at the top, placed close 
together, and extended eight, ten or twelve feet above the ground. The earth was 
then returned, and beaten down around the logs till they stood firmlj'. This, with 
a gate well secured, was a pretty good defense against a sudden attack. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. G7 

"Good Ilill division" (50 acres) was laid out '• ia or near Weaco- 
pemis i)layn." 

When the first settlers came, they had few of the conveniences of 
life. Among the things ihey had not, was a mill to grind their grain. 
They were twenty-five miles from any inhabitants, in the wilderness, 
with no roads, or even a path leading to the older settlements. They 
iiiiitated their " red bretliren," and used mortars to reduce their grain 
to a state fit for cooking. But this was not to be endured long. 
There were weddings, and other great occasions to be provided for, 
and something must be done. Accordingly, they sent to Stratford, 
and procured two small mill-stones, so diminutive in size that they 
were brought here through the forests on horseback. They prepared 
mill-gearing, built a small shed on JNIiddle Quarter Brook, a few I'ods 
easterly from Dea. Eli Summers' house, and set their mill in opera- 
tion. It is said that when it was in complete running order, it could 
grind the enormous quantity of a bushel of grain per day. Great 
was the rejoicing of our fathers, when this vast improvement was 
obtained. They took turns at the mill, each grinding his own grist ; 
or rather, one carried his grain in the morning, set the mill in motion, 
and went after his grist at night. This was probably biiilt in 1G74, 
and was the only mill in the territory till IGSl, One of these mill- 
stones is still in the door-yard of Miss Lucy Sherman, serving in the 
humble capacity of a door-stone, and the other in Hartford. They 
are about two feet in diameter, and six inches in thickness. Traces 
of the dam still exist. These are highly interesting memorials of the 
early days, and carry us back in memory to the long-ended toils and 
sufferings of our fathers. Long should these rude memorials be 
preserved, as rare fragments Avliich have escaped the ruthless hand 
of Time. 

But the inhabitants had become so numerous before 1681, that the 
old mill was entirely inadequate to the wants of the town. It had, 
therefore, granted " mill accommodations " of land and other consid- 
erations, on the west side of the river, to John Hurd, to " encourage " 
him to take upon himself the responsibility of building a '' corn mill " 
of suilicient capacity to do all the grinding re<iuired by the town. 
The date of this agreement is the 28th of August, 1G81. He pro- 
ceeded to erect his mill about fifty rods south-westerly from his 
dwelling-house, which stood where Hon. N. B. Smith's now stands. 
It was erected immediately under the hill, and the water for its 
accommodation was brought in a ditch, faint traces of which remain, 
fi'Om the river, about one hundred rods distant, and discharged into 



68 HISTORY OF ANCIENT AYOODBURY. 

the river again at about half that distance below the mill, nearly in 
rear of " Parson Stoddard's house." The dam was built across the 
river at the still water in the Pomperaug; nearly west of the mill? 
and no vestiges of it now remain, yet the locality has retained the 
name of the " Mill Pond " to this day. The late aged Ashbel Moody 
told the author that he recollected, when a boy, going there to bathe, 
and that a jiart of the dam was then in existence. In time of fresh- 
ets, all the intervals in this place were overflowed, and it was not a 
fortunate location for a dam. It was, besides, a gigantic work for 
private enterprise in those early- days. The frequent inundations 
injured the dam repeatedly, so that Ilurd was about to give up the 
attempt to maintain a mill in despair. A town meeting was, there- 
fore, called on the 11 th June, 1683, and it was agreed that the town 
would provide " sufficient help to repair the present break in the 
dame upon two days' warning, except it be in harvest time." Hurd 
was to pay for this labor at the rate of " 100 feet of sawed boards or 
other satisfaction equivalant," to each person for three days' work. 
He was to have the liberty of erecting a " cart-bridge a little below 
the saw-mill, and to keep it in repair, at his own proper charge, 
seven years from date, and then to throw it up again, as no Town 
bridge." As additional " encouragement for his seasonably grinding 
the Town's Corn" for seven years, which he agreed to do, taking no 
other " Toll than the Law allows," the " Town granted him ten acres 
of Land next Southward of the mill accommodations, on the West 
side of the river." No person was to be called on to help him more 
than three days, and he was to give security for the fulfillment of his 
contract.^ How far the saw-mill was located from the corn-mill is 
not now known, but probably at no great distance. This arrange- 
ment continued in full force till 1G91, when Hurd having deceased, 
the mill accommodations were given to his heirs on the same condi- 
tions ; but the heirs not fulfilling, the town took further action in the 
premises, and on the 15th of Februaiy, 1G91," its authorities entered 
into solemn contract with John Mitchell and Samuel Stiles, 

" That tlie s"^ John MitchcU and Samuel Stiles shall and may, at their own 
proper charge and cost, policiy and continuance, build, set up and continue 
from this date forever, a good sufficient Corn Mill, at or within four rods dis- 
tance from that place where the present Corn Mill stands, together with a 
sufficient dam, whereby they may be capacitated, well and seasonably to grind, 
from time to time, and at all times, successively, all such corn as all, eacli and 



1 W. T. R., vol. 1, p. 90. 2 Probably 1C91-2. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. G9 

every of the inhabitants of Woodbury siiall bring to tlie s'' mill to be groiiml, 
the which they do hereby covenant, promise and engage, faithfully to perform, 
well and seasonably, upon the conditions herein exprest, from the date hereof 
forever. In Consideration of which, the Committee hereunto subscribing do in 
behalf of themselves, and the town of Woodbury afore*'', by way of encourage- 
ment that the abovesaid work may be well and truly done, premise and engage 
to the abovesaid Millers a ten acre accommodation, to b'e layed out as nigh and 
convenient to said IVIill, as may be, of land not yet particularly impropriated, 
which ten acres accommodation is to all intents and purposes as absolutely 
entailed to the Mill and Miller, that doth perform the abovesaid covenant of 
well and seasonably grinding, as any particular, absolute and firm entailment 
explicitly can be drawn."' 

As a further " encouragement to said millers to perform the con- 
tract on their part, £00 were to be paid in provision pay, or otherwise 
to the s'' millers satisfaction." Those inhabitants who could not pay 
in })rovisions, had the liberty of paying in " days work." The town 
engaged to have all its grinding done at this mill, as long as it 
should continue to do it " seasonably." It was further agreed, that 
if, " after a further experiment, it be found that the dam can not be 
made to stand at that place above exprest," then it ■\vas to be located 
" elsewhere with the advice of the town." The land in this agree- 
ment was laid out in Ragland. Ens. Samuel Stiles had also, 16th 
Oct., 1 G97, twenty-eight aci*es of " meadow and upland " laid out to him 
as town miller. It appears that advantage was taken of the last clause 
in this agreement, soon after, to establish the mill near the present 
mill and factory of Daniel Curtiss, Esq., in which place a mill has 
ever since been kept up, there being a very good water privilege 
there. As evidence of this removal, we find the " old ditch," men 
tioned in a conveyance as early as five or six years later than the 
date of this agreement. The mill accommodations continued an 
api)endage to the mill till within a recent period, although other mills, 
in various parts of the anci(^it territory, w'ere subsequently estab- 
lished as the new societies were formed. 

After the settlers were in some measure located, and began to have 
some of the comforts and conveniences of life, their thoughts natu- 
rally turned to the prime object of all the plantations in New Eng- 
land, the establishment of public -worship, and the location and con- 
struction of a suitable house in which to enjoy the ministrations of 
the gospel. From their first settlement hitherto, they had worshiped 
in each other's houses, in the inclement months of the year, and in 

1 W. I.E., vol. 1, p. 84. 



70 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

the Slimmer months had convened, in the stillness of the Sabbath 
morn, in a beautiful and retired spot on the east side of the Orenaug 
Rocks, between the clitfs, with their sentinels placed on the top of 
the adjacent rocks, to guard against surprise from savage foes, and 
there made " tJie sounding aisles of the dim woods " vocal with the 
high praises of God. In a rude pulpit of stone, still standing in that 
lonely dell, we may, in imagination, see the faithful Walker address- 
in"- his attentive hearers and delivering to them the words of " truth 
and soberness." This spot received the name of Bethel Rock from 
this circumstance, and has been ever held as a consecrated place by 
the descendants of those early Christian fathers, whither they have 
at times resorted for meditation and prayer to the present day. 

The unsettled state produced by King Philip's war, having passed 
away, and the inhabitants having become quite numerous for a new 
town, they now resolved to " build them an house " for public wor- 
ship. As has ever been the case in such matters, they did not readily 
agree on a location. But it does not apjiear that they fell into those 
violent contentions which so often occur. They had tried various 
ways to solve the difficulty. Among other methods, they attempted 
a determination of the question by lot, thus showing us a glimpse of 
the superstition of the age in which they lived. But although they 
had " solemnly left the matter to God " for a decision, vague suspi- 
cions of some human agency in the result obtained, arose in the 
minds of many. They therefore, in a peaceable and orderly manner, 
took the following rational action in the premises. 

" Woodbury June 22nd 16S1. 

^" At a. Lawful Town Meeting whereas notwithstanding former endeavors for 
y° settlement of y* place for a meeting House lor publick wori=liip in Woodbury, 
there yet remaining something of scruple, and these indeed not yet sueeessfuU, 
and particularly a lot drawn upon that account. To prevent contention and 
that peace and union may be obtained and continued, we have agreed and 
consented that to refer y^ decision of y^ s'' Lot with y^ circumstances thereto 
relating, wether y Lot were regular or ttnlawfull to y° isue and determination 
of our honorable friends Major Treat Dep. Govenor and Major Gold, and in 
case y* abovementioned Majors do not determine an isue of themselues we do 
fully leave it to them to make choice of a 3'' person to act in thee afaires herein 
exprest. In case y* Lot be determined regular y" work is finished and we will 
acquies therein. If y'= Lot is irregular then we refer y^ whole settlement of a 
place for a meeting House unto them, and \vc do hereby engage and bind 



1 W. T. R., vol. 1, p. 91. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



71 



ourselves to rest fully satisfied with what isue and detennination shall be by 
our honorable friends, or any two of them concluded on. 

Per JxNO. MINOR Recorder. 



" The same day and time y"= town made choice of John Minor to present this 
act of y° town to y^ above named honorable friends, and to solicit to as speedy 
an action herein as with their convenience, y« which he speedily did, and 
y= Gentlemen came to Woodbury upon y= 4 of July next following, and haveing 
considered y' atfaires gave in the following conclusion and setdement upon 
y= 5"' of July, 1681. 

«' Woodbury, July 5''', IGSl. In answer to y= desires of our neighbors and good 
friends of y" town of Woodbury albresaid to refer y« answer and resolution 
where there procedure were regular in and about y'^ casting a lot for y'^ place of 
ye setting a Meeting House unto ns Roljert Treat and Nathan Gold, which after 
we had heard and considered what was on both hands said pro and con in the 
matter, we returned our answer in yo negative, and whereas yc whole settle- 
ment and determination of y*^ place of ye setting of ye meeting house was also 
then refered to ns ye s'' Robert Treat and Nathan Gold with libert_v of new 
choice of a third man in case we found need, and accordingly we made choice 
of Nicholas Camp to be ye man, and after we had heard what was said, and 
viewed ye several places propounded, we did jointly agree and determine 
ye place of ye setting up of their s'^ meeting house is to be on ye right hand of a 
hollow where goes down ye Cart way from M' Walker's house to the corn mill 
about twenty rod below his house, where we pitched down a stake, and that 
this is our determination may appear by our Joint subscribing our names ye day 
and year above written. 

Robert Treat Sen'', 
Nathan Gold, 
to the latter part Nicholas Camp 

Dilligently Recorded from ye original at ye same time 




The site here indicated, is that now oecnpied by the carriage house 
of Hon. N. B. Smith. This fixes the location of the corn mill, and 
that of Parson "Walker's house, where Mr. Levi S. Douglass now 
lives, as well as that of the meeting-house. 

The decision of the committee appears to have given satisfaction to 
the town, and the work of building immediately commenced. The 
dimensions of this house are not preserved, but it was of a large size 
for those times, and was used as a place of worship till the erection of 
the second meeting-house in 1747, a period of sixty-six years. The 
seats were raised one above the other, on either side of the center of 
the house, the pulpit being, as usual, at the end of the house opposite 
the entrance. The people were called to church on the Sabbath, by 



72 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

% 

the beat of a drum upon the rock on which the Masonic Lodge now 
stands. The same instrument was used to call the people together 
on other days in the week, and for other jiurposes. It beat for meet- 
ings of the town, for the assembling of the train-band, and in cases of 
alarm in time of war. There was a particular beat for each of these 
occasions, but what was the ditference in the roll of the drum ecclesi- 
astical, the drum military and the drum civil, is not known. During 
the perilous times of the French and Indian wars, guards were placed 
on Lodge Rock, and the rock the other side of the church, near Pom- 
peraug's grave, while the people, who also carried their arms, Avor- 
shiped within. After the dedication of the second meeting-house, the 
old one was used as a town hall for many years, and also by the 
Episcopal Society for their service. Still later, it was used by Mr. 
Tallman for a slaughter-house. But it was many years ago taken 
down, and its place is now occupied as before stated. 

The first female born in Woodbury, was Sarah, daughter of Sam- 
uel Sherman, Jun., and the first male, Thomas, son of John Wheeler. 
They were both born in 1673, and baptized in Stratford. 

The first three children born and baptized in Woodbury, after the 
war with the Indians, were Bezaleel, son of Edmond Sherman, and 
Emm and Sarah Fairchild, whose baptism took place 11th April, 
1675-6. The first man-iage appearing on the records is that of 

"Benj" Hinman and Elizabeth Lumm, both of Woodbury, in ye County of 
Fairefleld, in bis Majes'^ Coilony of Connfecticott were married ; Man and Wife; 
ye twelveth day of JulV; one thousand six hundred eighty and foure as attested 
und'' ye hand of Justice Rickbell, wlio married them." 

The first death on record is that of" Henry Castle, sen'', after a long 
sickness above a twelve-moneth," 2 Feb., 1697-8. But there were, 
doubtless, both marriages and deaths in the town pi-evious to this 
date. 

The first wheelwright who settled in the town was Samuel Munn, 
whose home-lot was laid out to him in 1681. In 1688, he contracted 
with Parson Walker to make him a cart and cart-wheels for a piece 
of land, " only Mr. Walker is to cart the timber to said Munn's, and 
find iron as hoops." 

Dr. Trumbull, in his History of Connecticut, says, that in 1713, 
" there was but one clothier in the colony. The most he could do 
was to full the cloth which was made. A great proportion of it was 
worn without shearing or pressing.'" 



1 Hist, of Conn., vol. 1, p. 478. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 73 

If this assertion is correct, and we see no reason to doubt it, Wood- 
bury was the location of that first clothier, and Abraliam Fulford was 
the man. In the month of January, 1700, we find the following 
record, signed by forty-four of the principal inhabitants of the town. 

" We whose names Eire liereunto subscribed do hereby Grant unto Abraham 
FulUbrd, a well accomplished person both for combing wooll, weaving and 
fulling cloth : if he se cause to cohaljitt in this town, and be beneficiall upon 
ye s'' accounts a tenn acre accommodations in Woodberry : January 1700. "' 

lie saw " cause" to accept tlie offer, and his home-lot was laid out 
next to that of Ens. Samuel Stiles, the town miller. Other lands 
were laid out to liim at Scuppo, Hull's Brook, Good Hill, and Grassy 
Hill. From a deed dated 3d April, 1712, it appears that his fulling 
mill was on the East Sprain, near the "East Meadow Rocks." 

At the October session of the General Court, 1665, it was enacted 
that every town in the colony should have a town brand, and one 
chosen in each town to brand all the horses owned therein, and make 
an entry in a book, kept for that purpose, of all horses so branded, 
" w"' their naturall and artificiall marks." For this service he had 
sixpence for each horse so branded and entered. The brand of Wood- 
bury was the letter P, and was identical with that of Stratford, the 
parent town. The original town brand was in existence a few years 
since, and was to be seen at John P. Marshall's hotel. 

In May, 1675, the General Court appointed a committee to lay out 
a higliway from " Woodbury to Pawgasuck to the most convenient 
place for a ferry, and allso to lay out a convenient parcell of land for 
a ferry place." Stratford was also ordered to lay out a highway 
from that place to the ferry. This was the first action toward open- 
ing a communication between Woodbury and Stratford. At the jNIay 
session, 1677, the committee reported that they had located the ferry 
" at the lower end of the old Indian field" in Derby, and " for the 
incouragement of a ferryman" they laid out eight acres of land in 
said "old field," and twenty acres in other convenient places near the 
ferry, together with the right to the other divisions depending on 
these. 

" Livetenant Joseph Judson declared that If the inliabit;u)t3 of Derby would 
\>nt in a ferryman in convenient time, they were content, or els upon notice 
given they of Woodbury wonld jint in one whome the towne of Derby should 
approve for an inhabitant, and that without any charge to Derby or the coun- 
try.'- 



1 W. T. R., vol. 2, p. 29. 2 Col. Rec, p. 301. 

6 



74 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

It seems that this offer of Lieut. Jiulson was accepted, and that he 
either furnished a man, or acted himself as the first ferryman. In 
January, 1683, he conveyed these ''ferry accommodations" to Henry 
Hill, of Woodbury, upon condition that he would, "at his own charge 
and cost," keep " a suitable ferry-boat always in readiness, and ferry 
over travelers from Woodbury, or elsewhere, seasonably and readily? 
and particularly those from Woodbury, at sixpence for a horse and 
man."' This with the highway, furnished a very satisfactory com- 
munication with Stratford, and was their only communication with 
Stratford and with the world beyond them. 

Doct. Butler Bedient was the first physician who settled in the 
town, but at what exact date is not known. His name first appears 
in the North Purchase rate in 1712. He had evidently been here 
somewhat earlier than that. History is silent as to his merits and 
quahfications in the healing art, but it is fair to presume from the well- 
known intelligent character of the first settlers, that his acquirements 
must have been respectable, or he would not have been admitted an 
inhabitant. 

Nearly contemporary with the latter, was Doctor Ebenezer War- 
ner, a man of more skill and greater note in his profession, and in the 
town. He left a large posterity, and his descendants, at the present 
time, are numerous. He often went abroad to practice in the neigh- 
boring plantations. To prevent this, and secui-e his valuable ser- 
vices, the town granted him sixty acres of land in the original town 
plot, " for his Incurigement to practice phissick in y" town and attend 
the sick in y*^ town i-ather than strangers."^ He lived to a good old 
age, useful in his sphere, and res})ected by the people ; and died car- 
rying with him the commendations of all who knew him. 

The names of the various localities in the ancient town, were nearly 
all established within the first few years after its settlement. Among 
these were Good Hill, Grassy Hill, Chestnut Tree Hill, Ash S^vamp, 
Alder Swamp, and Moose Horn Hill. Saw-pit Hill early received its 
name, from the manner of sawing trees or logs upon its sides. A 
hole or pit was dug in the ground, a log placed over it, and in the 
operation of sawing, one man stood in the pit, and the other on the 
log. Ram-pit Hill, which is near Robert Peck's house, received its 
name from a pit which was dug to entrap a wolf, that had been 



1 W. T. R., vol. 1, p. 92. 2 W. T. K., vol. 2, p. 121. 



HISTORY OF A N C I E X T AV O O D B U R T . 75 

making great havoc among the sheep. A ram was phiccd within it, 
as an inducement for tlie wolf to enter during the night. The lure 
proved sufficient. In the morning the wolf was found in the pit, and 
the ram, instead of being devoured, had defended himself with so 
much spirit and bravery, that he had reduced the wolf to a state of 
great docility. The wolf was dispatched, and his companion re- 
leased. 

White Deer Rocks are situated westerly from Quasapaug Pond, 
and have retained their name from the first settlement, from the 
abundance of deer that were found in those wild solitudes, occasion- 
ally venturing with dainty tread to the borders of the lake, to drink 
its silvery waters. Many of these were white, and hence the name. 
The Lightning's Playgi-ound is east of the Orenaug Rocks.' Ragland 
is the rough ridge of hills south-west of the village of Woodbury. 
Scuppo is a place in the south-easterly i)art of tlie present town of 
Woodbury. Carmel Hill is in the western pari of Bethlem. To[)het 
Hollow is in the east part of Roxbury. • ITooppole is south-west of 
Hotchkissville. Hazel Plain lies along the West Sprain. Wee- 
keepeemee lies on the North Spi-ain, or Weekeepeemee River, so 
called from an Indian sagamore, who once had his hunting grounds 
in this place. Flanders is in the north part of the present town of 
Woodbury, and Transylvania lies on tlie brook of the same name, in 
the south part of the town. There are numerous other local names 
in the ancient limits, l)ut the above must suffice for the present. 

During the period under consideration, much of the outer clothing 
of our fathers was made of the skins of deer and other animals. The 
former were in great demand. As early as 1677, the General Court 
made a law that no "skinns of bucks and dowes, which are so ser- 
uiceable and vsefnll for cloathing," should be transported out of the 
colony, on pain of forfeiture of the skins so sliipped. and tliat they 
should not be sent for sale to any other place in the colony, till a suf- 
ficient bond to the value of the skins was given, tliat they should be 
delivered at the place proposed, and not be carried thence. Accord- 
ingly, we find in all the early inventories of estates, and even in those 
of a hundred years' later date, leather breeches, coats and other arti- 
cles of attire, prominent articles for appraisal. 

Another article used in those early days, strikes us of the present 
time with astonishment, and that is the enormous wooden shoes worn 
by our fathers. It is difficult for us to imagine, how they contrived to 
accomplish the process of locomotion with such ungainly contrivances 



76 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

for the feet. This subject also engaged the attention of the General 
Court in 1677, and it was ordered that 

" No slioemakei' pliall take above five pence half-penny a size for all playne 
and v/ooden hecld shoes, for all sizes above mens seuens, three soled slioes wAl 
made and wrought, nor above seven pence half-penny a size for well wrouglit 
French falls." 

Yfitli such impediments, one would tliink it no great credit to the 
Puritan Fathers, that they abstained from the " vain and sinful 
amusement of dancing," for it would seem impossible to be conven- 
iently done, even with their best pair of " French falls." 

Our fathers were somewhat punctilious in matters of etiquette. 
Official station was held by them in high estimation, and the titles be- 
longing even to the lowest grades of public service, especially if that 
grade was military, were always scrupuloiisly bestowed on the pos- 
sessor of them. In the early records, and in their intercourse with 
each other, Corporal Mai-tin was as naturally addressed by his title, 
as Col. Minor. The title of Mr. was a title of honor, by which min- 
isters, deacons, constables,^ (very important officers at that date,) 
assistants, judicial functionaries, and other distinguished characters 
were addressed. Church members called each other brethren and 
sisters. Other individuals were characterized as Goodman, Good- 
wife or Neighbor. How greatly times are changed ! Little respect 
for titles of any kind now remains. Every man is called Mr. or Esq., 
and every woman " Mrs., Madam or Lady !" 

In 1687, the colony of Connecticut, with the rest of New England, 
was filled with anxiety and alarm, on account of the pretensions and 
proceedings of Sir Edmund Andross. Woodbury, secure in its re- 
tirement among the hills, in the interior of the colony, was not so 
much excited with apprehension as other towns. 

No allusion to the advent of that bad man appears on its records, 
nor was the usual action, in their town meetings, in any manner 
changed, except that no representatives were elected to the General 
Court. He dissolved the General Court at Hartford, wrote " Finis" 
on its records, and assumed the reins of government, October 31st, 
1687. The colony had always lived under governors elected by 



1 The ancient to%\nis chose their one Cunsfable, who was to them the right arm of 
the king himself, a functionary treated with reverent awe, and obeyed with implicit 
deference. Whoever resisted his power, resisted the ordinance of God. — Porter^s 
TTistory of Farminfjion^ Conn. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY 



77 



themselves, while the other colonies Avere suffering the tyrannies of 
the royal governors, appointed by the ci-own. This was the tirst, 
and only interruption to this right, which it had always maintained, 
and continued for eighteen months. After the imprisonment of An- 
dross, by the citizens of Boston, in April, 1689, Connecticut resumed 
its government, and Woodbury was represented by Capt. John Minor 
and Lt. Israel Curtiss, in the General Court, whicli was immediately 
convened. 

In April, 1698, the town voted, that for the future each one who 
should be admitted as an iuhahitaiit, should be received free from 
payments for past expenses, should subscribe the " fundamental arti- 
cles," should build " a tenantable house," make " actual improvement" 
of his land six years, and " clear and break up" at least six acres of 
land in said six years, before he should have a right to sell his land. 
The penalty for not conforming to this rule was forfeiture of his land 
and improvements to the town. 

In 1702, a division of the meadow on Shepaug River was made to 
the landholders of Woodbury, from which it appears that there were 
at this date seventy-eight householders, or heads of families, as no 
others would be entitled to a portion of the land. The families in 
those days were larger than at present, and this number would show, 
that Woodbury must have contained, at that date, five or six hundred 
inhabitants, perhaps more. The list follows. 



Eleazer Kiiowles, 
Ebenezer Warner, 
Elizabeth Walker, 
John Roots, 
John Skeel, Jun., 
Thomas Squire, Jun., 
Benjamin Hinman, 
Joseph Hicock, 
John Mitchell, 
Deacon Mitchell, 
Lieut. Stiles, 
Parsonage, 
John Curtiss, 
Thomas Minor, 
Sergeant Johnson, 
Benjamin Stiles, 
Zechariah Walker, 
Mr. Judson, 
Isaac Castle, 
Nathaniel Tuttle, 
John Huthwit, 



J\lr. StocUlard, 
Samuel Jenner, 
John Judson, Jun., 
Capt Minor, 
Widow Preston, 
John Ilurlbut, 
Mr. Bryan, 
John Nichols, 
James Beers, 
John Pierce, 
Josiah Nichols, 
John Wheeler, 
Jonathan Attwood, 
John Stratton, 
Caleb Nichols, 
John Bartlett, 
Samuel Blakely, 
Ejihraim Minor, 
Ebenezer Hurd, 
John Hurlbut, Jun 
Sergeant Galpin, 



Henry Castle, Jun., 
Sumuel Castle, 
Roger Terrill, 
Cornelius Brownson, 
Joseph Waller, 
Titus Hinman, 
Benjamin Hicock, 
Israel Curtiss, 
Lieut. Curtiss, 
Thomas Ajipleijee, 
Josejih Minor, 
Abraham Fidford, 
John Davis, 
Henry Castle, 
William Marks, 
Samuel Munn, 
William Martin, 
John Thomas, 
Thomas Drakely, 
John Minor, Jun., 
John Faron, 



ff 



78 HISTORY OF AKCIENT WOODBURY. 

William Roberts, Robert Warner, Joseph Hicock, Juii., 

Thomas Bedient, William Frederick, David Jenkiu.-;, 

Joseph Hurd, Sergeant Squire, John Skeel, Jun., 

Joseph Hnrlbut, Jan., . John Wheeler, Jun., John Sherman, 

Samuel Hinman, Sergeant Hurd, William Preston. 

The fir.st black-smith in Woodbuiy of whom the records give us 
any information, was Dea. Samuel Bull, who came here from Far- 
mington, and the inhabitants granted him May 13th, 1706, a "ten 
acre accommodation," provided he should " cohabit with us six years, 
and Carie on the trade of a Smith in the town." 

The first ajiplication for a divorce in the town was made by Jona- 
than Taylor, October 10th, 1708, to the General Court. He asked 
divorce from his wife, on the ground of her endeavoring to " take his 
life, by her violence, deserting him, and living with Joseph AUin, a 
negro, at Sackett's Farm, New York." The case was duly consid- 
ered and the divorce granted. For such causes it would seem that it 
was Avell granted. 

As has been stated, the home-lots on which all other divisions of 
land were grounded, and, in proportion to which, they were granted, 
differed in size from ten to twenty-five acres. Bachelors received the 
smallest number, as we learn from a grant made to Jehiel Pi'eston. 
On the loth of May, 170G, there was granted him a "five acre ac- 
commodation in all the divisions, that is the half of a Bachelor's ac- 
commodation." Whether he was considered but half a bachelor, or 
what the reason was for granting him but half a home-lot, does not 
appear. It would seem fi'om this fact, that bachelors were then con- 
sidered of little account, as has been the case in most communities, 
both before and since that day. 

In the beginning of 1707, reports of an expedition by the French 
and Indians against some part of New England, gave general alarm 
to the country. On the Gth of February of that year, a council of 
war convened at Hartford, consisting of the governor, most of the 
council, and many of the chief military officers of the colony. In- 
formation of various kinds was received ; among the rest, that suspi- 
cions were entertained, that the Pootatuck and "VYyantenuck Indians 
designed to join the French and Indians. 

The council determined that the western frontier towns, Simsbury, 
Waterbury, Woodbury and Danbury, should be fortified with the ut- 
most expedition. It was i-esolved that each of these four towns 
should keep a scout of two faithful men, to be sent out evevy day, to 
discover the designs of the enemy, and give intelligence should they 



HISTOKY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 79 

make tlieir appearance near the frontier. The people of Woodbiny, 
witli great ahxcritj, set about the work of preparing defenses. They 
rei)aired the fortified houses of Isaac Judson, in Judson Lane, Capt. 
John Minor and Rev. Anthony Stoddard. TKey also put in order 
the one that stood on the site now occupied by Mr. Horace Kurd's 
new house, the Bronson house in Transylvania, and others whose 
location are not known. So great was the zeal shown by this town, 
in common with others, that the General Court made them a liberal 
compensation. 

To prevent damage from the Pootatuck and Wyantenuck Indians, 
Capt. John Minor and Mr. John Sherman were appointed to remove 
them to Stratford and Fairfield. If by reason of sickness or any oth- 
er cause, they could not be removed, it was ordained that a number 
of their chief men should be carried down to those towns, and kept as 
hostages to secure the fidelity of the rest. No diificulties, however, 
occurred between the whites and these Indians, but they continued at 
peace with them, whiR; they existed as distinct clans. 

At the October session of 170.S, it was enacted, that garrisons 
should be kept at "Woodbury, and the other towns mentioned above. 
During this year, a body of Indians appeared in West Side, and drove 
the people, by their sudden and formidable ajjpearance, into the forti- 
fied houses. What their intention was in coming is not known. If 
their design was a hostile one, no doubt the watchfulness of the people, 
and the strength of their fortifications, warned them that it was better 
for them to depart, which they accordingly did, without attempting to 
do any damage. 

During the continuance of this war, it is related, that one Sabbath 
evening, after the conclusion of the services at church, Avhile the Eev. 
Mr. Stoddard was walking in his garden near the Cranberry Pond, 
he discovered an Indian skulking among the surrounding trees and 
bushes. Apparently without noticing the movements of the Indian, 
he contrived to reenter his house, and obtain his gun. After playing 
the same game of skulking with his adversary for a while, Mr. Stod- 
dard got a fair view of him, dischai'ged his piece, and he fell among 
the bushes. He dared not investigate farther that night, but having 
quietly given the alarm, the inhabitants sought their palisaded houses 
for the night. Early in the morning, he discovered another red foe, 
in the vicinity of his companion, whom he also laid low with his 
musket. By this time the people had assembled, and after scouring 
the country, in all directions, for several houi's, and no other savages 
being found, the alarm subsided. 



80 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



Beginning with King Philip's war, in which it furnished more than 
its just share of men, being then little more than two years old, 
Woodbury has always furnished her men liberally, for all the wars 
which 'have arisen in <vhich our country has been interested. In that 
fruitless and fatal expedition to Wood Creek, under Gen. Nicholson, 
of the royal service, to assist in the reduction of Montreal and Que- 
bec, in 1709, Connecticut ftirnished her full quota of men, and Wood- 
bury her full share of that quota, which was nine. This undertaking 
was a serious loss and expense to the colonies. More than one-fourth 
of the troops died. Connecticut, however, more fortunate than the 
rest, sustained only the loss of ninety men. Of this number, two 
were of Woodbury, viz.. Sergeant Thomas Skeel and John J. John- 
son, who died a few days after their return home, of disease con- 
tracted by exposure in the camp. In 1713, peace was made with 
France, the Indians buried the tomahawk, and peace once more glad- 
dened the colonies. 

Forty years had elapsed since the planting dF the town, and it now 
held a very respectable rank among its sister towns of the colony. 
New inhabitants had been admitted besides those already given, but, 
from the imperfection of the records it has been deemed best not to 
attempt to give the dates of ai-rival. The purchase rate, or tax for 
paying the expense of obtaining the North Purchase, laid in 1712, is 
given below, as the most perfect list of householders that can be 
offered. It also gives the amount of their estates. The list contains 
a hundred and twenty-five names, showing a population of about a 
thousand at this date. 



" A Rate according to town order for the North Purchase, by those appohit- 
ed by the town to make the same, and hereto subscribing, Ajiril, 1712." 
£ s. d. £> s. d. 



3 3 Noah Hinman 

3 3 Timothy Walker 

2 2 John Squire 

2 2 Joseph Martin 

2 2 Samuel Knowles 



£, s. d. 

2 2 

2 2 

2 2 

2 2 

2 2 

2 2 



Capt. Sherman 2 2 Samuel Bull 

Capt. John Minor 2 2 Samuel Jenner 

Mr. An th. Stoddard 2 2 Nathaniel Tuttle 

Mr. Judson dec'd 4 4 Ephraim Tuttle 

William Martin 2 2 John Bartlit 

John Nichols 2 2 Samuel Sherman 2 2 Benj. Hurd Jun 

Valentine Prentice 2 2 John Wheeler Sor. 4 4 Eliphalet Judson 022 

John Minor O' 2 2 John Wheeler Jr. 2 2 Samuel Hicock 2 2 

Samuel Rlinor 2 2 Joseph Hurd 4 4 Thomas Mallory 2 2 

Roger Terrell 2 2 Adino Strong 4 4 John Hurd 2 2 

Stephen Terrell 2 2 Thomas Wheeler 2 2 Elnathan Strong 4 4 

Jonathan Atwood 22 William Gaylord 22 Joseph Galpin 022 

John Judson Jr. 4 4 William Preston 2 2 Jno. Baker, 2 2 

Joseph Judson 2 2 Jehiel Preston 2 2 Robert Warner 2 2 



H I S T K y 


OF ANCIENT 




£s 


(1. 




£ 


.Tonntlinn Judson 


2 


2 


.Tiihn Cnrtiss 





Tlioinns Minor 


2 


o 


Stephen Cnrtiss 





Joseph Minor 


2 


2 


Joseph Ilicock 





Ephraini Minor 


2 


2 


Franei.s .Stile 





Josiiili Minor 


2 


2 


Eleazer Know'les 





Bonja Calpia 


2 


2 


Tliomas Knowles 


() 


Doctr Wuriier 


2 


2 


Serjeant John.son 





Ensiiiu r>Iitcliel 


4 


4 


Jolm Julmsou 





John rilitehel, Jor, 


. 2 


2 


IMo.ses Johnson 





Tho>. S.[uii'c, dd. 


i 


4 


John Skeel, Sor. 





Thos. fc^quire,Jor, 


, 2 


2 


John Skeel, Jor. 





Ebenezer Squire 


2 


2 


Thomas Skeel 





Joseph Booth 


4 


4 


Sanim4 Stiles 





Dea Mitchel 


4 


4 


Ehen. Brownson 





Jonatlian Mitchel 


(J 2 


2 


BiMiJamin Ilicoek 





Jolm Knot 


4 


4 


John Pieree, Sor. 





Josiali Root 


2 


2 


John Pioice , Jor. 





•Henry Casile 


2 


2 


Jolm Iliithwit 





Jo. Ilnrlljnt, Sor. 


2 


.) 


Ijeiij Iliiunan 


() 


Jo. Iliiilljiit, Jor. 


2 


2 


Adam Ilimnan 





Jo. Wullar 


2 


2 


Titns Ilinman 





Cor''"' Ilurbiit 


2 


2 


Samuel Hinman 





Jonathan Hurbut 2 


2 


Mr. Bryan 





Jno lliirlbut 


2 


2 


Lt. Ciirtiss 





Jno Tlionias 


2 


2 


Israel Cnrtiss 





Cor'"'- Ijrownsoii 


2 


2 


Samuel S:piire 





Will Alurlc 


2 


2 


Thomas and John 


Thomas Drakly 


2 


2 


Leavenworth 






\y O O D B U R Y 



81 



s.d. 

2 2 

4 4 

4 4 

n n 

2 2 

3 3 
2 2 

2 2 

3 3 
2 2 
2 2 

2 2 
o 2 

3 3 
2 2 
2 2 
2 2 
ij G 

2 2 

5 5 

3 3 
8 4 
2 2 
2 2 
2 2 

4 4 



.Teremiah Thomas 
■Tuo Sherman 

Nathaniel HnrlbntO 
Cori'is Brownson 
Ro-er Terrill, Jr. 
John Thomas 

Henry Castle 

Isac Castle 

Sam'^' Blakly 

Jonathan Hongh 
Wdl Fradrick 

Joshua Curtiss 
Will Castle 

Samuel Martin 
Sam>^' Castle 

Josiah Nichol 

Sergant Hiird 

Ebenr Hiird 

Robert Hurd 

Dea. Walker 

Daniel and Samuel 

INInn 

John Davis 

Doe tor Butler for 

Thomas Bedieat 
Hezekiah Tuttle 
Andrew Hinman 



2 U 
5 5 
4 4 

2 2 

3 3 

G 6 



It will have been noticed, that great minutenes.s has been observed, 
in tracing the history of the early lathers to this point, and not Avith- 
out reason. There is an interest lingering al)out the history, sayings 
and doings of those iron-hearted men, which belongs to no later race. 
The most trivial details, in regard to them, seem important, and we 
gather them up with ever increasing interest. It was they who sub- 
dued this wilderness land, and established here our happy homes, and 
the germ of our enduring liberties. It was they who laid here the 
foundations, deep and brotid, of our religious institutions, and, when 
they themselves had no " temple made with hands," in which to wor- 
ship the God of their fathers, led their children to the secluded fast- 
ness of Bethel Rock, to pour forth their prayers and praise. In later 
years, when they, by the labor of their own hands, had been able to 
erect a house to worship in, they devoutly gathered, on the holy Sab- 
bath morn, themselves and their households, to thank the Great Cre- 
ator for the undeserved blessings which they enjoyed, while guards 



82 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

watched without against the dangers of sudden ambuscade. It was 
they who laid the first foundation of the educational institutions which 
we now enjoy. The few errors they had, were errors of the head 
and not of the heart. They labored amid difficulties, and we have 
entered into the results of those labors. They sleep well, in these 
religious vales, far from the land of their fathers. "The dark brown 
years" have passed over the sacred mounds which cover them, for 
many generations. Is it wonderful, then, that their posterity linger 
with a sad interest over the lightest trace of their doings ? Is it 
strange, that we notice, with approbation, acts which, at the present 
day, would be unworthy of remark ? Who can contemplate the hard- 
ships, labors and dangers of our ancestors, their self-denial, magna- 
nimity, firmness, and perseverance in defending and transmitting to 
us the fairest inheritance, and not highly esteem and venerate their 
characters ? It must be, that a proper estimate of the wisdom, so- 
briety, industry, economy and integrity, which enabled our fathers to 
do so much, will induce us, their descendants, to emulate their ex- 
ample, and by constant vigilance, to hand down untarnished, our dis- 
tinguished liberties and happiness to the latest generation. 



CHAPTER VII. 

INDIAN ItlSTOKT. 

1G39 TO 1771 ; For.mation and '\Vesteun' tendexcv of the Tnir.ES ; Succession 
OF Clans, WErAWAUGs, PAroiTSSErTs, Pootatucks, Wvantenucks and Scat- 
ACooKS ; The Mohawks ori>r.Ess the Western Indians; FoMPEKAt'O, the 
First Pootatuck Sache.ai ; IIis Burial Place; Character and Religion 
OF the" Pootatucks ; Great Powwow of 1720; Husian Sacrifices; Le- 
gend OF Bethel Rock; Legend of Squaw Rock; Legend of Nonnewaug 
Falls; Their Nu.iibers ; List of Pootatucks ; Watchibrok's Disclosure ; 
The Wa.mpum Belt ; Restrictions tton the Indians; Caleb Martin's 
Petition; Lieut. EftENEZER Warner's Petfi-ion; Treatv ; Cockshure's 
Island and Tummasseete's Old Orchard; Location of Pootatuck Vil- 
lage; RoniANTic View; Religiot-s Efforts; Atciietoset's I'etition; 
MowEHifs Petition; Sale of South Purchase in 17o.j; Weraumaug ; 
Mr. Boardman trays three hours with him; Gideon i\L\r:wEHu for.-ms 
the Scatacook Clan; Moravian Missionaries; Sale of Pootatuck in 
1759; Indian Relics; Bi-rial Grounds; Reflections. 

Before the advent of Columbus, geographical science Avas at a 
low ebb. The mind had not learned to expand in lofty speculations' 
to seek out tlie hidden resources and boundless extent of nature's do- 
mains. Its loftiest flights were limited ; its conclusions erroneous and 
absurd. Against the western shores of Europe daslied the majestic 
waves of the broad Atlantic, but all liejond was unknown, an un- 
fathomable abyss. " Darkness sat upon the face of the waters," and 
to the minds of men, " all-was without form and void." They thought 
of what was beyond the western waters with su})erstitious dread. 
The earth in their view was an extended plain, from whose edges the 
incautious traveler must inevitably fall. The fearful mariner scarce- 
ly dared to trust his bark from sight of land, but, like the groping 
snail, took his slow course along the jutting coasts. 

"With Columbus the scene changed. Darkness began to fly away, 
and the mists of the mind to be dispelled. That bold adventurer 
came forth the advocate of new and strange doctrines. In energetic 
language, he urged " there is land beyond the blue waves of the 



84 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

mighty Atlantic. A new continent will be discovered in those un- 
known regions. After years of disappointment and difficulty, he 
takes his course across those fearful waters, where never mariner 
ventured befoi'e. Storms were on the deep, and the " sea was con- 
trary." Dangers from the elements, and the groundless fears of his 
men beset him, but he persevered ; and as the reward of his labors 
and trials, a new world burst upon his sight. A beautiful scene was 
before him, and novelties of every kind continually met his delighted 
gaze. A singular race of men inhabited these new regions, not liv- 
ing in comfortable dwellings, surrounded by verdant fields, which 
they cultivated, but wandering in small clans, in the dense forests, 
among the lofty mountains, by the murmuring streams, and along the 
meandering rivers. This people were destitute of the arts of civili- 
zed life — had strange rites and unheard of customs. Notwithstand- 
ing this, in one part of their domains appeared mounds of curit)us con- 
struction, in another ruins as of cities and temples, pyramids inscribed 
with hieroglyphics, and specimens of rude statuary. In still another 
part, were found some of them enjoying a degree of civilization. All 
this appeared ; yet they had been hitherto unknown, and insulated 
from the rest of the world. 

This rude and barbarous race was scattered throughout the whole 
extent of the continent. The Indians were less numerous in Con- 
necticut and other northern territories, than in states farther south. 
Almost every early town in the State had more or less of these people 
within its borders, in the early part of its settlement. Woodbury was 
no exception to the rule in this respect. An important and numei*- 
ous, though peaceful tribe, dwelt within its limits for nearly a century 
after its first settlement. 

De Forest, in his interesting work on the " History of the Indians 
of Connecticut," dismisses the Indians of Woodbury in the following 
summary manner : 

"North-west of the Paugussetts, within the limits of Newtown, Southbuiy, 
iWoodbury, and some other townships, resided a clan known as the Potatucks. 
Their insignificance is sulRcicntly proved by the almost total silence of authors 
concerning them, and by their noiseless disappearance." 

It is believed, if the author had made a somewhat more careful 
inquiry, he would hardly have placed the Pootatucks so much below 
the other tribes of Connecticut. If to live quietly and peaceably in 
imitation of their white neighbors,when well used by them, is a proof 
of " insignificance," then the Pootatucks richly deserved that epithet. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 85 

If to make a "noiseless disappearance" by death, at the time ap- 
pointed by Providence, constitutes a title to " insignificance," then 
the people of this tribe were verily guilty. The whites ever culti- 
vated friendship with these Indians. They purchased their lands, 
from time to time, in good faith, and for considerations satisfactory 
to the parties. They allowed them to build wigwams, and live on 
the very lands which they had purchased of them, and cut their fii'e- 
wood on the unincloscd lands. They granted them the privilege of 
attending their schools and religious assemblies. These kind otTers 
were by manj^ of them accepted. Some of their children gained the 
rudiments of knowledge, many of them put themselves under the 
care of the ministers of the town, and some of them became ap[)roved 
members of the churches. Some of them cultivated their kinds like 
the whites, and enjoyed the decencies of civilization. They, no 
doubt, were a race greatly inferior to the whites, and as such iinally 
dwindled away, but in no manner ditlercnt from the other tribes of 
the State. Such being the case, the "silence of authors " can prove 
very little one way or the other. 

So far as can be learned, tlierc were never any wars among the 
tribes of Indians in the western part of Connecticut, found there by 
the first settlers, or among those formed afterward. It was not un- 
usual among the small tribes of the State, for the son of a sachem to 
leave tlie "old home" with a few followers, and form a subordinate 
clan under the former; or for two brothers of the "blood royal" to 
agree on a division of the hunting grounds; and thus form, in time, 
distinct tribes, which always remained in strict alliance. The Poo- 
tatucks irt this way had clans at Nonnewaug, Bantam, Wyantenuck, 
besides their principal seat on the Ilousatonic. From a careful 
inspection of the scanty facts remaining in regard to these matters, 
there is little doubt that all the Connecticut, clans, except the Pe- 
quots, were only fragments of one great tribe, of which the principal 
branches were the Nehantics and Narragansetts, dispersed and bro- 
ken by some such process as this, aided perhaps by incursions from 
outside foes. 

" The Nehantics of Lyme, for instance, were clearly I'clated to the 
Nehantics of Rhode Island ; Sequassen, chief of the Farmington and 
Connecticut River countries, was a connection of the NaiTagansett 
sachems ; and the Indians of ^Vindsor, subjects of Sequassen, were 
closely united to the Wepawaugs of INIilford. Thus various connec- 
tions might be traced between the Narragansetts and the tribes of 
western Connecticut, while both united in holding the Pequots in 



86 HISTORY OF ANCIENT ATOODBURY. 

abhorrence, and seldom bore any other rehations to them than those 
of enemies or of unwilling subjects.'" The Paugussetts- of Derby, 
Stratford and other townships, and the Wepawaugs of Milford, were 
but one people divided into two clans. The names of the chiefs of 
both are appended to the various deeds of sale found on the records 
of both IMilford and Stratford. As the Wepawaug clan waned, while 
a few joined the Six Nations, the larger ])art took up their abode 
Avith the Paugassetts, whose principal seat Avas in Derby, Avhere they 
had a fortress on the Ilousatonic River, about half a mile aboA-e its 
junction with the Naugatuck. It is Avell established by record evi- 
dence, that there Avas a relationship betAveen the sachems of the 
Paugassetts and those of the Pootatucks, and a close alliance between 
them, although the latter were entirely independent of the former. 
After parting Avith most of their lands, a part of the former removed 
to Golden Hill in Bridgeport, a i^art to Naugatuck Falls under 
Chuse, and the remainder joined the Pootatucks, Avhich Avas at the 
first settling of "Woodbury in 1672, by far the most poAverful clan in 
the Avestern part of Connecticut. The names of their chiefs are 
appended to deeds of sale extending from " Pequonnock " in Bridge- 
port on the south, to Goshen and Torrington on the north, and fi'om 
Waterbury on the east to the New York line on the west ; compri- 
sing the territory of fifteen towns surrounding and including Wood- 
bury. After selling a large part of their lands in " Ancient Wood- 
bury," many of the leading men of the trilje joined Avith others in 
forming the New Milford tribe, which had previously been but a 
clan under the former. Although other Indians joined Avith them, 
they constituted a leading element in that tribe, and later in the tribe 
at Kent. Tlie Indians had then, as noAv, a tendency westward. It 
might in truth be said, that the WepaAvaugs melted into the Paugas- 
setts, the Paugassetts into the Pootatucks, the Pootatucks into the 
Wyantenucks, and the Wyantenucks into the Scatacooks. While 
they maintained a separate existence as clans, they Avere in firm 
alliance in everything, offensive and defensive, and Avere closely 
linked by intermarriages. There Avas still another reason for their 
uninterrupted friendship and alliance. They Avere sorely harassed 
by the Pequots on the east, and the MohaAvks on the Avest, especially 
before the coming of the whites. These oppressions continued in- 
deed till long after, those east of the Connecticut River being tributary 

/ 1 De Forest's Hist, of the Indians of Connecticut. 
2 The name of this tribe is ahvays spelled on the Woodbury Records, Pagasett. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKY. 87 

to the Pequots, and those west of it to the Mohawks. The Pequots, 
however, were soon broken np as a tribe by the whites. Two old 
Mohawks might be seen, once in every year or two, issning their 
orders and collecting their tribute, with as much authority and aus- 
terity as a Roman dictator. Great was the fear of them in all 
western Connecticut. If they neglected to pay the tribute, tlie 
Mohawks would come against them, and plunder, destroy and carry 
them away captive. They would come down upon their pleasant 
valleys with the fearful cry, " We are come, we are come, to suck 
your l)lood." When they made their appearance, the Connecticut 
Indians would instantly raise a cry irom hill to hill, " A Mohawk, a 
Moliawk," and fly, without attempting the least resistance, to their 
forts, and if they could not reach them, to the houses of the English 
for shelter. Sometimes their enemies would pursue them so closely, 
that they would enter the houses with them, and kill them in pres- 
ence of the family. If there was time to shut the doors, they never 
forced an entrance, nor did they on any occasion do the least harm 
to the English, always being on the most friendly terms with them. 
It is said that on these occasions, all the tribes on the liousatonic 
for a distance of two hundred miles, could communicate the intelli- 
gence to each other within two hours, by a system of cries and sig- 
nals from the chain of " Guarding Iliglits," Avhich they had estab- 
lished. One of these was Castle Rock in Woodbury, and Mount 
Tom in Litchtield was another. There were others, both interme- 
diate and lateral to these. 

Bancroft, speaking of the Indians of New England, says : 

" The clans, that clisaiipeaied i'lom the ancient huntint; grounds, did not 
always become extinct ; they ol'ten migrated to the nurtli and west. The coun- 
try between the banks of the Connecticut and the Hudson was possessed by 
independent villages of the Mohegans, kindred with the Manhattans, whose 
few snrokes once rose amidst the forests of York Island." , 

The Indians of these villages spoke the same language, the Mohe- 
gan, whicli was, with some variation of dialect, the language common 
to all the aborigines of New England. 

The Pootatucks were known as a tribe from the date of the set- 
tlement of Milford and Stratford in 1G39. , At the date of the settling 
of these towns, Pomperaug was the sachem of this tribe. He was a 
chief of note among the western clans, had a strong fortress on Cas- 
tle Rock, and gave his name to the river that runs through Wood- 
bury, which name it bears to the present day. Although the princi- 



bo HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

pal seat of this tribe was the Pootatuek village, on the north-east 
side of the Housatonic, about two miles above Bennett's Bridge, in 
the present town of Southbury, yet Pomperang on his death-bed, for 
some cause, chose to be buried by a small rock near the carriage- 
house of Hon. N. B. Smith. There was another village of the tribe 
in Nonnewaug, and a trail led from that village to Pootatuek village, 
by this grave, nearly on the line of the present street, as has been 
before stated. This trail had existed, some tAventy-five years before 
the settlement of Woodbury. In accordance with an Indian custom, 
each member of the tribe, as he passed that way, dropped a small 
stone upon the grave, in token of his respect for the fame of the 
departed. At the first settlement of tlie town, a large heap of stones 
had accumulated in this way, and a large quantity remain to this 
day. It is related that a brother of Pomperaug, who was a medi- 
cine-man, or Powwow, was also buried at first in this place, near his 
brother ; but was afterward disinterred, and buried in the Pootatuek 
burj'ing-ground. 

The next chief of whom we have any account, was Aquiomp, who 
ruled the tribe for a long period of years. His name appeai-s in 
1662, on a deed of some land at Pequonnock in Bridgeport, which 
had been previously executed by Wompcgan, sachem of Paugussett, 
and to which he now gave his assent. In the same instrument it is 
stated that he is related to Wompegan. It is impossible now to state 
the exact time of the accession to office of each saqjiem, but we find 
from ancient documents Avomockomge sachem in 1673, Coshushe- 
ougemy in 1679, Waramaukeag in 1685, Kesooshamaug in 1G87, 
Wombummaug in 1700, Nonnewaug in 1706, Ghesqueneag in 1715, 
Quiump in 1733, and Mauquash in 1740. Mauquash was the last 
sachem, and died about 1758. He was buried under an apple-tree 
in the " old chimney lot," so called, now belonging to Amos Mitchell, 
a short distance east of the old " Eleazer Mitchell house." There 
was still quite a mound remaining over him a few years since. 
Nearly or quite all these had been sagamores, and several others 
held this station who did not arrive at the supreme dignity. Some 
of them became so attached to the villages they governed Avhile saga- 
mores, that they gave orders to be buried there. Such was the case 
Avith Noimewaug, Avho was buried under an apple-tree near Xonne- 
wau"- Falls. A large hillock or mound Avas raised over him, and 
remained, distinguishing his by its size from the other graves around 
him, till within tAvo or three years, Avhen the present OAvner of the 
field committed the sacrilege of plowing it doAvn, much to the regret 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 89 

of every antiquarian. Weekeepeemee was a sajramore, and was 
buried somewhere near the viHage of that name in Woodbury; but 
the locality is not now known. Shcpaug, who gave his name to 
Shepaug River, Towecomis and Tummasseete, were sagamores among 
the Pootatucks before they joined the New Milford clan, and became 
so noted among them. Chesqueneag was for a time sachem before 
he removed to the Wyantenucks. Weraumaug, or Raumaug, after- 
ward so distinguished a sachem at New Milford, was previously a 
counselor of note among the Pootatucks at their {)rincipal council- 
fire. In short, the Wyantenucks were but a cl.vn of the Pootatucks, 
as has been before stated. 

All agree that at the coming of the English settlers, the Indians 
were a race of savages, eking out a subsistence by hunting and fish- 
ing, with small quantities of corn, beans and squashes, which they 
raised, and nuts which they gathered. They lived for the most part 
in rude huts, and their morals were of a very loose character. They 
believed in one great and invisible deity, wlio was benevolent in his 
nature, and had given them their corn and beans, and instructed 
them in their cultivation. He, however, in their estimation, troubled 
himself very little about the affairs of men.. As they feared him not, 
they gave him very little of their veneration. But there was another 
powerful spirit, the author of all evil, to whom they paid the greatest 
respect. Fearing his power and supposed malignant disposition, 
they performed numerous dances in his honor, and made many sacri- 
fices to ward off his wrath. It is believed that they went so far 
sometimes, as to offer human sacrifices. President Stiles, in his 
Itinerary, preserves an account of a great powwowing, which took 
place at the village of the Pootatucks, probably about 1720. An 
account of this is drawn from, the president's manuscript by De 
Forest, Avhich follows : 

"The scene was ■ivitnessed by a Mrs. Bennett, then a little girl; and after 
her death was related by one other children to the president. The ceremonies 
lasted three days, and were attended, she said, by live or six hundred Indians, 
many of whom eame from distant townsras Hartfqid and Farmington. While 
the Indians, excited by their wild rites and dark superstition, were standing in a 
dense mass, a little girl, gaily dressed and ornamented, was led in among them 
by two squaws, her mother and aunt. As she entered the crowd, the Indians 
set up their 'high pow-wows,' howling, yelling, throwing themselves into 
strange postures, and making hideous grimaces. Many white people stood 
around gazing at the scene; but such was the excited slate of the savages, that,. 
although they feared for the child's safety, none of them dared to interlere, or 
to enter the crowd. After a while the two squaws emerged alone froirt tha 



90 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

press, stripped of all their ornaments, and walked away shedding tears and 
uttering mournful cries. The informant, deeply interested in the fate of one so 
near her own age, ran up to the two women, and asked them what they had 
done with the little girl. They would not tell her, and only replied that they 
should never see that little girl again. The other Indians likewise remained 
silent on the subject; but Mrs. Bennett believed, and she said all the English 
then present believed, that the Indians had sacrificed her, and that they did at 
other times offer human sacrifices." 

Bethel Rock has been before mentioned in these pages as the place 
where the first settlers convened for public worship, before the erec- 
tion of their first meeting-house. But 

" There is a tale about these grey old rocks, 
A story of unhappy love and sorrows. 
Borne and ended long ago," 

which will ever render this locality a most romantic spot. The 
legend has been variously related, both orally and in printed accounts, 
as is by no means uncommon in legendary matters. There are some 
historical- facts, however, which go far toward rendering j^robable the 
version of the story which will follow. Waraniaukeag, who figures 
as one of the characters in the affaii', was a young Pootatuck, who 
became sachem of the tribe in 1685, and was succeeded in the sa- 
chemdom in 1687, the date of our story, by Kesooshamaug, so that he 
must have died about this date. The latter was the brother, and not 
the son of the former, who was never married. Sarah Walker, the 
heroine of the story, was the niece of Mr. "Walker, the first minister. 
She was at this date, in her seventeenth year, having been born in 
1670, and we have no other account, or further knowledge of her, 
except that given in the legend. From these and other considera- 
tions, he who believes the legend true, will doubtless be held excusa- 
Me by charitable minds. 

Waramaukeag, as the story goes, was an Indian of manly propor- 
tions, of a graceful figure, and finely molded limbs. He was highly 
intelligent, virtuous, and a fast friend of the whites. He constructed 
for himself a cabin of uncommon elegance, adopted many of the cus- 
toms of civilization, and cultivated a close acquaintance with his 
white neighbors. Among his friends he numbered the venerable 
pastor, Mr. Walker ; was often at his house, and on terms of much 
intimacy with him ; while the latter embracing the opportunity thus 
offered, instructed him in matters of religious faith. 

In the early part of 1 687, a niece of the old pastor, his brother's 
child, came to the parsonage on a visit, which continued through the 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOOrrBURY. 91 

summer. Sarali "Walk^jr was at this time iu her seventeenth year, 
and the possessor of great beauty, and rare personal attractions. 
Without descending to particulars, she seemed the "rare ideal of 
feminine loveliness, such as often haunts the dreams of the imagina- 
ative and young, but seldom meets us in the walks of life." She was 
the type of innocence and purity. She was possessed of unaffected 
piety, and loved to wander in the beautiful sylvan retreats about the 
village. The place she .preferred, and to which she oftenest resorted, 
for the quiet contemplation of nature and private devotion, was Bethel 
Rock. This she could easily reach by ascending the south point of 
the Orenaug Rocks, immediately back of her uncle's residence. 

Being frequently at the pastor's house, Waramauketig became ac- 
quainted with his beautiful niece. He Avas instantly struck with her 
loveliness, and soon became madly enamored with her. In accord- 
ance with aboriginal custom, he endeavored to gain her favor by lay- 
ing at her feet many rich and rare presents, but she, understanding 
their import, in her kindest and blandest manner, declined them all. 
She, however, continued to treat him kindly, not wishing to arouse his 
anger. Meeting with no encouragement from the young lady, he 
pressed his suit upon her uncle's attention, desiring him to intercede 
in his behalf. This the old pastor gently declined to do, striving to 
show him the impropriety of the alliance, and the liopelessness of 
attaining his desires. 

Thus failing on all hands in the prosecution of his suit, he departed 
and was seen no more at the parsonage. The sachem was aware of 
the maiden's custom of retiring to Bethel Rock. One delightful eve 
in the glorious " Indian summer," she wandered out from the cot- 
tage, just as the sun set behind the western hills, and betook herself 
to her favorite resort for her evening devotions. She had not been 
lonf at the spot before she was surprised and startled by the appear- 
ance of Waramaukeag at her side. Supposing him to be angry, as 
he had not been at her uncle's in a long time, and to have come with 
evil intent, she started back in alarm, and being near the edge of the 
rock, which in that place is precipitous, she fell with great violence 
upon the jagged rocks below, and was killed by the fall. The young 
chief hurried round by a more secure path to the scene below, where 
he evidently endeavored to reanimate the lifeless form of the fair 
maiden. When found next morning by her anxious friends, no evi- 
dence of violence appeared, except that received by the fall. Her 
disordered tresses were smoothed back from her brow, and her body 
lay, with her dress properly adjusted, a few feet from where she fell, 



92 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

in its final rest, an emblem of innocence and purity. At a short dis- 
tance from her body, lay the mangled corpse of Waramaukeag. He 
had, after vain attempts to renew life in the sleeping maiden, and 
composing her form in a comely attitude, evidently ascended the 
rocks, thrown himself headlong from the height, and joined the maid- 
en of the silver hair, on the spirit shore. 

Near South Britain is a beetling cliff, which received the name of 
Squaw Rock. It derived its name from the following circumstance. 
An Indian brave preferred his suit to a red-browed daughter of the 
forest, and was by her accepted, but by her parents expelled the 
lodge. They wished her to become the wife of another, and by 
threats had succeeded in obtaining a seeming acquiescence in their 
desires. The day for the marriage was appointed, and she made her 
simple prepai'ations with apparent cheerfulness. She went so far as 
to be arrayed for the occasion, when she slipped out of the wigwam, 
and ascended this rock, hotly pursued by her incensed relatives. 
She allowed them to approach within parleying distance, when she 
upbraided them with their unkindness, sung her own brief requiem, 
and assuring them that " her own true brave" would have the cour- 
age to follow her to the " happy hunting grounds of the Great Kieh- 
tan," she threw herself from the rock, and was found a mangled corse 
below. 

Nonnewaug Falls^ were incidentally noticed in the opening chap- 
ter, but their romantic situation, and exceeding loveliness, together 
with a legend connected with them, demand a recurrence to them. 
The stream on which they are situated is not large, but when swollen 
with the spring floods, a large volume of water passes over them. 
They are enveloped and shaded by a vigorous growth of evergreens. 
They consist of three cascades, at a short distance from each other. 
The water, which falls over a projecting ledge of rocks, has worn a 
deep and smooth channel for its passage. At the foot of each cas- 
cade is a beautiful basin, forty or fifty feet in diameter, surrounded 
by high cliffs, or walls of rock, surmounted by lofty trees. Viewed 
as a whole, it is as wild and romantic a place as can anywhere be 
found in our country. 

The legend referred to is only in the memory of the aged. The ac- 
tive, surging population of to-day takes little note of such matters. 



1 The height of these falls, in a former chapter was stated to be forty or fifty feet. 
On a visit to them since that was written, it is found that the wliole descent is more 
than one hundred feet. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 93 

The story is brief, Womoqui, an aged sagamore, residing at the 
wigwams located at these falls, was averse to the sale, and did not sign 
the conveyance of the North Purchase. This sale included the Non- 
newausT villao;e ; and the old saa;amore, having roamed these forests, 
in entire freedom, before the whites appeared in the territory, could 
not now in the evening of his days, bear the thought of living in his 
former pleasant abode at the sufferance of the " pale face." Accord- 
ingly, one day he crawled forth from his cabin, and seated himself on 
the " table rock," at the head of the upper cascade of the falls, sung, 
in feeble tones, his own requiem, and cast himself into the flood be- 
low. "While musing of the legend, a few years ago, the author 
imagined that lament to be : 

From my well-beloved cabin the sunlight is gone ; 

The day long since closed in the far distant west; 
And Womoqui now, in this wide world alone, 

Composes himself for his deep, silent rest. 

His braves are all scattered like leaves in the wind ; 

Departed the valor that inspired them of yore; 
While he still is left, in his sadness behind, 

And earnestly looks for the spirit-land's shore. 

The graves of my people encompass me round ; 

My brothers, long gone, lie slumbering near. 
Scarce a trace of the red man is now to be found, 

And I'cw of my race are still lingering here. 

Farewell ! my tired spirit now pants to be free ! 

Farewell ! ye who stay on the earth's sullen shore ! 
Farewell! for your faces no longer I see! 

Farewell ! faithful friends, I'm with you no more ! 

The chief had ceased, and his spirit fled, 

The chief of the hoary hair; 
A grave near the falls his people made. 

And buried the chieftain there. 

In regard to the numbers of the Pootatucks and other western 
tribes, authors have differed largely in their estimates. Dr. Trum- 
bull thinks their numbers were very considerable, while De Forest 
thinks these tribes contained a mere handful each. It is believed 
that the mean between these two extremes is nearer the correct esti- 
mate. They were doubtless greatly reduced in numbers before the 
coming of the English settlers, by the incursions of the Mohawks, but 
while Dr. Trumbull's estimate is probably too large, De Forest's is 
evidently too small. President Stiles estimates the number of war- 



94 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

riors in the Pootatuck tribe in 1710, at fifty. This estimate is cer- 
tainly not too large, as the author of this volume has in his posses- 
sion, a list of more than fifty names, who were interested in the lands 
of the tribe, just before this time. A few years earlier, they were 
considei'ably more numerous, as at this time, the tribe having parted 
with most of its lands, many of the younger Indians had joined the 
Wyantenuck clan. The author has also a list of more than a hun- 
dred names of sachems, sagamores and chief men of the tribe, who 
resided here during the first fifty years after the settling of the town. 
Eleazer Mitchell, who bought four acres of land of the Indians about 
1740, within a fourth of a mile of their village, related that there 
were many wigwams standing in the surrounding forests, all the 
way from his house, which is still standing, to Elizur Mitchell's house 
on the Pootatuck. From this it would seem that their numbers 
must have been very respectable, and they doubtless numbered two 
hundred warriors in 1672. By a petition to the General Assembly 
from the Pootatuck and Wyantenuck Indians, as late as 1742, we 
leai'n that the Pootatucks numbered fiorty individuals ; but whether 
this means adult males, or the whole number of men, women and 
children, is not known. 

As there is but little left of the former race except the names of 
some of its chiefs and braves, a list of such of the sachems, sagamores 
and principal men of the Pootatucks, as with great labor it has been 
possible to rescue from oblivion, has been deemed of sufficient im- 
portance to be inserted here. The antiquarian, who has delved in 
such matters, will look with a kindly interest on the list, and the 
general reader, who passes it now, will read it with avidity fifty 
years hence. 

List of principal Pootatucks. 

Aquiomp, Cash, 

Avomockonige, Chesqueneag, 

Accommy, Conkararum, 

Appacoco, Cliob, 

Awashkenum, John Chob, 

Aununietae, Calouskese, 

Atchetoset, Coshnsheougemy, 

John Banks, Comcuckeson, 

Cheabrooke, Chyonde, 

Chuhabawx, Cockshure, 

Chevoraniauge, Coksuer, 

Chohees, Samuel Coksner, 

Cacapatanees, Thomas Coksuer, 

Cacapatanees Sonn, John Cocksbure, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY 



95 



Jeremiah Cokshure, 

Corkskrew, 

Cheery, 

Sam Cheery, 

Cony, 

Cockenon, 

Jacob Curkey, 

Ceapy, 

Cuttoiickes, 

Docames, 

Guuiehampiska, 

Hatchet Tousey, 

Beiiajah Hatcliet Tousey, 

David Hatchet Tousey, 

Hatchet, 

John Harry, 

John Hatchet, 

Hawwasues, 

Jarrey, 

Jainpliney, 

Jonian, 

Job, 

James, 

Kenonge, 

Keliore, 

Kesooshamaug, 

Kehow, 

Mashagasse, 

Mauquash, 

Muttanumace, 

Momaucheway, 

Munmenepoosriua, 

Magnash, 

Mattehack, 

Mansumpaush, 

Mastunek, 

Munapusk, 

Merammue, 

Gideon Mauwehu (by adoption,) 

Moweliu, 

Massumpus, 

Mattousksqua, 

Mesunckseo, 

Maucheere, 

Montooe, 

Nanhootoo, 

Nonnewaug, 

Nemoumbam, 

Norkgnotonckquy, 



Nokopurrs, 

Nuccaddamo, 

Noegoshemy, 

Naucuttora, 

Nucquelozomaug, 

Pomperaug, 

Papenau, 

Punnahun, 

Passacoran, 

Punnantawannomo, 

Peeney, 

Papetoppe, 

Quiump, 

Quepy, 

Ocess, 

Poquannow, 

Punlione, 

Poni, 

Poconaus, 

Pukin, 

Pap [ream, 

Paramethe, 

Raumaug, 

Rapiscotoo, 

Sepimlcum, 

Sukanunque, 

Shepaug, 

Sukanaux, 

Simon, 

Siecuss, 

Shamenunckgus, 

Souvvenys, 

Seauweag, 

Suckqunnokqueen, 

Sufl'enso, 

Sasaw, 

John Slierman, 

Tom Sherman, 

Shoran, 

Shoopack, 

Tantamaliok, 

Toweecume, 

Towcomis, 

Tummasseete, 

Tawask, 

Umbouge, 

Wecuppeme, 

Weraumaug, 

Waramaukeag, . 



9Q ■ HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Womoqui, Wirasquancot, 

Wonokequambom, Wognacug, 

Wunnuntcone, Watchunaman, 

"Wussebucoine, Woinperowask, 

Wussockanunckqucen, Wompomod, 

Woiiposet, Wonovvak, 

Waevvatiix, Wewinapuck, 

Wtissuttanunckquet, Wanuppe, 

VVewinapouck, Youngamousk, 

Woinpotoo, Yoncomis, 

Whemut, Yohcomge, 

Wesuncks, Yonngstockum, 

Wombuinaiaug, Yongan. 
Wajjumbom, 

The Pootatucks, both individually and collectively, maintained a 
peaceable character. One of their number, however, " lives in histo- 
ry" with a bad fame. The particulars are thus related : 

" In ltj46, Sequassen came itito general notice through one of the most sin- 
gular circumstances in the aboriginal history of Connecticut. This sachem, 
while he hated Uncas as his own successful rival, disliked the English as the 
friends and supporters of Uncas. He therefore formed a plan which, if success- 
ful in Its operation, would enable him to be revenged upon both. He resolved 
to effect the murder of some of the principal colonists, and, by causing the name 
of the deed to fall upon the Mohegan sachem, embroil him with his powerful 
allies. The person he selected as his instrument was Watchibrok, a rascally 
Potatuck, whom he was said to have once before employed, in a similar way, 
to get rid of a hated sagamore. During the spring of 1646, Watchibrok and Se- 
quassen were both visiting at Waranoak, now Westfield, in the southern part 
of Massachusetts, and while there lodged in the same wigwam. After some 
time Watchibrok proposed to go, but Sequassen persuaded him to stay longer, 
and went with him to a fishing place on the river. There they remained four 
days, when Watchibrok again proposed to leave, saying that he wished to visit 
some of his friends in other places. Sequassen told him, that traveling in that 
way, alone, he ran a risk of being killed, and walked on with him to a spring, 
where they both stopped. Here tlie sachem opened the design, over which he 
was brooding, to his companion. He told him that ' if he ever wished to do 
Sequassen a kindness, now was the time.' He was almost ruined, and the 
English of Connecticut were the cause of it. He wanted his friend Watchibrok 
to go to Hartford and kill Governor Haynes, Governor Hopkins, and Mr. Whi- 
ting. The two would then fly to the Mohawks with store of wampum, and on 
the way would give out that it was Uncas who murdered the white sachems. 
Thus the English would be set against Uncas, and Sequassen would have a 
chance to rise again. 

" The sachem drew out of his pouch three pieces of wampum and part of a 
girdle of the same material ; these he gave to Watchibrok, and promised him a 
great deal more. The Potatuck did not show himself averse to the bargain, 
and left Sequassen with the understanding that the assassination should be per- 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 97 

formed. On refleetion, however, he begnn to consider that it would be a dan- 
gerous business to kill so many of the leading men among the English. He 
called to mind how Busheag, of Stamford, had been put to death at New Ha- 
ven, for only attempting to murder an English squaw. He therelbre concluded 
that it would not be safe to execute his part of the plot, and finally that it would 
be safer still, and perhaps more profitable, to reveal the whole to the white 
men. He came to Hartford and told the story to the magistrates. Sequassen 
soon heard of this, and sent a sixpence to Watchibrok, with a message to con- 
ceal as much as he could of the plot, and not lay it all open. The conscientious 
and excellent man, in great wrath, 'bade the said sixpence hold his peace; 
he had discovered it and would hide nothing.' Governor Ilayiies summoned 
the sncheni to Hartford, to answer to this charge; but he refused to ai pear, and 
continued to remain at VVaranoak. The affair was laid before the commis- 
sioners, then sitting at New Haven, and they dispatched one .lonaihan Gilbert 
to Waranoak, with a message for Sequassen, and all who might be concerned 
in the plot with him. He was to encourage the sachem to come to New Ha- 
ven and make his own defense, and was authorized to promise him a safe and 
unrestricted passage to and fro,. Gilbert went to Waranoak, but Sequassen 
could not be found, having either gone away, or secreted himself tor fear of an 
arrest. A invf days after, and while the court was still in session, two saga- 
mores, named Nepinsoit and Naimataique, came into New Haven, and stated 
before the commissioners that they were friends of Sequassen, and had just 
been with him to Massachusetts Bay. They had carried a present, they said, 
to the governor there, who, although he would not then acce|)t it, consented to 
give it house room. The governor advised them to attend the meeting of the 
commissioners, and told them that if Sequassen cleared himself, he would then 
decide what should be done with the present. They then came, with their 
friend, to New Haven, and had almo.st reached the town fence, \vlien his heart 
failed him and he wished to go back. Each of them laid hold of one of his 
arms to urge him forward, but such was his fear, that he broke away from 
them and escaped. They added that their friend, having been a great sachem 
once, and now being poor, was ashamed to come in, because he had no present 
for the commissioners. Some other Indians stated that Sequassen was still 
within a mile of the town, and that he would be glad to obtain peace iu sotne 
other way than by an examination. The homeless sachem at last sought shel- 
ter among the Pocomtocks, a considerable tribe which held the country about 
Deerfield, in Massachusetts. The colonists requested the assistance of Uncas to 
secure him, and this chieftain readily undertook an enterprise which would at 
once gratify the English, and revenge himself on an ancient enemy. Some of 
his bold and dexterous warriors surprised Sequassen by night in his place of 
refuge, and brought him to Hartford, where he lay several weeks in pjrison. 
Nothing, however, was finally considered proved against him, and he was set 
at liberty. He seems to have remained an exile, through fear of the colonists, 
or of Uncas, until 1630, when the Moliawks requested the government of Con- 
necticut that, for the sake of their ancient and steady friendship toward the 
English, their friend Sequassen might be permitted to return home. The court 
of commissioners answered the message, stating that it had never forbidden 
Sequassen to return provided he behaved inoffensively ; but, nevertheless, for- 
mally-granting the request. Such is the curious story of Sequassen's conspira- 



98 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

cy. I have given it a place because the particulars which it relates are in ac- 
cordance with the customs of the Indians, and thus give it an air of probability. 
On the other hand, it must be remembered, that these particulars rest almost 
wholly upon the evidence of Watchibrok, and that Watchibrok was unques- 
tionably a liar and a villain. ""^ 

Although the Indians were always friendly toward the settlers, 
yet the latter were occasionally alarmed by circumstances happening 
among them. In 1720, the settlers in western Connecticut were 
somewhat startled by a circumstance that occurred. It became 
known that a belt of wampum had been brought from an Indian 
place at the south called Towattowau, to Ammonaugs on the Hudson 
River, after which it was received by an Indian at Horse Neck in 
Greenwich. It was taken from him to Chickens, or Sam Mohawk, 
in Redding ; thence it was carried successively to the Pootatucks 
and Wyantenucks, where it remained. The matter was deemed of 
sufficient importance to be inquii'ed into by the General Assembly; 
when an Indian named Tapauranawko testified to that honorable 
body, that the belt was a token, that captive Indians would be re- 
ceived and sold at every place where it was accepted. He informed 
them that it would be sent back by the same route whence it came 
to Towattowau, which was far away to the south, and was inhabited 
by a large tribe of Indians. No farther notice was taken of the 
matter by the Assembly, except to direct the Indians to send it back 
whence it came, and to order them to receive no more such presents 
in future without notifying the magistrates.^ 

The occasional attacks Avhich the settlers received during the vari- 
ous Indian wars, were made by parties of straggling Indians from 
other and probably distant places. During the war with the Maine 
Indians in 1723 and 1724, the inhabitants were forced to keep gar- 
risons against such attacks, which several times occurred. One of 
these garrisons was on the Shepaug River, where six men were sta- 
tioned. The General Court passed regulations, Oct., 1723, that 
the Pootatuck and other Indians might hunt " without frighten- 
ing the English, or being mistaken for enemies, it being a time of 
war with the eastern Indians." Capt. Joseph Minor was directed to 
inform the Indians that they could hunt, and be considered as 
friendly, by reporting a list of the Pootatuck Indians to said Minor, 

1 De Forest's Hist, of the Indians of Conn., p. 218 to 222. 

2 Indian Papers, vol. 1, docs. 92 and 94. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 99 

and being able to produce any Indian said Minor might wish to see, 
within forty-eight hours after notice.' 

In Oct., 1724, these restrictions were removed, and they were 
allowed to hunt in the western counties as usual, provided they wore 
something white on their heads, and had some English with them du- 
ring the first fortnight. As late, however, as Oct., 1726, the General 
Court resolved to station five men under Lt. Ebenezcr Warner, for 
"the defense of the village of Shepaug." As proof of the foregoing, 
we find in May, 1725, that Caleb Martin, of Woodbury, petitioned 
the General Assembly for a reward for being the " instrument of 
death to an Indian in August, 1724." It seems that in one of the 
night attacks, when the citizens were aroused to defend themselves, 
Martin had " killed his man." Col. Joseph Minor testified to his 
*' wounding the Indian in a night-fight in a corn-field," and of his 
tracing him by the blood on the ground, on the fence, and in the 
tracks of the retreating foe." As a reward for his services, the As- 
sembly granted him £10.^ 

In 1724, during the same war, Lt. Ebenezer Warner was appoint- 
ed to raise a scout for the defense of the frontiers of the town. This 
service he accomplished, as appears by a memorial from him, pre- 
ferred at the May session of the General Assembly in 1725. He 
paid the men he enlisted for sei'vice on Sundays as well as on week 
days, which was not allowed by the accounting officers. He says : 

" Whereas the Committee of Warr did in the year 1724, order and ai^point 
yo'' memorialist to take the chre of the grand Scout, ordered for the security of 
our Northern Frontiers ; and by Order of His Hon'' the Gov'' I was to signify to 
those that I Listed for that service, that they should have allowed lor the Eng- 
lish 4s Per Diem, and for the Indians that Listed 3^ Per Diem, &c. and when I 
made up my acco^ with the Comm"^ of Warr, they did not allow any thing for 
Sabbath days, During the time of our service, wherefore I am brought under 
difficulty to answer those jjersons that Listed in s'' service according to the 
Declaration I made to them from the Comm'" of Warr." 

He accordingly prays the Assembly to grant him relief in the 
premises. It is not known what action the Assembly took in regard 
to the matter, but it was probably favorable to the petitioner. 

A treaty was made with these Indians by the council of war, Sept. 
23d, 1G75, during Philip's war, by which they agreed to continue in 



1 Indians, vol. 1, p. 113. 2 War, vol. 3, p. 225. 



100 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

" friendship with the white settlers, and be enemies to their enemies, 
and discouer them timely or destroy them." A deputation of Indians 
from the tribe were pi-esent before the council, who gave them each 
a " payre of breeches " for their attendance. In this instrument they 
were styled the '' AVyantineck Indians ;" showing that the Indians at 
that locality were Pootatucks ; for it could hardly be supposed that 
the council would make treaties Avith New Haven and Milford In- 
dians, and passing over the Pootatucks proper, make a treaty with 
a small clan beyond them. 

After the sale of most of their lands, partly from necessity, and 
jDartly in imitation of their white neighbors, the Indians cultivated 
their reservation with considerable industry and fidelity, constructed 
wigwams of respectable size, neatness and comfort, and in various 
ways adopted the arts of civilization. They planted orchards, built 
corn-stalls, and some of them owned, individually, parcels of land. 
Accordingly, we find mentioned in a deed executed by them in 1733, 
" Cockshure's Island" near Pootatuck village, " Maucheere's corn- 
stall," and " Tummaseete's old orchard." Thirteen of the trees in 
this orchard are still existing, and in quite a thriving condition, there 
being apples now, (July 18th, 1853,) growing on some of them. 
Several of them are more than three feet in diameter, and are dis- 
posed' around the area or plaza of the Pootatuck village of wigwams. 
This orchard, a hundred and twenty years ago, in the deed we have 
mentioned, and other old instruments, was called the " old orchard." 
In one of them of this date, the Indians say, " we reserve to ourselves 
y° use of y'' Apple Trees, all of them, within y^ Land above men- 
tioned." From this we infer that it must have been planted about 
the time of the first settling of the town, and consequently must be 
from a hundred and sixty to a hundred and eighty years old. The 
enormous size, and other circumstances, of these trees, furnish satis- 
factory evidence that this estimate must be correct. Within the 
inclosure of the trees was their council-fire. Here they engaged in 
their athletic sports, and here their powwows performed their orgies. 
Outside of this amphitheater, which contained some two or three 
acres, their wigwams were arranged in all directions. This village 
was located on a nearly level piece of ground, on a hill rising some 
three or four hundred feet above the Housatonic, on Elizur Mitchell's 
land, a short distance north of Cockshure's Island, now known as 
liubbell's Island. From this spot is obtained one of the most de- 
lightful views toward the south and west, that can be found in the 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 101 

State. A series of gentle hills, still covered for the most part with 
dense forests, as in the early days, rise one above another in all 
directions. Beautiful cultivated fields lie beneath the feet, while the 
noble Ilousatonic takes its quiet course away to the south-east; the 
whole forming a picture on which the beholder may gaze for hours 
without wearying. If the red man had an eye or a soul to a}>preciate 
the loveliness of nature, his heart must have expanded with admira- 
tion when contemplating such a scene as this. " A thing of beauty 
is a joy forever." None should wonder that the poor native left this 
enchanting spot with sad, lingering ste[)S. Truly this is classic 
ground, and well worthy a visit fi-om the antiquarian, or the lover of 
nature. 

Many efforts were at various times put forth to Christianize the 
Indians. They had the privilege of attending the schools and other 
instructions. Some of them embraced the Christian faith, and joined 
the churches ; but the major portion lived on, and died in the blind 
faith of their farefathers. An instance of the former occurred in 
1741, as will appear in the following petition of Hatchet-Tousey, or 
Atchetoset, one of this tribe : 

" Tlie })rnyer of Ilacliet Touscy, an Indian now Living in the West part of 
Woodbury called Slie[iauj^. 

" To the HonoLuubie Governoiir and general assembly of the Colony of Con- 
necticut now settini;' at hartfurd. I your hononrs' meniorolist humbly shevveth 
that 1 a po )r Indiui native, Ilachet Tonsey by name, who beeing born and 
broiight up in heathenism and darkness and with shame now confess that I 
have been worshipping the devil and the unknown gods, and have not known 
the god that made me by darkness and want of instruction, but now the great 
god that has matle ;dl things out of nothing lias moved me to seek him, he has 
been afflicting ine, (Ijut I hope for my good,) by taking away one of my cliil- 
dren by death, a giil about sixteen years old who in the time of her sickness 
often and often would call upon me to be a christian, and to beleeve in the 
great god that made ine. She would cry with tears and groans to me and her 
moth(;r and all her brethren to forsake the wicked way of the Indians, and she 
would olten have me go to get the English minister to pray with lier tlio she 
understood but little what tliey said in English, yet she declared that she be- 
lieved the Christian religion to be true. She has made me promise to bring up 
the rest of her brethren in the knowledge of the christian religion and learn 
them to read & always to think of her dying words and prayers and shall never 
forget them. Wherefore I am very desiriovsto be taught the christian religion, 
and that iny children might learn to read and understand god's word, the holy 
Bible, and that I and my family might go to meeting and keep the sabbath, 
and that I might know and understand. 1 have eight in the family diough two 
are at work abroad and are not with me. ye oldest is about 12 years old and 



102 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

ye youngest at three, which I would keep at school this summer : the honoura- 
ble govenour Joseph tallcot esqr. has written I hear to Cornell Minor of Wood- 
bury to take care that my family should be school'' but si^ Cornell Minor has 
taken no care about it, I hear that mr. graham was desired in the letter by his 
honor to take care of me : but yesterday mr graham told me that Croronell 
Minor had never Lett him see the govenour's Letter and therefore he did not 
know what to do: Said Coronel Minor has had said Letter this month and has 
done nothing ; but a certain person has hired a school for me for a while, and has 
promised to pay if the honourable goverment would not. Therefore your me- 
morialist prayeth this honourable assembly would hear the poor prayers and 
petitions of one of these poor Indians ; that you have ordered the ministers of 
this government so often to pray for in all your proclamations for public fasts 
and thanksgivings, Therefore I a poor Indian, who desire to be christianized 
humbly prayeth this honourable assembly would assist me in these perticulars 
yt I might not lose their prayers: first I humbly prayeth this Honourable as- 
sembly would alow and give something towards the schooling and supporting 
of my children this summer, that I might have some help under my difficult 
circumstances, for I have expend alimost all my substance this Last winter and 
spring by reason of sickness in my family. And furthermore I would assure 
this honourable assembly if my children shoul'' go to school, then I cannot sup- 
port them with victuals, for my Lands are at potitouch, and if I go there the 
other Indians, will Qurrell with me and my family, for they are much oifended 
with me because I have a mind to be christianized. Therefore I pray this 
honourable assembly would order something for my relief and help, although 
it be but a small matter 2'? your humble memoralist prayeth this assembly 
would help me to a division of the Indian Lands at potitouch, that I might have 
my right and just part set out to me, so that they might not quarrel with me, 
for they say if I am a christian then I shall not have my land. Thus your hum- 
ble petitioner Hatchet Tousey prayeth for relief and help, wherefore I put my 
hand and name to this prayer in the presence of these my neighbors who can 
testify to the truth of my Cencerity what I profess and say, and that I am reso- 
lute to embrace the christian faith, and I desire your prayer for me and my 
family, and in duty bound I shall olfways pray. 

"Woodbury May 15 1741 

his 

Henry Cassell 

Benijah Case 

Eleazcr Warner 

Henry Castle Jr 

Telle Blakeslee Hachet '-^s^ss^^ks:^ ^Jousey 

William^ Harris Jr 

Adam Hurd 

Eleazcr Towner 

mark 




HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



103 



" I Hachet Tousey constitute and appoint Abraham Hurd my agent and at- 
torney at the honorable assembly for me 

his 

Ilachet '^ Tousey"' 

I 
mark 

The petition of this Indian was granted, and £20, which were 
raised by subscription among the members, were placed in the hands 
of the Rev. Anthony Stoddard and CoL William Preston, to carry 
out the purpose intended. The governor was requested to encour- 
age him in his good purposes, and Messrs. Stoddard and Preston to 
take care that he and his children be instructed in the Christian reli- 
gion, and that his children be sent to school. 

Encouraged, perhaps, by the success of Atchetoset, Mowehu, 
Cheery, son of Raumaug, the great sachem, who died a Christian a 
few years before, and others representing seventy souls residing at 
Pootatuck and New Milford, petitioned the General Court in May 
of the next year for like privileges. The Indians residing at these 
two places, as we have seen, had never been but two clans of the 
same tribe, while still another small clan of the Pootatucks resided 
alternately at Bethlem, Litchfield and Nonnewaug, the location of 
the wigwam in Bethlem being near Mr. Seth Martin's dwelling- 
house. The latter have been known as the Bantam Indians. Nei- 
ther of these clans were in a well organized state at this time. The 
clan at New Milford, was entirely disbanded, Weraumaug, their 
chief, having died a few years before, and the larger portion of the 
tribe joining the Scatacook tribe, which had but recently been formed 
under Gideon Mauwehu. Cheery, son of the deceased chief, and 
one of the signers of the petition, had not force enough to keep his 
clan together, and was never sachem. 

" To the Honourable gen Ass. sitting in Hartford May Anno Dom: 17-12 
» " The Humble memorial of Mowehu, Cheery and others, Hereunto Sub- 
scribing Being Indian Natives of this Land Humbly showeth that there are at 
New Milford and Potatuck the Places where we Dwell about seventy souls of 
us jooor natives, who are now awakened, many of us to some curiosity of Being 
Taught the word of god and the gospel of Jesus Christ in order to obtain Eter- 

1 Colleges and Schools, vol. 1, pp. 104, 105. 



104 HISTORY OF ANCIENT %yOODBUKT. 

nal Life tbroiif^rh Ilim, and now Humbly Crave the care of this Ass. that we 
and our children may be Taught to read the English tongue and may have 
some minister appointed to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ unto us; and 
Instruct us in the Principles of the Christian Religion, and we also Humbly ask 
as a Deed of the Highest Charity to us, that the Goverment will Bestow somTe- 
thing upon us to support some person or persons in Teaching of uss, and 
Preaching to uss. That our souls may not Perish for want of Vision in this 
Land of Light ; and if it may be the means of saving any Soul of uss, the gos- 
pel which you are favored with assures you that you Shall not Loose your 
Reward, and your Poor Petitioners hath hereunto put our marks 
" Hartlord May 13ih 1742.' 

Mowchu John Coksure 

Job Pukin 

, Sam John Sherman 

Peeney Cheery 



Forty of these Indians resided at Woodbury, and thirty at New 
Milford. Tlie committee to whom this petition was referred reported 
favorably, proposing that the thirty Indians on the borders of New 
Milford should be assisted to attend school and public worship at 
New Milford ; and the forty residing at Pootatuck, on the borders of 
Woodbui-y, be aided in attending school and preaching in Woodbury, 
or Newtown ; the ministei's of New Milford, Woodbury and New- 
town being requested to take them under their care and instruction. 
The report of the committee was accepted, and £20 were appropria- 
ted to aid the Indians at New Milford in these matters, and £25 to 
assist those at Woodbury ; the money being placed in the hands of 
Mr. Anthony Stoddard and the minister at Newtown. 

In 1733 the Pootatucks sold about three-fourths of their "reser- 
vation " in the south-west part of the present town of Southbury, and 
the larger portion removed to New Milford, and joined the other 
clan of their tribe residing there, so that the Indians residing at New 
Milford at this time were quite numerous. Stragglers from other 
clans in Fairfield county also joined them. President Stiles states 
the number of warriors at about three hundred, and Rev. Stanley 
Griswold, in a century sermon preached at New Milford in 1801, 
estimates them at two hundred warriors. The latter estimate is 
doubtless nearer the truth than the former, though it may be a pretty 
liberal one. The young and vigorous Indians of Pootatuck had 
for several years been moving to New Milford. About 1715, We- 

1 Indians, vol. 1, p. 240. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 105 

raumaug, or Raumaug, an intelligent Pootatuck sagamore, joined the 
Wyantenuck clan, and soon became sachem. His residence was on 
a reservation at the falls on the Ilousatonic, about two miles below 
the village of New Milford, which the Indians long kept after they 
had sold the Indian field west of the river, opposite the village. 
Weraumaug also had a personal reservation of two thousand acres in 
the society of New Preston in the town of Washington. This reser- 
vation was called the " hunting grounds of Raumaug," and was after- 
ward sold by Cheere, son of the sachem. At the falls, called by the 
natives Mitichawon, was an excellent fishing place, especially in the 
spring, when shad and great numbers of lamprey eels swarmed up 
the river, and attempted to ascend the ra})id descent of waters. 
Shad and other valuable fish are still taken on this river quite up to 
this point. At this I'omantic spot, on the banks of the river, stood 
the palace, or " great wigwam " of Weraumaug. On the inner walls 
of the palace, which were made of bark with the smooth side inward, 
were pictured every known species of beast, bird, fish and insect, 
from the largest down to the smallest. This was said to have been 
done by artists whom a friendly prince at a great distance sent to 
him for that purpose, in the same manner as Hiram sent artists to 
Solomon. He died about 1735, as near as can be ascertained, and 
was buried in an Indian burying-ground at no great distance from the 
place of his residence. His grave is distinguished from those sur- 
rounding him, out of many of which large trees are growing, by its 
more ample dimensions. 

Weraumaug was a man of uncommon powers of mind, sober and 
regular in his life, and took much pains to suppress the vices of his 
people. The first minister of New Milford, Rev. Daniel Boardman, 
ordained in 1716, finding this Indian sachem to be a discreet and 
friendly man, became much interested in him, and took great pains 
to instruct him in the Christian religion. From the account he gives 
of him, it appears he died penitent, and cheered by the Christian's 
hope. In a letter to a friend he calls him 

" That distinguished snchcm, whose great abilities and eminent virtues, 
joined with his extensive doniinifin, rendered him the most jiotent prince of 
that or anv other day in this Colony ; and his name ou^ht to he remembered 
by the faithful historian as much as tliat of an}'^ crowned head since his was 
laid in the dust." 

Although this statement of Mr. Boardman is the best evidence 
that need be had of the power of this chief, and the extent of his 
8 



106 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

tribe, yet it is hardly accurate to say that he was the most potent 
prince that had existed in the Colony. It will not do to overlook 
Kino- Philip and other sachems. During Weraumaug's last illness, 
Mr. Boardman constantly attended hira, and endeavored to confirm 
his mind in the vital truths of Christianity. It was a sad place for 
the dying chieftain ; for the larger part of his people, and even his 
wife, were greatly opposed to the religion of their white neighbors, 
and used all their influence to keep him true to the dark and cheer- 
less feith of his forefathers. Their conduct was not only rude and 
abusive of the minister, but in other respects such as comported little 
with the solemnity of the occasion. One day when Mr. Boardman 
was by the sachem's bedside, the latter asked him to pray, to which 
he assented. It happened that there was a sick child in the village, 
and a powwow was in attendance, who had undertaken to cure it 
with his wild and superstitious rites. As soon as the clergyman 
commenced his prayer, "Weraumaug's wife sent for the medicine- 
man and ordered him to commence his exercises at the door of the 
lodo-e. The powwow at once set up a hideous shouting and howl- 
ing, and Mr. Boai'draan prayed louder, so that the sick man might 
hear him above the uproar. Each raised his voice louder and louder 
as he went on, while the Indians gathered around, solicitous for the 
success of their prophet. The powwow was determined to tire out 
the minister, and he, on his side, was quite as fully resolved not to be 
put to silence in the discharge of his duty by the blind worshiper of 
Satan. The invincible minister afterward gave it as his belief that 
he prayed full three hours before he was permitted to come off con- 
queror. The powwow having completely exhausted himself with 
his efforts, gave one unearthly yell, and then, taking to his heels, 
never stopped till he was cooling himself up to his neck in the Hou- 
satonic. 

In 1736, a part of the "Wyantenucks moved to Scatacook, one of 
their reservations, and located on the beautiful plain on the west side 
of the river. These Indians, in the years 1742 and 1743, were 
visited by the Moravian missionaries, under Count Zinzendorf. They 
remained with them several years, and to appearance, were very 
religious and inoffensive men. They also visited the Indians still 
left at the Great Falls and Pootatuck, but these having in the former 
year applied to the General Assembly for the means of instruction, 
which had been granted them, gave little heed to the strangers. The 
Scatacooks were at this time, perhaps, the largest tribe left in the 
Colony. It was founded about 1728, by Gideon Mauwehu, a Pe- 



niSTOKY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. lOT 

quot Indian, who was endowed with tlie same energy of character 
for which his nation was so distinguished. We first hear of him 
among tlie Pnugussetts, where he was the leader of a small band, 
and settled one of his sons over a small clan at the falls on the Nau- 
gatuck lliver, near Ilumphreysville. He next appeared, for a time 
among the Pootatucks, soon afterward at New Milford, and in 1729^ 
he, with eleven others, signed a deed of " all the unsold lands in New 
Fairfield," now Slierman. He afterward moved to Dover, N, Y., on 
Ten Mile River, some ten miles west of Kent. After living there 
awhile, in one of his hunting excursions, from a mountain in Kent, 
west of the Plousatonic, his eye fell upon that river, winding its way 
through the fertile and beautiful valley, shut in by mountains, and 
covered with dense forests. The white man had not penetrated this 
beautiful sylvan retreat. It had only been used occasionally as their 
hunting and fishing ground by the Wyantenucks. He was enchanter? 
with the capabilities of the place, and immediately moved thither 
with his family. Having invited his old friends among the Paugus- 
setts, Pootatucks, Wyantenucks, and others among the tribes with 
Avliich he had lived, they flocked to him in considerable numbers. 
In 1736, after the death of Weraumaug, a considerable number 
joined him from New Milford as above. It is believed, that at this 
date he had more than one hundred warriors. 

The Moravian missionaries began to preach to his tribe some time 
in 1742, and, although Mauwehu's name was among the signers of 
the petition to the General Assembly in May of that year, for reli- 
gious instruction from the colonists, yet he received them with great 
favor, and their labors had a happy influence on the tribe. In 1743, 
he accepted their faith, and Avas baptized, with about one hundred 
and fifty of his })eo()le. A church was built, and a large congrega- 
tion collected. Most of their conversation with the English was on 
religion, and they spent much of their time in devotional exercises.- 
After a time, many of these Indians followed the missionaries to* 
Bethlehem in Pennsylvania. The change of climate proved fatal to 
them, and they returned to their old homes. Here in the absence of 
their religious teachers, they seemed to forget their religion, became 
intemperate, and began to waste away. Such was the sad termina- 
tion of the most successful rehgious effort, perhaps, ever made among: 
the Indians of Connecticut. 

In May, 1759, the Pootatucks, or rather Tom Sherman, or Sho- 
ran, one of their numbei-, to whom the rest had quit-<;lain:!;ed tlAeic 



108 HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

right the year before, sold their last acre of land, including their 
vfllage of Pootatuck, and took up their abode at Scatacook, except a 
few that lingered in the neighborhood of their old abodes, by the 
sufferance of the purchasers. In 1761, these consisted of one man, 
and two or three broken families. In 1774, they were reduced to 
nine, and at this date there were none remaining at New Milford, and 
but sixty-two at Scatacook. In 1786, the latter were reduced to 
thirty-six males and thirty-five females, twenty of the number being 
children of suitable age for attending school. In 1801, they num- 
bered thirty-five idle and intemperate beings, who cultivated six 
acres of ground. In the fall of 1849, the number of Indians remain- 
ing was eight or ten of the full blood, and twenty or thirty half bi-eeds. 
A few of them are sober and industrious, cultivating good gardens, 
and living comfortably ; but the majority are of the opposite character. 
Three or four of them attend church, and a few of the children go to 
school. They are under the care of an overseer, and their property 
consists of a considerable tract of land on the mountain too rough for 
cultivation, and about five thousand dollars kept at interest, which 
for the last forty years has more than paid the annual expenses of 
the tribe.' 

It will be seen that the Indians of Woodbury, New Milford and 
Kent, have been treated as though they were one people, Avliich is 
strictly correct, except in regai-d to the Kent Indians. Although we 
find among the principal men in 1746, selling land, Samuel and 
Thomas Coksure, two of the sons of a sagamore of the name of Cock- 
shure at Pootatuck, and Cheere, son of Weraumaug, soon after, sell- 
ing his reservation in New Preston, yet Mauwehu, having resided 
in many other tribes, collected together many from them also. Be- 
yond this the dividing line between them is not discernable. Gideon 
Mauwehu, leader of the Kent clan, was present in Woodbury at the 
■execution of two deeds next to the last, conveying lands at Pootatuck, 
giving his assent, and signing as witness, while two of his principal 
men, Jeremiah and Samuel Cokshure, were among the grantors. 

It is many years since the last remaining Pootatuck, an old squaw, 
-came back to Pootatuck village to visit the graves of her ancestors. 
Looking up to the place where stood, and still stand the few remain- 
ing trees of " Tummasseete's old orchard," " There," she said, the 



1 The major portion of the foregoing account of the Wyantenucks and Scatacooks, 
on the last three or f jur pages, has been collected from the works of Dr. TrumbuU, 
-Barber, and De Forest. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKY. 109 

tears streaming down her Avrinkled cheeks, " there is Pootatuck." 
After lingering near the graves of her people a few days, she re- 
turned to the place whence she came. A few monuments of the 
existence of the fated race now remain to tell us that here a former 
race once flourished, scarce sutficient, so fleeting is their nature, to 
arrest our attention. Arrow heads, stone chisels, hatchets, axes, 
gouges, knives and mortars are found in the " ancient territory." One 
of these localities is on Mr. Anthony Strong's land, opposite Mr. 
Fred. S. Atwood's dwelling-house, where they had a hunting village; 
and another on Mr. Frederick M. Minor's land, a few rods in rear 
of his dwelling-house. They are also found in Bethlem, near Seth 
Martin's dwelling-house, and at the locality of the village of Poota- 
tuck. Large deposits of clam and oyster shells are also found in the 
latter locality. This village was about two miles above Bennett's 
Bridge on the Housatonic, near where Pootatuck Brook, called by 
the Indians Cowams, enters into that river. In addition to the arti- 
cles mentioned above, some have been found which the natives evi- 
dently received from the English. Glass bottles, brass kettles, rings 
and jugs have been found. In digging for some purpose a few years 
ago, a brass kettle was found rimmed and bailed, and under it a piece 
of scarlet woolen cloth about the size of a dollar, in good preserva- 
tion. In this kettle were three rings and three thimbles. A finger 
bone with a ring on it, at another time, was found, the flesh under 
the ring being pretty well preserved. In " Hatchet meadow," on 
Cyrus Mitchell's land, the Indians left a spring protected by a tub 
made of a hollow tree. 

They had burying-grounds on the banks of the Housatonic near 
their village, where skeletons have been exhumed as late as the 
present date, (1853,) which were found buried in a sitting posture,, 
having various trinkets and implements buried with them. Many 
■were buried so near the banks of the river, that a great freshet that 
happened several years ago laid bare many skeletons. Some eighty 
rods further up the river, bones have been plowed out in throwing up 
the highway. Near the school-house in this locality, are many 
mounds of a circular form, depressed in the center. Many skeletons 
have been at various times exhumed a fourth of a mile lower down^ 
on the opposite side of the river, near Cockshure's Island, below Fort 
Hill. There was another burying-ground on the banks of the brook 
near the residence of David J. Stiles, Esq., in Southbury, now occu- 
pied by the ancient burying-ground of the first white settlers ; and 



110 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

another still, at the upper end of Nonnewaug, on the East Sprain, 
where rest the remains of the chief of that name. 

Such are the simple annals of the unfortunate and benighted race 
that once had possession of this fair heritage, and roamed in haughty 
independence through these sequestered vales. Not a Pootatuck 
remains in the territory of the " ancient town," to revisit, with Indian 
wail and lamentation, the forsaken and almost forgotten graves of 
his ancestors- When the floods, or the excavations of the present 
inhabitants, exhume the bones of a long-buried brave, they are gath- 
ered up with eager interest, to grace a public museum or private 
collection of antiques curiosities. Their sun has set in darkness and 
in gloom. Advancing civilization, so fortunate and happy for the 
white race, brought nothing to the red man but disaster and decay. 
With a sad infatuation, he'embraced its vices instead of its virtues. 
Before the white man touched these shores, they enjoyed their wild 
and savage mode of life without molestation. This was their own 
land. Here were their council fires. On the beautiful rivers they 
paddled the light canoe, and pursued their game in the unbroken 
forests. They went up by their mountains; they came down by 
their valleys ; they followed their own desires for happiness in wild, 
reckless exuberance. The mossy cliffs, and the dells in the thick 
woods, echoed back their shrill songs and fearful cry of war. But 
the white man took up his abode in their ancient hunting grounds. 
The strength of civilization met the weakness of barbarism. From 
that inauspicious hour the poor natives waned, and retreated farther 
into the wild solitudes. The children of the forest have passed 
away. 

" Alas, for tlieiri, their clay is o'er — 
Tlieir fires are out from shore to shore! 
No more for them the wild deer bounds — 
The plow is on their hunting grounds." 

Their existence has become a matter of antiquarian research, and 
oft-told legend. Their brief history has been written in desolation. 
In the depth of the forest, in the silence of nature, away from the 
busy haunts of men, the contemplative mind is sometimes led invol- 
untarily to exclaim, " Where are they ?" and echo answers, " Where 
are they ?" In such solemn communion with nature and the spirits 
of the past, one is startled by the very depth of the silence around 
hinu 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. Ill 

" Where are they, the forest rangers, 

Children of this western land, 
Who, to greet the pale-faeed strangers, 

Stretched an unsuspeeting hand ? 

" Were not these their own bright waters? 

Were not these their natal skies ? 
Reared they not their red-browed daughters 

Where our stately mansions rise ? 

■" From the vales their homes are banished, 

From the streams their light canoe; 
Chieftains and their tribes have vanished^ 

Xi.ike the forests where thej gre\y/' 



CHAPTER VIII. 

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. ^ 

1666 TO 1760; The Half-way Covenant Controversy at Stratford leads to 
THE Settlement of the Town of Woodbury ; This Practice explained ; 
Joseph Judson and others' Letters to Rev. Mr. Chauncy ; Church An- 
swer TO THE M«N ; Town Proposition to Mr. Chauncy ; The Parties 
divide the Ministerial Lands in 1666; Rev. Zechariah Walker begins to 
preach to the Minority in 16SS ; Mr. Walker allowed the use of the 
Church two Hours each Sabbath ; Mr. Walker's Bill of particulars to 
THE General Court in 1669 ; Three Hours' use of the Church each Sab- 
bath ALL'^wED Mr. Walker; Mr. Walker excluded from the Church; 
Mr. Walker ordained over the Second Church of Stratford May 5, 
1670; Covenant; Second Church removes to Woodbury in 1672-3; Mr. 
Walker's Death and Character ; State of the Church ; E ev. Anthony 
Stoddard settled in 1700, and ordained in 1702 ; He preaches sixty years ; 

Great prosperity of the Church under his Ministry ; Revivals ; His 

,r -V 
Death ' 760 ; Second Church built in 1747 ; Old and New Style ; Char- 
acter o. Mr. Stoddard ; Review of the last Ninety Years. 

Rich as the historical incidents relating to Ancient Woodbury 
have been from the very first, and endowed as it has ever been with 
men of mark — minds of the first order — it is remarkable that this 
town has never found its historian. It has always occupied in deeds, 
if not in fame, a prominent place in all the historical events of the 
State. Wherever there has been labor to be performed, or deeds of 
valor to be done, the sons of Woodbury have ever been in the front 
rank. As in local position it is retired and secluded among the sweet 
valleys, surrounded by verdant hills ; so in historical position, her 
sons have allowed her to remain in the silent consciousness of unob- 
trusive worth, while later-born and less gifte«fl sisters have occupied 
the fields of fame before her. Even now, at the end of nearly two 
centuries, the work of gathering the memorials of its long-buried 
worthies, the work of gratitude and reverence, is left to one not a 
native of the soil, nor bound by ties of consanguinity to the early 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 113 

fathers. The first, and it might be said, tlie only history of the town, 
physical or biographical, if we except the brief paragraphs in Trum- 
bull's History of Connecticut, Pease & Niles' Gazetteer, and Barber's 
Collections, is comprised in the following extract : 

" Woodbury lies on the same river, (Osootonoe,) and resembles Kentish-Town. 
The township, twelve miles square, is divided into seven parishes, three of 
them Episcopal. In this town lives the Rev. Dr. Bellamy, who is a good 
scholar and a great preacher. He has attempted to shew a rhore excellent way 
to heaven than was known before. lie may be called the Athenian of Con- 
necticut; for he has published something new to the Christian world — Zuinglius 
may learn of him." • 

This seems to be rather a brief history, for a town of which so 
much may justly be said. It would have been fortunate had the 
present labor fallen into better hands, but it is proposed to supply in 
some measure the desideratum of an accurate local history. 

It has been before stated in these pages, that the settlement of 
Woodbury was the result of religious dissensions among the people 
of Stratford. The principal cause of diiference was in regard to 
church membership, baptism, and the discipline of church members. 
What the precise nature of the controversy was, could not be dis- 
tinctly understood by the most learned and pious even of that day. 
It was the same as that which existed at Hartford, Wethersfield, 
and other places. One w^ould say, at this distance of time, that the 
question to be decided was, whether the " Half-way Cove- nt Prac- 
tice " should be introduced into tlie church or not. Upon nis ques- 
tion there was the most grave ditference of opinion among he best 
and most distinguished men in New England. By this plan, a per- 
son of good moral character might own or renew the covenant of 
baptism, confessing the same creed as members of churches in full 
communion, and atlirming his intention of becoming truly pious in 
heart and in life, and have the privilege of presenting himself and 
children for baptism. Nor did the privilege stop here ; he might 
also present for baptism his grandchildren, children bound to him 
as apprentices, and even his slaves, by giving a pledge for their reli- 
gious education. Persons thus owning the covenant were considered 
church members to all intents and purposes, except that they mio-ht 
not come to the communion table. For conduct unbecoming church 
members, they could be and were dealt with and punished in the 



1 Hist, of Conn,, 1781, By a Gentleman of the Province. Printed at Londan. 



114 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKT. 

same manner as members in full communion. In this way a church 
could never run down in point of numbers, so long as unconverted 
persons enough to keep it up were willing to own the covenant of 
baptism. Abundant proof of the foregoing statements is found in 
the first book of ministerial records of the Second Church of Strat- 
ford, now the First Church of Woodbury, happily in a fine state of 
preservation. Consequent upon this practice, baptisms followed 
close upon births ; very many instances may be found upon these 
records, where the child was but from one to eight days old at the 
time of the ceremony. If the child ajipeared to be in danger of 
"non-continuance," it was baptized on the day of its birth. The 
children of ministers, deacons, and other leading men in the church, 
were generally less than a week old when presented for baptism. 
Young persons did not usually own the covenant till they became 
parents, and wished baptism for their children. 

Previous to 1650, great watchfulness had been exercised to admit 
only such as gave visible evidence of piety. The choice of pastors, 
also, had been confined exclusively to the church, and nearly all the 
honors and offices of the colony had been distributed to professors of 
religion, who in the New Haven colony were the only ones possessed 
of the right of suffrage, in meetings of a political character. In the 
colony of Connecticut, not only these, but also other orderly individ- 
uals, having a certain amount of property, were entitled to the privi- 
lege of being admitted freemen. During the lives of the early fathers, 
little trouble had arisen on these points, nearly all the first emigrants 
being professors of religion. But this generation had passed away, 
and a new one had succeeded, many of whom, on account of their not 
belonging to the church, were excluded from their proper influence 
in community. Most of them had been baptized, and by virtue of 
this, it was claimed, that they might own their covenant, have their 
children baptized, and thus perpetuate the church. All New Eng- 
land became interested in this controversy, and in 1G57, the matter 
in dispute was referred to a council of the principal ministers who 
met at Boston, and declared 

"That it was the duty of those corae to years of discretion, baptized in in- 
fancy, to own the covenant; that it is the duty of the church to call them to 
this; that if tiiey refuse, or are scandalous in any other way, tliey may be cen- 
sured by the Chupch. If they understand the grounds of religion, are not scan- 
dalous, and solemnly own the covenant, giving up themselves and their children 
to the Lord, baptism may not be denied to their children." 

In consequence of this decision, many owned their covenant, and 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT AYOOPBURY. 115 

presented their children for baptism, but did not unite with the 
church in the celebration of the supper, nor in most other duties of 
members in full communion. Hence it was termed the /lalf-ivay cov- 
enant. In proce>s of time, the privilege here mentioned was en- 
larged in some of the churches. ]\Iany churches in Connecticut never 
adopted this practice, and toward the end of the eighteenth century, it 
was generally abandoned throughout New England. 

The first church at Stratford would not adopt this practice, although 
a large and influential part of its members were in favor of it, togeth- 
er with a majority of the town, who were not church members. Rev. 
Mr. Chauncy, who was not in favor of the })ractice, was settled over 
the church in Stratford, in 1(3G5, though there was strong opposition 
to him on this ami other accounts. The efforts of the dissenting 
party to settle their difficulties seem to have been sincere. Their 
communications to their brethren were couched in respectful and 
brotherly terms, and their arguments were not easily refuted. In 
fact, little pains seem to have been taken by the church proper dur- 
ing the whole controversy, to answer the reasoning of the dissatisfied 
party, but it seemed rather to throw itself back on its dignity, with 
an intention of allowing the malcontents to take their own course. 
The latter were in the majority in the town meetings, and John Mi- 
nor, one of their leaders, was town-clerk during the whole time of the 
controversy, and for several years after, with the exception of a year. 
This famous controversy, so far as the records show it, is deemed of 
sufficient interest to be inserted here, almost entire. It opens with a 
letter from eight of the dissatisfied party, who were the advocates of 
the half-way covenant system, and who state their wishes as follows : 

" To Mr. Chancy and the rest of the Church at Stratford. 

" Loving brethren and friends, God by his good providence having brought 
us hither, who are of his church and people, and separated us from the world' 
and of his free and abundant grace hath taken us and our seed into covenant 
with himself and with his church and people, and hath given us an interest in 
himself to bee our God, and taken us to bee his own, giving us his own disci- 
pline and ordinances for our spirituall and eternal good, and owning us hath 
given us equall right with yourselves in all his ordinances, his providence also 
having setled us together in this plantation that we might jointly together wor- 
shipp him in all his ordinances, and that we should be niutnall helpers of one 
another in our Christian race. These few lines are to informe you that wee 
whose names are underwritten doo declare to you our earnest desire to enjoy 
communion in all God's ordinances with you, that we may together worshipp 
him according to his holy will; desiring also that wee and our posterity maybe 
owned as immediate members of the Church of Christ by you; as Christ own- 
eth us and ours by his own institution, taking us into covenant, and solemnly 



IIG HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

setting his own seal upon us. We farther declare, that owning it to be our 
duty, and hoping it to bee our desire to account you our best friends, who shall 
use meanes to convince us wherein we have sinned, and bring us to the sight of 
our evilis: we desire that if any man being converted according to God's rules, 
and doo not hold forth repentance, then no such person so remaining may bee 
admitted to communion, till he hold forth repentance. And whereas there 
hath beene ditference about the calling of Mr. Chancy, and severall of us have 
declared our objections against his selling amongst us till those objections were 
answered, and we judge they never were unto satisfaction ; yet if you shall see 
cause to answer our earnest and reall desires in the premises, as we hope you 
will, wee shall passe by what hath beene, and endeavor lovingly to close to- 
gether and to walke together according to the rules of God's holy word, hoping 
and desiring you will so farr respect us as to give us an answer hereunto in 
writing as soone as you conveniently can. 

"Yours in all due respects and desircous of unity according to the rules of 
Christ. 

"January 10,1065.* Joseph Judson, 

Richard Butler, 
. David Mitchell, 
Henry Wakeiyn, 
James Blakman, 
John Minor, 
Samuel Sherman, 
Daniel Titterton."^ 

This respectful and kind letter, offering to forget past grievances, 
and soliciting a union with the rest of the church in a truly fraternal 
and Christian feeling, received no attention, either from Mr. Chauncy, 
or the remainder of the church, who were of his way of thinking. 
Accordingly on the 9th of the following month, the dissentients ad- 
dressed them another letter in the same spirit, still further making 
known their wishes, and mildly reproaching them for their want of 
courtesy and kindness : 

" Whereas wee have formerly made known our mindes unto you in writing, 
as concerning our desire of communion in all God's ordinances with you ; hold- 
ing forth unto you by way of preface, our right unto them, from the free grace 
of God owning us and externally sealing the priviledges of y^ Covenant unto us ; 
have also declared our mindes concerning such letts as may hinder us from 
proceeding unto such attaynments mentioned in some clauses thereof; and 
comeing together to know how you stood affected to our desires, hoped you 
mifht have seen good soe farr to have betrusted those y' were to declare 



1 New Style, Jan. 27, 1666. 

2 This and the other papers relating to this controversy are to be found in the Sec- 
retary of State's office, in" Ecclesiastical," vol. 1, Nos. 18 to 37. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 117 

yo"" mindo unto us as ia confi-rring with us to take farther knovviedgc oC our 
desire proijoundc'd ; and to putt us in a way of farther proeetdiug ; should have 
bin ghid soe farr to have bin teu(k'r by you that they niiiiht have took it into 
consideration. And if anything did on our jjart lye in y' way, have seriously 
appouited us a time for examining of us iu respect of our fayth and knowledge: 
Accoiinti;ig it requisite y' y^ Minister may take perticular knowledge of :dl those 
y' are to have Comunion in the whole worshipp of God ; And herein (to dealo 
pluinely) y' nothing may hereafter bee laid as a block in our way; we desire 
that in this examination by yc minister or Ministers and Elder wee may issue 
in their questioning and examining oiiely. And whereas we have o[)enly, sol- 
leinnly, wholly and onely ingaged ourselves to be the Lord's, who hath gra- 
ciously taken us into Covenant w"' himself and Jtis faithful people; we desire, 
y' in the owning hereof, wee may not be further trouliled with any imposition 
of that nature. The exercise of yo'^ tentlerness unto us wee cannot hut hope for, 
according as you are allowed. Ro. 11: 1. 

''February, 'J''', IGG.j. Josejih Jiulson, 

Kichatd Butler, 
« ' David Mitchell, 

■ Henry Wakelyn, 

John Minor, 
James Blaekniau, 
Samuel .Sherman, 
Daniel Titterlon." 

By this letter we letirn that so great was their desire to l)e recon- 
ciled to the church, that they were willing to be again examined in 
regard to their "fayth and knowledge," that the church might be 
convinced, that their peculiar views had not, in any mtumer, under- 
mined their religious principles, or purity of character. jNlore than 
two months elapsed before any answer was vouchsafed them, and 
then we find the following 

" CnuRcn Answer to the Men :" 

" Neighbours, whereas v;eo received fro you two writings tlie sum of both 
whicli was to hold forth your earnest desire as to communion in all the ordinan- 
ces of Christ with us, These are to give you to understand that our apj)relien- 
sion concerning the ord"r of tlisci})line is the same that we have Ibrmerly man- 
ifested it to bee, both hy our practice, and answer to your proposalls. And 
whcreTS you apprehend you have equal! right with ourselves in all the ordinan- 
ces of Christ in this place. These may certifie you at present that we are of a 
different apprehension from you in that matter. And whereas you desire that 
your posterity may : etc : wee would put you in mind that as yet the matter is 
in controversie among the learned and godly. Likewise whereas you seeme to 
intimate in the close of your first page that you have taken offence at our late 
proceedings, but as you say upon the granting of the premises are willing to 
pass it by ; we return no more at present but this ; viz. wee hope if you had 



118 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKT. 

had sufficient gi-ound so to doo, the jrodly and learned would have spied it out, 
and have endeavored to coavince us of our evills herein. Lastly, whereas in 
your latter pa<^e you prescribe the way wherein you desired to be atti^nded : 
viz; you account it requisite': etc : To whicli we answer in the words of Paul 
in another case, wee have no such custome nor the churches of Christ with 
whom we hold communion, and moreover it is practised you know by those 
whose principles in discipline are farr different from ours. And truly neigh- 
bours, as it relates to your case, (notwithstanding wee gladly and lieartily de- 
sire ye increase and enlargement of y^ Church when it may bee attained in a 
rulable and satisfactory way yet,) wee must plainely tell you«that we cannot at 
present see how it will stand with the glory of God the peace of ye Church ar:d. 
our and your mutuall edification (which ought to bee deare unto us, and 
earnestly sought by us) for you to embody with us in this society : The Apostle 
Paule exhorts the Corinthians, and so all that walk together in cliurch fellow- 
ship : 1 Romans 10, to avoide divisions and to be perfectly joyned together in 
the same mind and in the same judgment, otherwise it is not likely we should 
keepe the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, to which we are exhorted, 
Eph. 4 : 3. And notwithstanding wee give this answer injgenerall to you all 
that vrere concerned in the yys presented to us; yet you may easily imagine 
that we have particular exertions as it relates to particular persons whereof we 
find that we are thereunto called, wee shall manage and desire satisfaction in 
before they are admitted to communion in all the ordinances. 
"Apr. IG"', 1G6G. 

This is a true Coppyeof y"^ 
answer given unto us as it was 
tryed by both papers. 

Church Answer to the men." 

4- 

One would think 'this a rather short and crispy reply to letters as 
humble and inoflensive as the two former had been. The " Church" 
begins with calling the dissenters " neighbors" and ends with char- 
acterizing them as " the men." They assume a very lofty, and some- 
what arrogant tone ; sufficiently so, one would think, to have pre- 
vented further elForts toward an accommodation of their differences. 
This was undoubtedly written by Mr. Chauncy, the former letters 
having been addressed to him, and it is probable that the remainder 
of the papers on the side of the church were written by him. 

Although by this communication they had been Hatly refused ad- 
mittance to the church, even on a satisfactory examination, yet they 
persevered in their efforts to accomplish the desired end. It is to be 
recollected, that Stratford belonged to the Connecticut colony, and 
consequently had other freemen besides the members of the church. 
The freemen joined with the dissentients in their efforts. It is to be 
further noted, that Mr. Chauncy had been settled by a majority of 
the members of the church alone, the other freemen of the town hav- 



HISTOKY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 119 

ing no voice in the matter. As by the laws of the colony they were 
obhged to pay taxes for his support equally with the church mem- 
bers, they wished a voice in tlie selection of the minister. The dis- 
sentina; part of the church, together with the other freemen of the 
town, as we have seen, constituted a majority in the meetings of the 
freemen. So that although the church could choose and settle a min- 
ister, it took a majority of the voters of the toum to provide for his 
support. Failing as individuals and members of his church to effect 
an arrangement with Mr. Channcy, they held a town meeting, and 
jjassed a vote embracing the conditions under which they would con. 
tribute to his support. The vote is a very interesting one, as it con- 
tains a lucid explanation of the half-way covenant, and is as follows : 

" Towne propositions to Mr. Cliaiincey, May 13, 'G9. 

•' Mr. Chancfv, 

" We a Christian people by the providence of God settled together in this 
plantation of Straltford Judging it our duty as from the command of God soe 
for our own necessary siiirituall ifc eternall good to indeavo'' after maintain & 
upiiould a minister ortliodox in doctrine and jiractice y' y^ word of life eS; salva- 
tion may be held forth vinto us & all the ordinances of God disspenced amongst 
us. And wliereas you have been some time amongst us we accounting rea- 
sonable, very necessary & eqnall y' some iriutHall agreem' be made in a Chris- 
tian way between you & us ; We hereuppon think good to propound to you 
fo"^ yo"' settlluu iS: continuing w''' us as followeth ; We desire y' you would per- 
form y woilc of a Minister of y^ Gospel unto us in y' preaching of y' word, and 
administering of the sacraments. More particularly we desire y' all they 
y' j^rofess faytli & obedience to the rules of Christ not scandalous in life and doe 
present themselves in owning y'' covenant wherein they have given themselves 
unto the Lord in baptism inay be admitted and accounted members of y^ Church 
and lUider the care and discipline thereof as other members and have their 
children baptized. Yet notwithstanding we desire not that any thus admitted 
may approach imto the Lord's table till in anil by examination and due tryali 
they make testimony unto the Judgment of Charity of their fitness thereunto. 
Moreover as God owneth the Infant children of believers in y^ Covenant of 
Grace neither doth exclude ye same children w" grown up from keejjing their 
standing in y' covenant while they soe walk as they doe not reject it. God 
owneth y'" and would not have y*^ grace of his covenant shortned or straitened 
nor put y"! from under the disspensations of his grace giving his ministers a 
sollemn charge to take care of & traine up such as a part of their flock : We 
desire also y' y^ children of churchmembers may be accounted chnrchmembers 
as well as tiieir jjarents and y' they doe not cease to bee members Ijy being 
grown up but that they doe still continue in y'^ church successively untill ac- 
cording to y"^ rules of Christ they bee cast out and y' they are still y- subjects of 
Church discipline even as other members, and y' they should' have their chil- 
dren babtized notwithstanding their present unfittness for partaking of the 
Lord's supper. And farther wee assure you hopeing without the least suspi- 
cion you may creditt usy' uppony"^ accepting of propositions and granting them 



120 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

unto us wee shall according to o'' abillity contribute fo'' yo' comfortable subsist- 
ence amongst us. Expecting an answer from you hereunto in time convenient, 
subscribe in they' name of y« Towne. 

" June 1, IGGO. Extracted from the originall; Thomas Fayrechilde, 

being Recorded & therewith Joseph Jiidson, 

diligentlye compared y« 26''^ : 9*" : '68. i Henry Wakelyn, 
p John Minor, Recorder. Thomas Utfoote." 

It does not appear that Mr. Chauncy made any reply to this propo- 
sition, though, as the matter had now assumed a serious aspect, it 
was doubtless discussed during the next few months with much fre- 
quency by the two parties. Efforts were also made by the minority 
of the church, together with otliers of the town, to procure another 
minister for themselves, probably with the tacit consent of the other 
party ; and it would seem that they applied to Mr. Peter Bulkley to 
preach to them. It does not appear, however, that they were suc- 
cessful in obtaining him. But later in the year the two parties were 
able to agree, that each party should have its own minister, and also 
agreed upon a division of the land sequestered for the use of the 
ministry between the two ministers, as appears by the following 
vote: 

" Djceiuber ISth 1666. 

" Att a lawfnll Towns-meeting it was voated and agreed on y' there should 
bee in case yi it be found in nowayes contradictory to a courte order to have 
another Minister here in Strattford. a laying out of the sequestered land reserved 
for the ministry: viz: A quarter ]iart of it to Mr Chancey and a quarter part 
of it to Mr Peter Bulkley. or any other man by y' party obteyned y' now in- 
deavo' for Mr Bulkley And y' w<='' shall be laid out to Mr Chansey shall by 
him be improved as his own during his life or continuance in Strattford. And 
in case of removeall y** s'^ land is to return to y' town again : Provided alwayes 
y' y« town pay him for w' it is bettered by his improvement according as 
y^ Town and Mr Chansey shall agree, In case of difference then ; as it shall be 
judged better by indifferent men chosen by both parties : And in case of decease 
y'-" Town is to pay Mr Chansey his Heires w"- y' whole accommodations together 
with y- improvement shall be judged worth at his disease. It is further agreed 
on in case Mr Bulkley or any other Minister be obteyned hee shall have; hould 
and injoy his part in every respect as Mr. Chancey doth. It is further agreed 
on y' as respecting a house lott y* reserved land for y' purpose shall bee equally 
divided into two lotts and Mr Chancey is to have his choyce, w'^'' of y' two he 
will please to have. It is further agreed on and voated y^ ]S''' 10''' : 66, in case 
of decease or removal of either of y'e aforesaid ministers y" ye Town shall joynt- 
ly make y"= payments y' will be due to y^ deceased or removed minister. And 
y' party y' is destitute of a minister either by death or removall shall have free 



1 The year at this date began with the 25th of March; consequently 26'*': 9'": 
was Nov. 26, 1668. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 121 

libberty to i^rovide for themselves another. And shall have ye same iutrcst in 
y' accommodations and improvement y' formerly they had. 

" Exactly transscribed and diligently compared w"' the originall records the 
24th Apr": 1669. 



JlTZ cy^t^a^ ^..^ccon-h <j 




At the October session of the General Court in 16G7, this action 
of the parties was approved and established on motion of Ens. Joseph 
Judson : 

" Ensigne Joseph Judson moveing this courte for a confirmation of y° agree- 
ment of y^ Town of Strattford made December IS"'' 66. in refference to y^ divis- 
ion of sequestred Land to Mr Chansey ye present Minister and Mr Peter Bulkley 
or any other, etc ; there haveing nothing appeared to this courte therein y' is 
contrary to law ye court doth approve of ye sd agreement and desires Enssigned: 
Judson, Mr Fayrechilde, Mr Hawley: Leif Curtiss, Rich. Butler and Henry 
Waklyn to lay out ye land according to ye sd agreement. And that from hence- 
forth they shall all joyntly make payment of their firoportions towards the 
mayntenance of Mr Chancey till theire bee another minister at Strattford there 
cohabiting. 

" This is a true coppie out of y'= originall dilligentlye transscribed and com- 
pared this 31st December 1667. 

"Per JOHN MINOR, Recorder." 

Early in the year 1668, the minority engaged Rev. Zechariah 
Walker, of Jamaica, L. I., to perform pastoral labors among them. 
Having obtained a minister, they perceived they had no house of 
their own to worship in.- They had contributed equally with Mr. 
Chauncy's party toward the construction of the meeting-house occu- 
pied by the first church, and the first idea that occurred to them 
was, that they might agree with the other party, to allow Mr. Walker 
to preach one part of each Sabbath in the meeting-house, and Mr. 
Chauncy the other part, thus joining the two congregations. They 
accordingly made known tlieir proposition to Mr. Chauncy's party, 
to which they received two elaborate answers, in better spirit than 
former communications, and in which the plain word " neighbors " 
had been exchanged for " loving neighbors :" 



122 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

"Ist 
" Our Answer to our Neiboues Motion 

•' Loving Neibouis, 

"You are no strangers to the afllicting troubles which through the malice of 
the common adversary have bin occasioned amongst us by different persuasions 
as to order in the house of God, which we may truly say have cost us not a few 
prayres and tears, and no little affliction of spirit; fearing indeed whilst we 
have bin contending about the shell we have lost much of the kernal of reli- 
gion : Ditferences continuing thus uncomfortable amongst us for a long time, 
at length it pleased the most High to guide us to a joint agreement whereby we 
did hope through his blessing an end might be put to these our exercising 
troubles and differences and on earth have a better way found out for our mu- 
tual edification which in truth was the main thing scoped at by us in our 
agreement; And we for our parts (the generality of us) did conclude that it 
was the intention of all, for the attaining of this end, tliat we should meet sep- 
arately and apart, one from another, we by ourselves, and you by yourselves, 
that we might enjoy the ordinances of God according as we are persuaded 
without disturbance each to other and therefore shall not cease to-wonder at 
your motion (so different from our expectation and as we judge not a little 
predjudicial to your edification) for you and us to meet together publickly to 
worship God in the same place. Neverthelesse we have not bin wanting seri- 
ously to consider and earnestly to enquire, what may be the mind of God in 
this matter since we have had knowledge of this your motion and intention, 
(according to the little time allowed us.) And we do declare, 
1st That it is not our intention or desire in the least to deviate from the true 

sense and meaning of our agreement. 
2d That in our agreement we had stdl an eye to meeting in distinct places : 
3d As to Mr Walker tltiit he is one whom we desire to honour and esteem in 

the Lord ; yet 
4th That wee cannot see how two though godly can walke together (especially 

two ministers) except they are agreed. 
5th We doe account ourselves bound by covenant to that order and dispensa- 
tion of the worship of God that hath hitherto bin peaceably practised in this 
church and other churches of Christ, holding communion with us ; this bond 
being upon us, we also continuing thus persuaded, we can (now) doe nothing 
against the truth, but for tlie truth. 
6th That though our differences be not about fundamentals, and essentials of 
faith and Christian religion, yet it reacheth to the fundamentals of order in 
church admmistrations, which are styled Ezek. 44. .5. The comings in and 
the gomgs forth of the sanctuary ; how each party therfbre can comfortably 
enjoy his own persuasion with edification (we all agreeing to meet in one 
place) at present we see not. 
7th That we desire to retain and maintain those di<i»enFations which we have 
so dearly bought and so long enjoyed without interruption should ue not 
possesse what the Lord our (iotl hath given us to possesse as they said in 
another case: should we therefore consent to and bo instrumental in the 
parting of these out of our hands. We fear it would be a great dishonour 
and provocation to the Holy one of Israel ; seeing that for the peaceable 



niSTORT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 123 

enjoyment of the truih that we now professe and practise some of us, among 
many others of the Lords servants liave put our lives in our hands, and have 
said to out- fathers, we have not seen tliem neither have we acknowledged 
our brethren or kindred that we might keep the word of the Lord, and the 
covenant of our God. Deut. u3 G. Finally, at present as there are many 
difficulties in our way that fbrbiil our consent to your motion, soe we cannot 
but declare that for you to force the attendance of your motion, we fear it 
will be a means to widen our ditFerenees and (as we judge) will be esteemed 
no less than opi)osition and disturbance. Now the very God of truth and 
l^eace guide us and you all, in his ways, that so the glory of his great name 
together with the comfort peace and edification one of another may still be 
aimed by us all. 
■ "Voted as an answer to our Neibours. 

" Nov. n. &S." 

Uniting their meetings was evidently not the best way of ol)taining 
the end desired. Although their ditierences might not be " funda- 
mental," as admitted in this communication, yet their opinions being 
so diverse in regard to church membership, they could hardly have 
been much " edified^" in being obliged to listen to the defense of what 
they did not believe. It would be not unlike the mingling of the wor- 
ship of the various religious denominations of the present day. AVhile 
the ministers might have confined themselves to points upon which 
all agreed, they would be in danger of treading, at times, on forbidden 
ground. It seems there had been some further explanation of their 
desires, before they received the following: 

"Hon'' and truly Respected. 

" We have with all seriousnesse, weighed: prayed over, counselled upon the 

question that was left to our consideration, and the answer that is with us at 

present is as followeth. 

" The rpieslion (as we tooke it up) that was left to our consideration, was, 

Q. Whether we could not consent to have Mr Walker preach in a transien* 
way one j'-.irt of the Sabbtith uiitill the next Gen" Court? 

Ans. We i!ic Church of x' at Stratford answer negatively, viz : we cannot 
consent, and tliat this our answer is not irrational, these few words further 
may be seriously weighed. 

1st For neither can we hear in a transient way nor Mr Walker so preach, 
because h'; is not, (as our Neibours say) a transient man, but hired accom- 
modated and settled, and in all respects equally privileJged with Mr Chaun- 
cy, and preaching part of his worke for which hired, tlierefore if we should 
ever admit him in such a \v;\y, our Neibours might begin to conclude settle- 
ment. 

21y Our Agreement in intention, and as we understand it in termes also for- 
bids o.u' consent, discources also at the agreement making will help y" Inter- 
pretation so to your understanding, 

.'ily The Court order forbids it : it being in opposition to the present settlec'i 



124 HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

approved minister, consent also of Neibour Churches not being yet obtained : 
If it be said tliat Law is Null to us by virtue of the Courts confirmation of 
our agreement, then what hinders our neibours, but that they may meet by 
themselves. 

41y We reason from our Neibours themselves, who are different in their per- 
suasions, and cannot carry on to satisfaction with us, which (as it hath ap- 
peared many wayes) so by the already withdrawing of some of them from 
us, propounding to themselves and us different administrations, now how 
each minister can vindicate his own persuasion, and differend Administra- 
tions be carryed on together, and no disturbance each to other, but peace 
preserved, we see not. 

51y Rule forbids us, which gives a church power to choose her own feeders. 
Mr Walker was never chosen by us to be our feeder. 

61y As to Edification, which will be much hindred a reason fell from some of 
your worships, if different persuasions and difierent administrations be at- 
tended in one place. 

71y We Query whether it can be judged rational or ruleable that a church 
should consent to silence their settled officer one part of every Sabbath, which 
we judge we shall doe in consenting to ye motion propounded. 

Lastly. Much more wo might have added but with this at present we con- 
clude, that we shall not admit any farther consideration in this matter, untill 
our Neibours (whose worke it is and long ago was) have procured the appro- 
bation of the Geni' Court and the consent of Neibour Churches. And we hum- 
bly conceive Mr. Walker cannot account himself silenced, while your worships 
shall maintain Churches priviledges, untill such time as he have liberty to 
preach orderly ; and we must needs crave leave to leave this further with 
your worship, that we rather tremble to thinke that we should deviate from 
any rule of x' and our ancient patterns and undervalue our ancient Lawes 
and Law-makers, then as some tremble to thinke what will be the end of sep- 
aration ; nor shall we dare to join where our consciences are persuaded x' 
would ha\;e us separate, having no farther at present we rest. 

Yours to serve and obey to our power, 
Stratford, Israel Chauncy, 

7'" (10th) 68.1 Phillip Graue. 

In the name and with the consent of the Church of x' at Stratford. 
The Church's answer to Mr. Gold's proposition or Qu." 

In this answer of Mr. Chauncy to the proposition of Mr. Walker's 
party, made, as it seems, by Maj. Gold, of another town, for the pur- 
pose of reconciliation, he appears for the moment to have the best of 
the argument, but Mr. Walker was a man of decided abilities, and 
rejoins with effect, as will be seen by the following answer. 

" Beloved' Neighbours, 

" Wee have deliberately and wee hope duely weighed w' you were pleased to 
present unto us, relating to o'' former differences, & agreement and present trans- 



1 Dec. 7, 1668. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 125 

actions &: intentions, in answer whereimto wee doo declare y' wee liave been 
(at y' least) sharers w"" you in y"' afflicting sence of y' soe predudiciall incon- 
veniences of former difl'erences ; neither are wee willing without thankfullness 
to y« Supream dissposer to remind w' agreement his divine providence hath 
directed us unto, whicli was (as wee hope) on all hands designed to bee a totall 
abolition of those uncomfortable contentions y'had bin too long amongst us, and 
a provision for each part, to injoy their own persuasion without mutuall dis- 
turbance. But whereas you are pleased further to adde y' it was y' conclusion 
of y^ generallitye of yourselves y' a seperate meeting was intended by all, and 
y' as a necessary meanes to o'' mutuall and undisturbed injoyment of y'^ ordi- 
nances of God according to o'' ditferent persuasions, and thereuppon y' you 
have an incessant admiration at o'' motion concerning meeting together, as be- 
ing disscrepant from y» expectations, & also (as you judge) predudiciall to 
C own edification. To y' wee answer y' wee have much more cause of admi- 
ration, y' you should soe far forgett yourselves as to disown y' which hath bin 
soe plainely and fully concluded amongst us at least as wee have alwayes un- 
derstood it : viz : y' motion of o' joynt meeting, which wee doe atHrm had your- 
selves (if not for its first parents yet at least) for its most careful nurses, being 
(if not first started) yet at least strongly urged by yourselves, before it was con- 
sented to by some of us, soe much wee hope may be a sufficient reply to your 
preface. As for w' you are farther pleased in sundry perticulers to declare unto 
ns in your writing, wee further answer. First, as to your first perticular where- 
in you are pleased to intimate your desire not to deviate in the least from y' true 
sence of o'' former agreement; wee say no more but this, y' wee are as reall in 
these desires as yourselves can bee. 

"As to y° second wherein you affirm y' in your agreement you had still an._ 
eye at meeting in distinct places wee have in part answered it already, wee 
shall onely adde this y' if your intentions were different from your expressions 
y' blame of any mistake thereby occassioned is yours, and not ours, on y* other 
hand if at o^ former agreement your expressions and intentions were agreed, 
wee cannott but declare ourselves much dissatisfyed with your present assertion 
having soe little affinity with truth according to our understanding of our 
agreement. And fo'' your third perticular which is an expression of your re- 
spect to Mr. Walker, wee onely say this, y' it will hardly bee thought by indif- 
ferent judges, y' hee truly respects any minister as such, y' is unwilling to hear 
him preach. 

" As for your 4^'', viz : your professed ignorance how too (though Godly) es- 
pecially ministers can walk together except they are agreed ; wee answer y' if 
by walking together you understand meeting or sitting together in y' same house 
or seat; (which is our present question) and if by agreement you intend thier 
conjunction in affection, wee hope thier neither is, nor will bee in y' persons 
intended iny' your proposition any such mutuall dissaffection as may prejudice 
such an accomplishment of our desires. If by agreement you intend y* concur- 
rent apprehensions of y* partys intended in all matters controversall, and then 
conclude y' persons in y' sence not agreed, cannott sitt or meet together wee 
doe declare y' wee cannott understand y* reason of any such conclusion, being 
mindefull of y' exhortation once given to Christians, (y' know but in part ; & 
y' not in like measure but as God was pleased to distribute severally to each of 



126 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

them according to his own will) y' they should not forsake y« assembling of 
themselves together. 

"5th. As to your S"' wherein you acquaint us with y"' sence of an obligation 
uppon you obleiging you to attend y' order and dispensation of y^ worship of 
God fornierlye practised and attended in this and other Churches, & that there- 
fore you can doe nothing against the truth, but for the truth. Wee answer y' it 
is far from us to desire to disturb y* your order or hinder your most religious 
respect to any such obligation, as (in reason) you can intend, mucli less doe 
wee desire y' you should doe anything against the trutli, but for the truth & 
y' (if God may incline your hearts) more y" hitherto you have done ; wee know 
nothing in our propositions or actions, y* hath any look or tendency to your 
prejudice in such respects ; but by the way wee think it but rationall to desire 
y' wee may with like freedome from disturbance (at least in respect of you) an- 
swer these obligations of conscience y' are alike upon ourselves. 

"6. As for the sixth, if ye comeings in and goings forth of the Sanctuary in 
Ezek. 44, 5, intend as yourselves expound, not ye improvement of y» place of 
worship, but ecclesiasticall administrations y"^ attended wee carinott see y' this 
hath the least show of an argument : against w' wee desire ; w' is there in this 
y' can intimate any unsutableness or inconveniency in meeting in ye same 
place uppon a joynt agreement', soe to doe (as yourselves propound itt) seeing 
y' yourselves sayy' ye place alleadged speakes not of the place, but of the form 
of worship. 

" 7. As to j' 7"' perticular, viz : y' you desire to retayn and maintayu these 
dispensations, you have soe derely bought, and soe long injoyed without inter- 
ruption, wee say y' wee desire not y' prejudice herein, but withall wee adde 
y' wee also desire to attayne those gosspell priviledges, y' many of us have as 
derely bought and hitherto longed to injoy without opposition. As for your 
inquiry in ye words of Jeptha, should wee not possesse what the Lord our God 
hath given us to possess ? we answer y' wee neither desire to hinder you, nor 
are wee willing in y^ like respects to bee hindred by you, to which wee may 
adde almost in your own words y' should wee therefore consent to, or bee in- 
strumentall in, ye parting with such gospell priviledges out of our hands, wee 
feare it would bee a great dishonor and provocation to ye holy one of Israeli; 
seeing y' for ye peaceable injoyinent of yo truth y' wee have professed & doe 
profess, and desire to practice ; some of us amongst many others whether of 
ye same or different persuasions, have adventured upon as great hardships, 
dangers & difficultyes as any or most in these parts, whose adventures and en- 
deavours in such respects have hitherto been more successful! than ours. 

" Lastly, you declare that there are many difficultyes in ye ^^y Ibrbidding 
your consent unto our motion, to which wee say that wee know not any difficul- 
ty attending you y' will justifye your diverting from your rationall agreement; 
a righteous man ingageth sometmies to his hurt; yetchangeth not but your case 
is easier then soe And whereas you adde y' for us to force the attendance of our 
motion will (as you feare) bee a meanes to widen our difference, wee doe de- 
clare y' we are assured & y' (as wee are persuaded) uppon far better grounds, 
y' for you to oppose ye attendance of our motion (being no other but ye accom- 
plishment of our ancient agreement) will evidence to all indifferent judges 
y' you were never reall in y' agreement ; and whereas fo' a conclusion you say 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AVOODBURY. 127 

y'' ye prosecution of our motion w[\[ (as you ju dye) bee accounted no lessy" op- 
position and disturbance, we answer y' wee cannott see how either yourselves, 
or others y'.'ire wise, uppon a serious perusal of ye former agreement, can see 
judge, and for ye censures of those y' will judi^e a matter before they understand 
it; we see as little reason to vallew y'". 

This (as we esteem) may suffice, for an answer to what you were pleased, to 
present to our consideration. To which we shall farther adde this y' there 
being nothing therein by you proposed of any vallidity to dissuade us from 
proceeding according to our formerly declari d intention we doe purpose and 
resolve y' next Sabbath, (God willing) to begin with the execution of y sd 
intention viz : to hear our own minister viz. (Mr Walker) one part of day, and 
y' in y'^ place ordinarily used for such purposes and doe therefore desire y' wee 
may bee without disturbance in soe doeing, and lor y= part of ye day you may 
please to intimate which you choose for your own perJbrmances and we shall 
take the other, (if not we doe purpose to take the latter part of the day.) No 
more at y* present but to desire the God of peace to guide both us, and you to 
what may bee for our mutuall peace and comfort. 

" Strattford ye 13tli November 16GS. 

'" An answer to Mr Chancy's particulars The Second." 

By this answer it seems that Mr. Walker's party was becoming 
somewhat incensed at the disposition shown by the other party. A 
question of veracity is raised between them, and we begin to see how 
really good men, as the individuals composing both these parties 
undoubtedly were, may forget themselves, and do things unworthy of 
their position and character. Some of the men of these two parties 
were among the leading men in the Colony, and none were more 
frequently appointed by the General Court to act on committees for 
composing similar differences elsewhere, than they. At the close of 
the communication, it will be seen that they gave notice of their 
intention of occupying their joint property, the meeting-house, on the 
next Sabbath. This design was not carried into execution, but the 
matter was compromised by allowing Mr. Walker two hours in which 
to hold his services in the meeting-house on the Sabbath, in the mid- 
dle of the day, between the two services of Mr. Chauncy, till the 
meeting of the General Court in May, 1669. 

In May, 1669, both parties petitioned the General Court, and Mr. 
Walker's party were directed to furnish a bill of particulars, or list 
of their demands. In compliance with this order we find the fol- 
lowing : 

"This honoured court having required us to bring in the grounds of our 
desires in writing respecting our joint improvement of our meeting-house y' is 
to hear our own minister one part of each Sabbatli as well as Mr Chancy the 



128 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

other part: we humbly request that the following particulars may be duely 
considered : — 

1. That our agreement among ourselves did lead us to y= expectation of such 
an order in our proceeding. 

2. That such our agreement being presented to y' honoured Gen: Court, did 
receive y' approbation, & confirmation & wee y" granted & allowed to pro- 
cure a minister upon such an account, which our agreement as the ground 
of such proceedings in y' court hath been proved by testimony given in upon 
oath before y* honoured generall court. 

3. That we have at least an equall interest in y' publick meeting house, with 
our present opposities & desire no other improvement of it than what religion, 
& law alloweth us. 

4. That our above said agreement having been allowed, & our desires therein 
granted by y' highest authority in this colony, we shall not be so ungrateful! 
to authority as to relinquish y^ sai^l grant, — but do humbly conceive we may 
improve it as our own, and do request your countenance and protection 
therein. 

JOSEPH JUDSON, 
in y* name of the rest concerned with him. 
" Hartford May IS, 16G9." 

By this it appears that their principal difficulty continued to be 
in regard to the manner in which they should " enjoy the meeting 
house." Without reflecting upon the matter, one might say that the 
simplest way of arranging the difficulty would have been to have 
built another church. But it is to be borne in mind, that the country 
was new, and the inhabitants poor. It was a great undertaking to 
erect a suitable building, and heavy taxes for years were necessary 
to be laid to complete it. 

The petition of the first church, which follows, is indefinite, simply 
asking the General Court to take the case into consideration, and do 
something : 

" To the Hond Gen" Court assembled at Hartford May 14, 1669. 

" The petition of the church of Christ at Stratford with many of the inhabit- 
ants, humbly sheweth. That uncomfortable differencfes have too long bin, 
and yet remain amongst us in Stratford, to our no small affliction, and to the 
greife of many of our freinds, and that many of your Worships have bin ac- 
quainted with, and some of you (which we cannot but thankfully acknowledge) 
with great seriousnesse have travelled in, to your no small trouble ; and seeing 
diiferences still remain notwithstanding some essayes for redresse, we cannot 
but account it our duty to be humbly and solicitously urgent with this Hon*^ 
court at this time, that you will please to looke upon our condition and see our 
state and be pleased to hear us with patience, for to whom should we come but 
to your Worships, as such under Christ appointed for that end by him to releive 
the oppressed, and such we take ourselves to bee, and therefore again beseech 
you to hear and take our matters into your judicious consideration, and doe 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY 



129 



something for our settlement, and you will thereby (we hope) give us occasion 
to glorify God in you, and shall not cease to pray that the wonderful counsellour 
may be still with you, and the spirit of counsel upon you in the great and 
weighty aifaires that are under your hands, and that you may be repairers of 
the breach, and restorers of paths to dwell in. 

" Stratlbrd 7th (3'^) G9. Your unworthy Petitioners 



Israel Ghauncey 
Phillip Graue 
Richard Boothe 
William Curtis 
Joseph Hawley 
Isaack Niccolls 
John Brinsmead Sen'' 
Moses Wheeler 
Thomas Kymberlye 
Francis Hill 
John Wiljcockson 
John Pickitt Sen' 
John Beach 
John Hurd Ju" 
James Blakman 
Jehiell Preston 
Timothy Wilcockson 
James Clarke 
John Fuller 
Benjamin Peat 
Jabez Hargar 
Israel Curtis 
John Peat Jun'' 



John Curtis 
John Birdseye Sen"" 
John Peatte Sen' 
Adam Hurd 
Henry Tomlinson 
John Peaeoke 
Joseph Beardsly 
Nathaniel Porter 
Thomas Fayrechild Jun 
Samuell Beardsly 
Benjamin Beach 
Stephen Berritt 
Tho. Berritt 
John Brinsmead Jun' 
Jonas Tomlinson 
Daniell Beardsly 
Daniell Brendsmed 
John Pickitt Jun' 
James Pickitt 
Eliasaph Preston 
John Birdseye Jun' 
John Bostick 



"Mr Chnncy and the Church of Stratford's petition May 14, 69." 

The Court took the case into consideration, as desired, confirmed 
their choice of Mr. Chauncy, advised both parties to choose " some 
indifferent persons of piety and learning to compose their differences," 
and gave Mr. Walker liberty to occupy the church three hours each 
Sabbath, in the middle of the day, between Mr. Chauncy's two ser- 
vices, till the October session. Previous to this session, several 
attempts were made by the parties to carry out the advice of the 
Court to submit their differences to arbitration, and several extended 
and learned communications passed between them. They however 
resulted in no definite action, as they could not agree upon the points 
to be submitted to the arbitrators. 

At the October session the matter was again before the Court, 
which passed a resolution advising the first church to comply with 
the desire of Mr. Walker's party, to have union services, allowing 



130 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Mr. Walker to preach one part of each Sabbath. Some communi- 
cations passed between the parties in relation to this advice, but the 
first church, instead of granting them this privilege, which they had 
so long sought, excluded them from the house entirely. After 
suffering this indignity, they only addressed a letter to the first 
church, complaining of the injustice done them, and proposed to 
divide the town into two parts, that they might go and live by them- 
selves, and have no more dissension. They further inform them 
that they shall ask the same of the General Court : 

" To the Elders of the church of StrEitford with any others of our neighbours 
joyning with you. 

" Beloved neighbours, if the true intent of most solemn covenants and ingag- 
ments made betwixt you and us in the presence of him who must shortly be 
our judge and entered on, (at least on your part) with many serious pro- 

testations as we then esteemed you might have been accounted any obligation 
unto consciense and acordingly have been atended in practise we had iiotbeene 
such causless suflerers, as now we are ; nor had we had such an ocasion of 
making propositions to yourselves, or had our sufferings beene such as had 
terminated in ourselves, had not the house of God and religion sufiered as well 
as we ; we might have excused ourselves in a silent sufering [An erasure] 
of our present injuries, but our case being as it is and that by your meanes we 
are nesesiated to present you with the following propositions 

1. The first, and tl^^t which we chiefly desire is: that you would so far be- 
thinke yourselves what injury you have done unto us in excluding us from 
the place of publick worship wherein you know our right to be as good as 
yours, and how unwillingly yourselves would have beene to be so dealt with 
as to suffer us without any molestation or disturbance to return to the injoy- 
mentof that our right in the meeting house therein to have the improvement 
of our minister one part of each Sabbath 

2. Or Secondly, if you still wished to oppose and resist so rationall and just 
a projiosityDn as this we then propose that for prevention of the continu- 
ance of seperate meetings in Stratford you would either allow to us that part 
of Stratford land contayned in the following limits: viz: fro)n the place 
where the river commonly caled the saw mill River falls into the great 
river, to the head of the westermost branch of the said river and straight 
from thence to the head of Stratford bounds, and soe all that land that is in 
Stratford bounds betwixt that line and the great river that then we may setle 
ourselves in a distinct village or Township or else that with the like allow- 
ance from us you will remove thither for the same end : that so by the 
removall of one party, there may at length be a cessation of those so long 
lasting troubles that have been amongst us. 

3. Thirdly, that whether you or we shall so injoy the said land as above sayd, 
that both parties joyntly shalle be at the charge of clearing it from any other 
clayme, that may be made onto it. These propositions we desire you seri- 
ously to consider and seasonably to answer withall informing you that we 



t 

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 131 

intend to present something to the same purpose to the Generall court: now 
approaching, no more at present but to remayn. 

" Stratford September 29: 1G70. Your loving neibours 

Josei h .ludson, 
Jolin Minor, 
In the name ol' the rest." 

According to the notice here given they did apply to the General 
Court at its session in October, making the same proposal, and a com- 
mittee consisting of Captain Nathan Gold, Mr. James Bishop, Mr. 
Thomas Fitch, and Mr. John Holly, was appointed 

"To vicvve the said hinds desired, and to meet some tiuje in November next 
to consider oi" tlie afoarsayd motion, and to hiboiir to worke a complyance be- 
tween those two j^arties in Stratl'ord ; and if tlieir endeauoures proue unsuc- 
cesslul tlien they are desired and orderetl to make returne to tlie Court in May 
next what they judg expedient to be attended in the case." 

Nothing was effected by this committee, nor did they even report 
to the General Court, as directed. There is no record of any other 
action in the matter, on the part of the authorities of the colony, till 
May, 1072, when, as we have seen, on the advice of Gov. AYinthrop, 
Mr. Walker and his church were allowed to found a new town at 
Pomperaug. 

For two years after Mr. Walker was called to preach to the dissent- 
ing party in Stratford, he had done so without ordination. Amid the 
other ditficulties under which they labored, they had found no oppor- 
tunity to accomplish this desirable point. But now, being taunted by 
the first church on account of their disorganized state, being excluded 
the meeting-house, and there being no longer an}' hope of arrange- 
ment with the other party, they took the necessary steps to " embody 
in church estate." But the following account of the event, by Mr. 
Walker himself, in his quaint and beautiful style, more eloquently 
tells the story than any language the author can frame. 

" May, 1G70. 
" A record of y*^ proceedings, & affaires of y^ 2'' clili at Stratford, I'rom its tirst 
beginning. By me C m 

" After great indeavours lor an union w"' y^ former chh, & much patience 
therein, w" long experience had too plainly evidenced y irremoveable resolu- 
tion, to oppose 'an union Wiii us, though nothing had appeared of any such 
great distance in o^ apprehensions, as might be inconsistent y'with : All hoj^es 
of success in such indeavours being at length taken away, we thought ourselves 
bound to seek after y^ injoynt of y^ ordinances of God in a distinct society, find- 
ing y« door shut agst o^ attaining it any other way : we did y'lbre first more 



132 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

privately, (by reason of ye great opposition Ww,h we were attended) set apart 
a day of solemn humiliation, w''in to seek unto God for guidance, & assistance, 
& (a considerable part y''of being spent in prayer, & preaching) in y^ close oi 
y^ day we did publickly read over ye confession of faith extracted out of 
yc scriptures by y^ assembly of divines at Westminster, Wch being publicklj' 
owned, & professedly assented unto by us, we did enter into a solemn cove- 
nant y''by giving up o'^selves, & ours unto yc lord, & ingaging o'selves one to 
another to walk together in chh society in attending ye ordinances, & institu- 
tions of cht. Afterwards o' way being more cleared we made o^ application 
unto neighbouring churches for y"' approbation of o' chh standing (ye consent _ 
of ye court being sulFiciently implied in y"" confirmation of ye ancient agreement 
betwixt party, & party in Stratford, & by other acts of y''s relating to us.) And 
having attained ye approbation of yechhes of Fairfield, Killingworth, & ye new 
chh at Windsor, we did solemnly renew o'^ said covenant the first of May, 1670. 
The covenant thus entered into by us, & renewed as is aboves'^ was as foUoweth. 
" The Covenant. 
" We whose names are hereunto subscribed, being (by ye all-disposing prov- 
idence of God, who determines ye bounds of mens habitations) cast into cohab- 
itation on w^'' another, and being sensible of o' duty unto God, & one to anoth- 
er, & of o"" liableness to be forgetfull, & neglective of ye one, & y® other, do 
hereby (for ye further incitent of oi^selves unto duty in either respect) solemnly 
give up ofselves,& ours unto ye lord, engaging o"'selves by his assisting grace to 
walk before him, in ye religious observance of his revealed will, as far as it is 
or shall bee made known unto us. We do also in ye presence of God solemnly 
ingage o''selves each to other, to walk together in church-society according to 
ye rules of ye gospell, jointly attending all ye holy ordinances of God, as far as 
it shall please him to make way thereunto, and give opportunity y'of : and 
walking on w"" another in brotherly love, & chtian watchfuUness for o"^ mutual 
edification, & furtherance in ye way to salvation. And jointly submitting 
o'selves, & ours to ye goverment of cht in his church, in ye hand of such church 
governours, or officers as shall be set over us according to gospell institution. 
The good lord make us faithfuU in covenant with him & one wih another, to 
walk as becomes a people near unto himself, accept of o'' offering up of o''selves, 
& ours unto him, & establish both us and y'" to be a people unto himself in his 
abundant mercy through cht jesus, who is o'' only mediato' in whom alone we 
expect acceptance, justification and salvation : to him be glory & praise through 
all ages. Amen. 

" The names of ye persons y' subscribed this covenant, & again publickly 
owned it, Jlay o"", viz : ye day of my ordination, were as folluweth. 
Zechariah Walker, - Hope Washborn, 

Samuel Sherman, sen'', Hugh Griffin, 

Joseph Judson, sen'', Ephraim Stiles, 

John Hurd, sen'', John Thompson, jun'', 

Nicholas Knell, Theophilus Sherma, 

Robert Clark, Matthew Sherman, 

John Minor, John Judson, 

Samuel Sherman, jim'', Samuel Mils, 

John Wheeler, Benjamin Stiles, 

Samuel Stiles, Edmond Shermond. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 133 

" Persons since added. 
John Skeeles, Richard Butler, 

Israel Curtiss, Robert Lane, 

Thomas Ifairechilde, Moses Johnson. 

Richard Harvy, 
" On y« 5"' of May, 1670, I was ordained pasto' of ye 2'' clih: at Stratford. 
The ministers present were m'' Wakeman, m"' Haines, m"" John Woodbridge, 
ni'' Benjamin Woodbridge. m"' John Woodbridge was . ye leading person, 
\n' Benjamin Woodbridge was assistant in yC work of ordination." 

Thus it is seen, that at the ordination of Mr. Walker, his church 
consisted of twenty male membeiH. This number was as large as 
that of the other churches, at their organization, up to this date, with 
the exception of those in four or five of the larger towns. Seven 
more were added a few days after, and four males and six females 
were also added previous to the removal to Woodbury, in 1672. 
More than one-third of these were members by the half-way cove- 
nant system, yet it is seen, that they subscribed and publicly owned 
the same covenant, as those in full communion. This practice went 
on, and this identical covenant was owned, during the ministry of 
Mr. Walker, and that of the Rev. Mr. Stoddard, the second minister, 
till the ordination of Rev. Noah Benedict, the third minister, in 1760, 
ninety years from the first gathering of the church, when it was 
abolished. 

In 1672, by permission of the General Court, the second church 
of Stratford made preparations for removing to Pomperaug, an<f 
early the next year a majority of its members emigrated thither. 
Mr. Walker ministered to his church in both places till Juue 27th, 
1678, when he took up his abode permanently in Woodbury.' The 
settlers had now become so numerous that it was no longer problem- 



1 A story has been related respecting the occasion of Mr. Walker's removing with 
his party to Woodbury, in substance as follows: 

" At the period of the first settlement of Woodbury, there were two licentiates 
preaching at Stratford, Mr. Walker and Mr. Reed. As there was some controversy 
who should leave and go with the Woodbury settlers, the two licentiates were re- 
quested to deliver a discourse on the day when it was to be decided, Mr. Walker m the 
forenoon, and Mr. Reed in the afternoon. Mr. Walker took for his text, " What went 
ye out into the wilderness for to see, a reeii shaken with the wind?" He enlarged 
upon the circumstance and propriety of a reed being found in the wilderness, &c. Mr. 
Reed, in the afternoon, took for his text, "Your adversary, the devil, walketh about," 
&c. In the course of his observations, he stated that the great adversary of men was 
a great rcalker, and instead of remaining with the brethren, ought to be kept walking 
at a distance from them." 

This certainly is an amusing story, but it lacks one ingredient to make it entirely 
satisfactory, and that is truth. It is not historically con ect. Mr. Israel Chauncy was 



134 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

atical that the settlement would be permanent. After the troubles 
in Stratford were settled by colonizing the new town, and the angry 
feelings that had been aroused had subsided, both Mr. Chauncy, who 
was an able and learned man, and Mr. Walker, became sensible that 
their conduct toward each other, during the long controversy, had 
not, at all times, been brothei'ly, and, after some time, made conces- 
sions to each other, became perfectly reconciled, and conducted them- 
selves toward each other with commendable aifection. The two 
churches were also on the most friendly terms, and Mr. Chauncy, 
in 1702, after the death of Mr. Walker, assisted at the oixlination of 
Mr. Stoddard, his successor in the ministry. 

The personal history of Mr. Walker, which has reached us, is very 
brief. He was the son of Robert Walker, of Boston, where he was 
born in 1637. He was educated at Harvard College, but did not 
graduate. He preached as licentiate at Jamaica, Long Island, from 
1G63 to 16G8, when he removed to Stratford, and preached in the 
same capacity to the members of the second church in Stratford, till 
its regular organization, and his own installation over it as pastor. 
May 5, 1670. After the troubles growing out of King Piiilip's war 
were ended, he removed with his family to Woodbury, and there 
spent the remainder of his days, which terminated on the 20th day 
of January, 1699-1700,' in the sixty-third year of hisage. 

He was a man of solid attainments, as indeed he must be, to pass 
the rigid examination given him and other candidates for the minis- 
try in those days. They were examined not only in the "three 
learned languages," Latin, Greek and Hebrew, but in respect to doc- 
trinal points of theology, cases of conscience, and their ability to de- 
fend the tenets of Clirislianity against infidels and gainsayers, as well 
as their own experimental knowledge of religion. He was a pungent 
and powerful preacher, greatly beloved by the peojjle of his charge. 
He conducted the affairs of his church with commendable discretion, 
and both it and the infant town flourished during his administration. 



settled over the first church in Stratford, in 1G65, and remained there till his death in 
1703, more than thirty-seven years after the settlement of Mr. Walker over the second 
church. No person of the na'ne of Reed ever preached, or offered to preach, at Strat- 
ford, before tl;e sett'ement of Woodbury. Eev. Peter Bulklcy was solicited to preach 
by the dissentin 2; party before Mr. Walker was engaged, but did not do so. The set- 
tlement of Woodbury became necessary in consequence of the disagreement of the 
parties of Messrs. Chauncy and Walker. The first mention of this tradition is made 
in Barber's Hist. Coll. of Conn., and it is suspected that a certain facetious friend of 
the author, residing i!i Woodbury, should have the honor of its paternity. 
1 This da e, according to new style, is Jan. 31, 1700. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKT. 135 

The number of persons admitted to membership in his church during 
his ministry was one hundred and eight, a part of whom had been re- 
ceived on the half-way covenant plan in the first instance, but nearly 
all the living members at his death were such in full communion. 
Three hundred and seventy-six persons, infiint and adult, were by 
him baptized. Dea. John Minor and Dea. Samuel Miles were ap- 
pointed deacons at the organization of the church, and two others 
were subsequently chosen, on the death or resignation of the former, 
viz., Matthew Sherman, in 1GS2, and John Sherman, in 1(385. Thus 
the infant church had secured a firm foundation, notwithstanding all 
the trials and hardships that beset its earlier years. 

After a life of usefulness, the revered Walker, " y^ faitlifull, wor- 
thy, beloved Minister of the Gospell, and much lamented Pastor of 
ye Chh of Christ," " was gathered to his fathers," and his remains 
repose in the southern part of the ancient burying-ground. lie lies 
amid the faithful flock to whom he ministered in life. A rude head- 
stone of native rock, containing only his name, and the date of his 
death, so worn and obliterated by the storms of more than a century 
and a half, that the name can scarcely be deciphered, is all that re- 
mains to mark the place of sepulture of this " early fatlier." It might 
seem strange to the casual visitor within our limits, that the town he 
so much improved and benefited by his labors, and honored by his 
public and private virtues, had not long since erected a fitting monu- 
ment to the memory of its earliest and most faithful servant. It is to 
be hoped, that the time is not far distant, when this debt of gratitude 
shall have been paid. 

After Mr. Walker's death, the church was for a time without a 
pastor ; but the Rev. Anthony Stoddard, having become a licentiate 
in 1700, was engaged to supply the pulpit in this place. Being 
pleased with his labors, the church and town soon took the necessary 
steps toward his settlement in the ministry over them. Accordingly 
we find the following action on record : 

' ■" At a law ruU Towns-niectinfi' y" Ki''' oi' Ang\i?t 1700 iu oid'' to y' settling of 
y" Reverend ni'^ Anthony StotUlard amongst ns. in y= work of y"' niinistry. And 
for his enconragein' ?o to do; 

"It was ^"oted and agreed to allow him, as Mayntenance iv y' Work of y" 
Ministry, seventy pounds per Annu, in provision pay, or to his Satisfaction, in 
Case of fayhire of provision pay. By provision pay, is intended, wheat, pease, 
Indian Corn & pork, proportionally : as also fire M'ood : 

" (Wee do also promise, to build him an house here in Woodherry of known 
Deniensions; y' is to say, the Carpenters work & Masons work ; bee jnovidin^' 



136 HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

nayles and glass; by building y" s*" house is intended, doors, floures, filling up 
and playstcring and pa'^titions, finishing it as also a well. 

" (We do also promise to accommodate w"' a five and twenty Acre Accom- 
modations Round y' is to say five & twenty Acres of home lott & homelott 
division, five & twenty acres of Meadow or lowland; five & twenty Acres of 
t'ood hill Division, five and twenty of Woods Division. Twelve Acres and an 
halfe of pasture Division; Foure Acres and an halfe of white-oak-plaine divis- 
ion so Called: And all as Conveniendy as may bee: Vppon such Conditions 
as shall be hereafter Contracted for and agreed to between him and us, and all 
other future divisions, successively w"' other five and twenty Acre Accommo- 
dations. 

" Tiie Conditions of this engagement are; That in Case hee y^ s*^ m^ Stod- 
dard, accepts of these o'' proposalls and engages to live and Continue w"' us in 
y« Work of y^ Ministry six years alter y"^ Date hereof; Then w^ is promised as 
to house atul Lands to bee a firm grant to him his Heires and Assigns forever 
to all intents & purposes w'soever, in Case of a Rcmovall from us y' building 
and lands to return to us againe, to y«Town againe. we say a Removall w"'in 
y^ s'' Tearin. Death is noways intended by y'' sti Removall, neither y'= Towns 
enforcing him to a removall : In w='' Covenant it is agreed on, y' in Case of a 
Removall : w'ever y« s'' house or Accommodations, shall bee really bettered by 
y'= s'' m'' Stoddards own expcnce or improvenr' y^ Town shall iray him for 
that : 

" Since W^'' time at a Lawfull Towns-meeting y= 25''^ of Novemb"' 1700 It 
was Voated and agreed y' y" aboves' spec ices for in"' Stoddard's yearly mayn- 
tenance bee levyed at y= prices following: wheat at 4^6'' p'' Bush ; pork at 
3= pf lb: Indian Corn 2' 6'' pr Bush: pease three shillings p' Bush" : And 
these prices fo"' this yeare y' Town will not vary from for ye future Exterordi- 
nary providences interposing being Exceapted ; 

"Recorded from ye originalls p"^ Jo" Minor Recorder, March 1700-1701. "i 

By this it will be perceived that the town not only voted him a 
salary, but also a settlement in land. They granted him the largest 
quantity of land allowed to any person, thus making him at once as 
rich as the most opulent fai'mer. His salary was to be* paid entirely 
in provisions, a fact which again brings to our notice the almost 
entire want of a currency at this time. The contract of the town 
was carried into effect with all possible dispatch, and the house, still 
in existence, the oldest in the county, a cut of which appears on the 
opposite page, was the result. It is built in the old lean-to style. In 
front is the portico, on the second floor of which was the parson's 
study, where he prepared his sermons for the long period of fifty- 
eight years. On the first floor of this projection, the probate courts 
for the district of Woodbury were held for more than forty years. 
It is located in the midst of this beautiful valley, with the hoary 



1 W. T. K., vol. 2, p. 24. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 137 

Castle Rock for a background. It is a venerable relic of the early 
days of the town — one of the few links connecting us with a former 
generation. It is a thing of history in a historical locality. Long 
may it remain to remind us of the virtues of the departed, and all 
that is valuable in the past ! 

Mr. Stoddard did not preach in Woodbury all the time during the 
two years succeeding Mr. Walker's death. The pulpit was supplied 
a part of the time by others, among whom was Rev. Mr. Shove, of 
Danbury. No entries of any kind for these two years appear on 
the church records, except the following in Mr. Stoddard's hand- 
writing : 

"99, 1700, 1,2: In yc Vacancy of a Pastor." 

In May, 1702, he was admitted to full communion with the church, 
a measure then considered necessary, and ordained pastor soon after, 
as he informs us by the following entry on the records : 

•' On May 27, 1702, I was ordained Pastor of ye Ch^ of Woodbury. The 
ministers acting in y' affair were Mr. Chauncey, of Stratford, Mr. Webb, Mr. 
Janes, Mr. Charles Chauncey." 

The church was thus again supplied with an oixlained minister, 
and one, who, fortunately, was to remain long with his people. Un- 
der the contract with him, which was a very liberal one for those 
days, rates were each year laid upon all the property in the territory, 
that the laborer might receive his " wages," the town taking receipts 
for the same, as appears by the following : 

" These may certlfie w™ it may concern y' I ye subscriber have received to 
satisfaction all former Rates granted as annual saleryes to this day & have 
nothing to demand of ye town as a town on those accounts. Witness my hand 
ye 1411. day of December, 1719. , 



■^^^'^^^c>T7t/ ':fcirc7'!!^<^'^ 



The ministiy of Mr. Stoddard was remarkable for its duration 
and the peace and prosperity which attended it. From the date of 
his first sermon as a candidate, to that of his last, immediately prece- 
ding the brief illness that terminated his useful labors, he numbered 
sixty years in his holy calling. During all this time, the church was 
in a highly prosperous condition, notwithstanding the low state of the 
other churches in New England. There were but two years during 
the whole length of his ministry, in which there were not more or less 
10 



138 HISTORY OF ANCIENT -WOODBURY. 

admissions to the church. Great peace and harmony ever prevailed 
under his administrations, amid the intense excitement which occa- 
sionally existed, in relation to various matters, among the ministers 
and people of other churches in the colony. The number of commu- 
nicants was always large, notwithstanding four important societies 
were taken from his limits during his ministry. These were South- 
bury, in 1730, Bethlehem,* in 1739, Judea, in 1741, and Roxbury, in 
1743, and they have since become towns. 

The good work seemed constantly to glow under his hands, with a 
steadiness rarely equaled. But there were several seasons of revi- 
val, when a special interest in religious matters engaged the attention 
and affections of his people. During the years 1726 and 1727, being 
the year preceding, and the year of the " Great Sickness," there was 
a special awakening. Forty-one were received to full communion in 
the former year, and thirty -four in the latter. For seven years pre- 
ceding 1740, the beginning of the "Great Awakening" in all New 
England, a good deal of religious interest prevailed, and ninety-seven 
were added to the church. With the rest of the colony it also parti 
cipated in the " great revival," and nineteen were received in full 
communion in 1740, forty-five in 1741, and forty in 1742, making 
two hundred and one additions to the church in ten years. The 
whole number admitted to full communion during his ministry was 
four hundred and seventy-four, and one hundred and forty-two were 
admitted by the half-way covenant system. The most of these, dur- 
ing or after his ministry, were admitted to full communion. The 
number of persons baptized by him was fifteen hundred and forty. 
Five deacons were appointed during this period, — Zechariah Walker, 
son of the first minister, date not noted, Samuel Sherman in 1736, 
Samuel Minor in 1741, Jehu Minor in 1751, and Daniel Sherman 
in 1756. The latter remained in this office thirty-seven years. 
Truly the labors of this " father in Israel" were highly blessed in in- 
ducing numbers to walk in the " paths of jicace and tlie ways of 
pleasantness." 

On the 24th of April, 1744, the ancient society, now called the 
first society, four others having been formed out of its original limits, 
voted to build a church, and in jMay following, petitioned the General 
Assembly to appoint a " wise and faitliful committee," to determine 



1 The name of the ecclesiastical society is Bethlehem. It was intended to have the 
town of the same name, but by an error of the transcriber of the charter, the name of 
the town was spelled Bethlem. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 139 

its location. On the 2Gth of September, 1744, the committee exam- 
ined the various locations, and reported at the October session of the 
Assembly, that they had located the house 

" On Broad street, 40 rods North of the old house, on the hill, at the head of 
a street running Westward." 

The report was approved, the location established, and the building 
went forward. In May, 1745, the society's clerk reports that two 
rates had been laid to build the same, and the timber was procured ; 
in May, 1746, that it was ready to raise, and the materials for finish- 
ing it obtained; and in October, 1747, that it was covered. The 
latter report, by the clerk, Col. Joseph Minor, is brief, to the point, 
and slightly grandiloquent, as will be seen : 

"To the Hoiible Assembly at New Haven, Octob'', 1747. 

" These may Inform 3'-our Hon^s that the Prime Society in Woodbury Have 
set up a Meeting House in the place where the Court's Corafee set the stake. 
Have Covered & Inclosed it, tV for its Bigness, Strength & Architecture it Does 
appear Transcendantly Magnificent! 

J^QiS^^"^-^ 0'UnOl^ Society's Clerk. 

U </ ' / Woodbury, October, 1717."i 

This house was located in the street, a little south of the hotel of 
Mr. John P. Marshall. Tliis was the second church edifice in the 
first society, was dedicated immediately after the date above, and con- 
tinued the place for public worship till the dedication of the present 
church, January 13th, 1819, a period of seventy-two years. The 
first church had been used as such for more than seventy-five years 
before the dedication of the second, and afterward as a town hall, till 
after the close of the Revollitionary War, and was pulled down, after 
it had attained the age of more than one hundred years. 

A word respecting the chronology of this work may as well be in- 
troduced here as elsewhere. It is well known that in September, 
1752, a change in dates occurs, occasioned by a correction of the 
style. In Hempstead's Diary, we find the following remark, next 
after September 2d : 

" Sept. M, 1752. — Fair : — and such a day as we never had before ! By act 
of Parliament to bring Old Style into New Style, eleven days is taken out of 
this month at this place, and then the time to go on as heretofore." 

In this work, all dates of the month previous to the 14th of Sep- 
tember, 1752, are old style, and all after are new style. Tlie year;, 

1 Ecclesiastical, vol. If index 28. 



140 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

however, between the 1st of January and the 25th of March, (before 
the adoption of new style,) is uniformly treated, where a double date 
is not given, as new style. As a brief explanation of the cause of 
the difference of style, we give the following. When the computa- 
tion by the Christian era was introduced, the commencement of the 
year was fixed on the day of the annunciation, or incarnation of 
Christ, which event (the nativity being fixed December 25th) was 
placed on the 25th of March. This continued the commencement of 
the year in England and her dominions, till the alteration of style in 
1752, when by the act of Parliament, above referred to, it Avas enacted 
that eleven days should be struck out of the month of September, 
that the 3d should be dated the 14th, that one day should be added 
to the month of February every fourth year, to conform their chro- 
nology to that of the other nations of Europe, (which had introduced 
a similar alteration previously in order to correct the error arising 
from the precession of the equinoxes ;) and that the year should 
commence with the 1st of January instead of the 25th of March. 
Before that time, to preserve a correspondency of dates with those of 
other nations, it had been usual to give a double date from the 1st of 
January to the 25th of March ; thus February 12th, 1721, was written 
" ffebruary y® 12"", 17|^." The omission of the lower number would 
cause an error of a year.' 

After a life of arduous and successful labor, the second pastor, at a 
good old age, came down to the grave like a " shock of corn fully ripe 
for the harvest." He died September 6th, 1760, in the eighty-third 
year of his age, and the sixty-first of his ministry, after a severe ill- 
ness of " about two days' continuance." We have contemplated him 
hitherto only as a minister of the gospel. But his labors ended not 
here. He was at the same time, minister, lawyer and physician. 
Like many of the early ministers of the colony, he prepared himself 
for the practice of physic, that he might administer to the wants of 
the body, as well as those of the mind. In this capacity he was often 
called. The only person the author has found who ever saw him, 
was Dea. Amos Squire, of Roxbury, who died two or thi-ee years 
ago, aged ninety-nine, and who recollected having seen him when a 
lad about eight years of age, while on a visit in this capacity to his 
father, who had received a severe wound from an ax. He had also 
done what other ministers did not, and that was to perfect himself in 



1 Lambert's Hist, of New Haven. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 141 

legal knowledge. This was the more necessary, as at the beginning 
of the eighteenth century there were few lawyers in the colony, and 
as late as 1730, an act was passed limiting the number of lawyers that 
might practice to three in Hartford county, and two in each of the 
other counties. 

He was clerk of probate for the district of Woodbury, then com- 
prising many towns, for a period of forty years. In this capacity he 
drew most of the wills for his parishioners, and did nearly all the 
business of the office, the judge, for the time being, approving his 
acts. All the records of the court during the time he was clerk, ap- 
pear in his handwriting. He was also one of the largest farmers in 
the town, the inventory of his estate at his decease, amounting to 
£900, besides his books and wearing apparel. 

But, as we have seen, amid all his varied and onerous duties, he 
neglected not the spiritual wants of his parish. He was in " deed 
and in truth" a father to them, and by them greatly beloved. He 
lived and died enshrined in the hearts of his people. 

He was the son of Rev. Solomon Stoddard, of Northampton, Mass., 
where he was born August 9tli, 1G78. He was educated at Har- 
vard College, and graduated in 1697. He studied theology with his 
father in his native town, and with some of the able divines of Bos- 
ton, and, when fully prepared for his high calling, retired to this 
" dwelling-place of the wood," to spend his days in his Master's ser- 
vice. He was an able, earnest and experimental preacher. His in- 
tellect and acquii-ements were of a high order. As proof of this, he 
was appointed to preach the " election sermon," at the May session 
of the General Court, in 1716, an appointment bestowed on the more 
prominent ministers only of the colony. The following action was 
taken in the premises : 

" Richaid Christophers and Peter Burr, Esqrs, are appointed a Com^ee of 
this House to Joyn with a Comtee of the Lower House and Return the Thanks 
of this Assembly to the Rev""* Mr. Anthony Stoddard for his sermon preached 
Yesterday on Occasion of the Election, and desire a Copy of it for the press. 
"Hartf: May 11"', 171G. 

" Past in the Upper House, 
" Test. Hez: Wyllys, Sec'y." / 

The lower house joined, and the resolution went into effect. 

The aged pastor was buried in the central part of the old burial- 
ground, and there reposes, surrounded by a numerous congregation, 
slumbering in death, to whom in life he had ministered, and very 
many of whom he had himself, while living, followed to the grave. 



142 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

As in life he was ever united to his people, so in death they are not 
divided. There let them rest together till the last " great trump" 
shall call them to a bright reunion around the throne of God. 

At this stand-point in the religious history of our town, ninety 
years having passed away, it is worth while to take a glance of I'etro- 
spection at the trials and difficulties that met the early fathers in the 
church. Many of them had good estates, and a comfortable position 
on the other side of the ocean, before coming to this wilderness land. 
But they came for " conscience' sake," and it was their design, in 
founding the several towns, to erect churches in strict accordance 
with Scripture example, and to transmit evangelical purity, with civil 
and religions liberty, to their posterity. All their acts and all their 
aims tended to this one grand design. Accordingly, we find that all 
persons were obliged by law, to contribute to the support of the 
church. All rates for the support of ministers, or for defraying any 
ecclesiastical expenses, were laid and collected in the same manner 
as the rates of the respective towns. Great care was taken, that all 
should attend the means of public instruction. The law obliged them 
to be present at the public worship on the Sabbath, and upon all days 
appointed by the civil authority for public fasts, or for thanksgiving. 
The Congregational mode of worship was adopted and established by 
law, but it was provided that all sober, orthodox persons, dissenting 
from them, should, on representing it to the General Court, be 
allowed peaceably to worship in their own way. Such, however, 
were beheld with distrust. Our fathers, who desired religious 
freedom, and periled all for it in this wilderness, probably had not 
anticipated that they would speedily have an opportunity to extend 
that toleration to others, which, in the father-land, they had in vain 
sought for themselves. But while in their weakness, and with vivid 
recollections of the past, they viewed with alarm any deviations from 
their doctrines and order, they yet had the germ of toleration, and 
developed it with more rapidity, it is believed, than any other section 
of Christendom can show. 

The influence of the pastor in the early days was very great. 
Many of the clergy, who first came into the country, had property, 
and assisted their poor brethren in the expenses and difficulties en- 
countered in making the new settlements. The people were far 
more dependent on their ministers for everything at that time, than 
they have since been. The proportion of learned men was far 
smaller then, than at the present day. The clergy possessed a large 
.part of the literature of the colony. They fitted the young men for 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 143 

college, and assisted them in their studies, and with their advice after- 
ward. By example, by counsel and by money, they encouraged the 
people in their difficult circumstances, and were ever active and 
abundant in their labors. They were also fellow-exiles and sufferers 
with them in this new and strange land. All these circumstances 
combined, gave them a remarkable influence over their hearers, of 
all ranks and dispositions. Perhaps in no government have the 
clergy had more influence, or been more rationally and sincerely re- 
spected and beloved, by the rulers and by the people, than in Con- 
necticut. 

All these influences exhibited their happy results in the actions 
and character of the people. The huge, old meeting-house was 
always filled with the "great congregation," in summer's' heat, or 
winter's cold. Although the idea of warming a meeting-house with 
a stove or a fireplace never entered the mind of the boldest innova- 
tor upon ancient customs, yet the attendance at the house of God 
was scarcely less in winter than in summer. The meeting-house was 
almost always built on the top of the highest hill, at the intersection 
of roads leading to the various parts of the town, as near the geo- 
graphical center of the territory as possible. But the people " went 
up to the temple" to worship for many miles around, though storms 
were in the air, and the cutting wind howled fiercely over the bleak 
hill of " the tabernacle." By means of the " ride-and-tie system, 
frequently, they managed to get to the place of worship, where, by 
the aid of warm clothing, close sitting, and a glowing fire in their 
"Sabbath-day houses," or at the parsonage, at intermission, they 
seemed not to be aware of the cold weather. By the ride-and-tie 
system, it was a common thing for a farmer, who had a good horse, 
either to go alone, or take his wife behind him, on a pillion, and ride 
half the way to church ; then dismount, and walk the rest of the way, 
leaving the horse fastened by the wayside, for a neighbor and his 
wife, who were on the road behind, and who would come up and 
share the accommodation thus afforded. The Sabbath-day house, 
liberty to erect which on the common around the church, was grant- 
ed by the town to such individuals as applied, consisted of a small 
structure, divided into two rooms, for the accommodation of the two 
sexes, in which was built a good fire, where they could partake of 
their refreshments, and spend the hour of intermission in such a man- 
ner as was suitable to holy time. The hours of the Sabbath, after 
the return from church, were generally spent in employments appro- 
\ 



144 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

priate to the conclusion of the day of rest, and such as were calcula- 
ted to fit them for the everlasting Sabbath in heaven. 

But the early fathers have long since departed. Several genera- 
tions of their descendants sleep with them, and it is to be feared, that 
many of their valuable customs, and their strict purity of conduct, 
have departed with them. " Ancient Woodbury" has been greatly 
favored with able, learned and pious ministers. Within the period 
under contemplation, in 1750, and several years afterward, there 
were laboring, at the same time, within our limits. Rev. Anthony 
Stoddard, of the first society. Rev. John Graham, of Southbury, Rev* 
Dr. Bellamy, of Bethlem, Rev. Thomas Canfield, of Roxbury, and 
Rev. Daniel Brinsmade, of Judea societies ; a galaxy of talent, 
learning and piety, without its equal, perhaps, in a single town, at one 
time. The influence of those revered men has not entirely departed. 
It " still lives," and will go on blessing and improving those within 
its reach, till the latest "recorded syllable of time/^ 



CHAPTER IX. 



CIVIL HISTORY CONTINUED FROM CHAPTER VI. 

Miscellaneous events from 1712 to 1775; Land Divisions; School-houses; 
Cider-mills; Great Sickness of 1727, 1719 and 1760; Great Earth- 
quake; Aurora Borealis, 1719; Pootatuck Ferry, 1730; Hinman's Fer- 
ry, 1752; Bridge built near Hinman's Ferry by Gen. Washington, 
1778; Carlton's Bridge Lottery, 17S0 ; Sequestration of Burial 
Grounds, 1711; Parsonage Lands located, 1741; Parsonage Lands 
sold, 1744; Efforts to form a new County called Woodbury, in 174S, 
1751, 17GS and 1791; Mine Hill, 1721; Wolves and Wild-cats; Town- 
house Repaired; Casualties; Relics; Tea-party at Parson Stoddard's ; 
RuLooF Butchers' Estate ; Umbrellas and Calico first introduced ; 
Witchcraft — Moll Cramer; List of Original Proprietors in 1751; 
War with Spain ; French Neutrals, 175G ; LouiSBirRG taken, 1745 ; W^ar 
with France — Expeditions of 1755, 1756 and 1757 ; Alarm for the Relief 
OF Fort William Henry, 1757; Expeditions of 1758 and 1759; Louisdurg, 
Forts Frontenac, Duquesne and Niagara, Crown Point, Ticonderoga and 
Quebec taken. 

Again we betake ourselves to the task of gathering up the frag- 
ments that remain of the civil history of the town, " that nothing may 
be lost." The limits assigned this work give warning, that each sub- 
ject must be bi'iefly touched, and it is proposed to take heed to it. 

It has been before stated that all divisions made in the public lands 
of the town to the original proprietors, or their representatives, were 
proportioned to the home-lot, which was from two to five aci'es in 
size. The former divisions of land having been brought sufficiently 
under cultivation, new allotments were occasionally made, as neces- 
sity required. Accordingly in 1720, 

"The town grants a Division of thirty acres to each ten acre accommodation, 
and so proportionably accoroling to articles, in the old township, half a mile 
from the town." 

In February, 1729, the town voted to lay out seventy-five acres to 
each " ten acre accommodation," making no allowance for waste land, 
and proportionally for the five acre, or " Bachelor's" accommodations. 



146 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Previous to this date, in all the divisions of land, an account of waste 
or bad land had been taken, and more in quantity was given him to 
whom it fell, in the survey, or more land was given elsewhere to 
make his proportion equal to others. In 1734, the North Purchase, 
which had been granted to the town in 1703, purchased of the In- 
dians in 1710, and surveyed in 1724, was laid out into lots for the 
purpose of division among the original proprietors. Col. Joseph 
Minor, Rev. Anthony Stoddard and Dea. Noah Hinman were ap- 
pointed a committee to draw the lots for the proprietors, according to 
a scheme previously agreed upon, 

" To begin att Waterbury bounds in the first or South Tier, and number 
west, and when the Lotts in that tier are finished, to begin in the second tier 
and so number West untill that be also finished, and so sucksessively untill the 
whole Six tiers be finished." 

The lots were drawn by the committee appointed for this purpose 
January 14th, 173|. In 1733, the South Purchase was acquired of 
the Indians by a committee of the town. In 1738, the town voted 
to lay out 

" The South Purchase in the Southwest part of Woodbury bounds into 
Equal lots, and as many lots as there are original proprietors in Woodbury 
Records," 

leaving necessary highways and lands to be appropriated for com- 
mons. Mr. Noah Hinman, Capt. Thomas Knowles, Capt. Richard 
Brownson, Mr. Knell Mitchell and Mr. Cornelius Brownson were 
appointed a committee to carry this vote into eifect. They "judged 
convenient" to lay out highways 200 rods apart, over hill and dale, 
without regard to •' circumstances." This committee also established 
the north line of the South Purchase, or the line between the old 
proprietors and the land to be divided, there being no dispute between 
the whites and Indians with regard to the lines between them. This 
line was to 

" Run from New Milford bounds Eastward cross the falls att Shepoag River, 
and from thence Easterly up the brook that runs westerly into Shepoag River 
near the falls till we come against the head of Mine-Hill brook, and then East- 
erly down to the head of said brook, to a beach-tree marked, and down said 
brook to a Certain white oak tree marked, which tree stands on the South side 
of said brook." 

The committee reported that they had accomplished the object of 
their appointment in June, 1742, and their report was accepted. In 
November of the same year, the lots were drawn for the proprietors 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 147 

by a committee appointed for the purpose, in proportion to the inter- 
est of each proprietor, who was also to pay his proportion of the ex- 
penses of the survey. In 1754, four acres were granted to each ac- 
commodation. In April, 1758, Joseph Pierce, Samuel Wheeler and 
David Boland were appointed a committee to purchase the Indians' 
land at Pootatuck. This they immediately accomplished, with the 
exception of a small tract of land where the " wigwams" stood, and 
even this narrow foothold was purchased of them the next year. In 
the early part of this year, a committee Avas appointed .to lay out the 
Pootatuck purchase into lots, in the same manner as had been done in 
the case of the South Purchase, which comprehended the north and 
west three-fourths of the ancient Indian Reservation. In jNIarch, 
1760, this committee made a report of their doings, which was ac- 
pepted by the proprietors, and another committee appointed to pre- 
pai'e drafts for the drawing of lots, to be so contrived, that each 
original pi'oprietor, or his legal representatives, should have a lot in 
the Purchase, and so that the representatives of two or more original 
proprietorships could have their lots in one body. In 1771, a new 
division of five acres to each original proprietor, or his representa- 
tives, was granted, and the next year all the sequestered lands in the 
old townshi[) were in like manner divided between them. In Decem- 
ber, 1782, the last division among the proprietors was granted in 
open meeting, and consisted of one acre to each " accommodation." 
Thus tlic original proprietors had been over one hundred years in 
dividing their surplus land, and there were yet remaining considera- 
ble tracts sequestered for various purposes, besides land in the South 
and Pootatuck Purchases. This might well be considered getting 
rich by degrees from " mother earth." 

Great attention was paid to the education of youth, and tlie found- 
ing of schools, from the very first settlement of the town. It is be- 
lieved that the people of this town were raoi'e particular in this re- 
spect than in many other towns in the Colony, or in New England 
generally, careful as they invariably were in these matters. Nearly 
all were educated in the first rudiments of knowledge. Few could be 
found who could not read and write. It is confidently asserted that 
an inspection of our early records will compare favorably with those 
of the jDresent day, as evidencing the dissemination of common edu- 
cation among the people. Rare indeed was the instance of a person 
signing a deed, or other document with his mark. And yet there 
was but one school in the ancient territory for the first fifty years. 
The scholars had to come from all distances, from a fourth of a mile 



148 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

to six or eight miles, and return daily. Previous to the division of 
the town into societies, which commenced in 1730, a vote had been 
passed to build " Several School Houses," in various parts of the 
town, for the accommodation of the children. But in 1735, the for- 
mer vote not having been carried into effect, it was rescinded, and it 
was by "ye Town Commended to y* Several Societies, to proceed 
amongst themselves in y^ best manner as may be for their Respective 
Conveniences." 

Accordingly, as each ecclesiastical society was incorporated, the 
first thing in order was to establish a school. 

One of the few luxuries of the early fathei's, was the fruit of the 
orchard, and the beverage made from it. The apple-tree was the 
constant attendant of all the early founders of towns, and followed 
them in all their wanderings. If the early patriarchs could not, like 
their eastern prototypes, " sit under their own vine and fig-tree," they 
made haste that they might as soon as possible, with equal satisfac- 
tion, sit under their own apple-trees. Nor does it appear that they 
had the fear of the " Maine Law" before their eyes, for they freely 
granted the privilege of erecting " Cyder Mills," to the inhabitants 
even in the highways, the place of greatest temptation. Accordingly, 
we find in the doings of a town meeting held May 31st, 1739, liberty 
granted to Matthew Minor " to set up a Cyder Mill in the Highway," 
and a like privilege granted to Ebenezer Strong. The same boon 
was granted to others in succeeding years. It seems, however, that 
they were in some sense " restrictionists," having the germ of " pro- 
hibition," as they did not allow " unlimited free trade" in the article. 

There have been several seasons of remarkable and alarming mor- 
tality in the town, when men seemed to die as if fated, without the 
power of cure or restoration. One of these seasons was in the year 
1727, when disease seemed to make the burial places of the town, 
garner-houses for the dead. It is not now known what was the na- 
ture of this disease, which swept off the inhabitants of the new town 
like chaff. The records show forty-four deaths, which is probably 
not more than half the actual number, taking into consideration the 
defective state of the records, and the unusual neglect in causing 
deaths to be recorded, in such a time of calamity and alarm. The 
number of deaths entered for several years previous to, and succeed- 
ing this date, had been only from four to six each year. This was a 
sad decimation for a community that had struggled for years with all 
the wants and deprivations of the wilderness, together with the con- 
tinual alarms and attacks in the Indian wars, growing out of their 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 149 

frontier, exposed situation. The inhabitants, with the notions of that 
early day, had another cause of alarm in the mighty earthquake that 
shook the earth throughout this great continent, October 21»tli, 1727. 
In deed and in truth could the people of "Woodbury cry out in terroi-, 
'' The Lord is wroth ; lie is swallowing up His people in His fierce 
anger." 

In 1749, the town was again visited by the devouring scourge, as 
was also Waterbury. It was a very malignant disease, a sort of a 
nervous fever, called by some the yellow fever, as the bodies of some 
of the patients turned yellow. The crisis of the disease was the ninth 
day, and if the patient survived that day, he had a fair chance of re- 
covery. From the imperfection of the records, as before stated, the 
exact number of deaths can not be known. They show sixty-one, 
and there were doubtless many more in the extended limits of the 
town at this time. A similar disease had existed in Allxuiy some 
three years before this date. The colony taxes were, for this reason, 
abated to the town of AVaterbury, Init though Woodbury only applied 
for a postponement in the time of payment, for some reason, it Avas 
not granted. 

In 17 GO, another malignant fever severely afflicted Woodbury and 
some other places in this vicinity. The disease was extremely vio- 
lent, terminating on the third or fourth day. Medical aid seemed to 
be of little avail, but the disease finally disappeared with the appear- 
ance of frost. In the society of Bethlehem, thirty -four persons died, 
and at least as many more in the other parts of the ancient town must 
have perished. Mr. Canfield, in Iloxbury parish, at the close of an 
entry of seven deaths, remarks in a note, " A very sickly, dying time 
in Bethlehem." There Avere not enough well persons to attend upon 
the sick, and great terror existed among the inhabitants. Almost 
every house wore the badges of mourning, and orphans walked about 
the streets. Notwithstanding these seasons of extraordinary calami- 
ty, the ancient territory justly enjoys the reputation of possessing a 
healthy climate. From its location, its latitude, its breezy hills, its 
numerous fountains of cool, sweet, gushing waters, and a multitude 
of other circumstances, it would be wonderful if it wei*e otherwise. 

The first appearance of northern lights in this county, after its 
first settlement, was December 11th, 1719 ; 

" When ihey were lemixikably bright, and as people in general had never 
heard of such a phenomenon, they were extremely alarmed with the apprehen- 
sion of the final judgment. All amusements, all business and even sleep was 
interrupted, for want of a little knowledge of history." 



150 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

The more superstitious in "Woodbury, as in other places, were 
greatly alarmed at this new manifestation of " Divine Providence," 
and for many days the quiet of this rural community was disturbed 
by the unusual occurrence. But in due time the sagacity of Parson 
Stoddard and others, restored things to a state of tranquillity. 

A ferry from Newtown to Woodbury was granted to Peter Hub- 
bell, at Pootatuck, May loth, 1730.' This was about an eighth of a 
mile below Fort Hill, which is located on the west side of the Hou- 
satonic, directly opposite the Indian village of Pootatuck, on the east 
side of that river. At these two points within gunshot of the river, 
the Indians had forts to protect themselves against the Mohawks, and 
after the introduction of fire-arms among the natives, a fleet of Mo- 
hawk canoes on the river would afford a capital mark for the practice 
of gunnery. The ferry was at the north end of Cockshure's Island, 
previously to this, owned by a sachem of that name, but since known 
as Ilubbell's Island, from the ferryman above mentioned. 

In 1752, a ferry was granted to Wait Hinman, three miles below 
Pootatuck feriy, and was located about a mile below Bennett's 
Bridge. In 1775, this ferry was, by the General Assembly, "re- 
newed" to Samuel Hinman, son of the original grantee. In 1778, we 
find, by documents now existing in the archives of the State at Hart- 
ford, that 

"Geii. Wa.sliingtou, on liis iiiaicli in 177S, built a bridge at Hinman's 
ferry."' 

A part of the bridge fell down during the next summer, and was 
rebuilt by Newtown and Woodbury, at an expense of £7,650 Gs. 6rf., 
half of whii'h was repaid by the quarter-master-general, by order of 
Gen. Green. The bridge was again impaired in 1780, and Wood- 
bury and Newtown petitioned the General Assembly for a lottery of 
£400, to enable them to rebuild it, which was granted. It was now 
called Carlton's Bridge, for what reason does not appear. Col. In- 
crease Moseley, Shadrach Osborn and Nathan Preston were appoint- 
ed managers of the lottery, and Col. Benjamin Hinman and Edward 
Hinman, Ks([., were appointed to take bonds of the managers. On 
receiving a letlcr from Gen. Parsons, promising that the town should 
be aided from the public purse, £100 in bills of ci'edit of the State of 
Connecticut were voted in a town meeting in November for the im- 



1 State Tapers, Travel, vol. 1, p. 174. 2 Travel, vol. 3, p. 329. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODDURY. 151 

mediate repair of the bridge on account of the extreme urgency of 
the public service. By tliis it seems that our ancient territory has 
been trod by the feet of the sainted " father of his country," though it 
was seckuled in the wilderness, far removed from most of the Revo- 
lutionary battle-fields. He probably made his head-quarters during 
his brief stay, at Hon. Daniel Sherman's, who was that year, one of 
the council of safety, or at the house of Shadrach Osborn, who was 
commissary, and actively engaged in meeting the wants of the conti- 
nental and other troops. How swiftly does the bare allusion to the 
fact of the long past presence of " him who was first in war, first in 
peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen," send a thrill to every 
patriotic lieart. This was in the very heat of the contest, in the 
" days that tried men's souls." 

Previous to 1741, by far the larger portion of the burials had been 
made in the " ancient buryal ground," south of the Episcopal Church, 
and no action of the town in regard to places of sepulture appears on 
the records, till the early part of that year, when a vote passed 
directing 

" The committee for the Antient Society in Woodbury, and also for South- 
bury, to call for the committee for laying out Land, and lay out the burying Place 
in Each Society, and when the same is Laid out, it is hereby Sequestered for 
that use, and also to be returned to the town Clerk to be Recorded, and also 
the Inhabitants in the Destrick of Shepoage have the same Liberty of two 
burying places, and the Inhabitants of the West End of the North Purchase 
have like Liberty, and the Inhabitants of Bethlehem have the same liberty of 
one burying place." 

At the time of this vote, it is probable that the " ancient" burying 
ground had been more than once buried over, and interments in it 
sliould undoubtedly have ceased at that time ; but it has continued to 
be used till the present day with more or less frequency, the space of 
a century and a quarter more. Scarcely a grave is now dug there 
without throwing up the remains of some former occupant of the 
'' narrow house" appointed for all the living. No more interments in 
this locality should be allowed by the authorities of the town. The 
space of earth occupied by each lonely sleeper, after "life's fitful 
journey is over," is full small, and it should be " sequestered" to his 
use forever. The " city of the dead" should be guarded well by the 
living, free from intrusion — free from unhallowed tread. 

With the final resting places of those we loved in life, are many 
endearing associations and recollections. Besides, we should con- 
template it as our own home, for it is well to reflect that when 



152 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

" A few short years have rolled along, 

With mingled joy and pain, 
We all have passed — a Inoken tone, 

An echo of a strain." 

There is to the contemplative mind a melancholy pleasure in visit- 
ing the home of the departed, and wandering among the couches of 
the lowly dead. A grandeur, a sublimity of thought, comes over one 
at such an hour. A degree of pensiveness, a holy chastening of 
feeling, is experienced, and the soul, filled with higher aspirations, is 
brought nearer the throne of the Eternal. Under the influence of 
such an hour, he is a better being, and resolves to continue such from 
that time forth. Man, for a brief space, forgets the scenes of vice 
and misery with which he is surrounded, and contemplates the scenes 
of that far-off, better land, where, after the toils of this life are over, 
he may rest in eternal repose. As he wanders from shaft to shaft, 
and from tomb to tomb, in imagination, he passes in review the joys 
aiid sorrows, the various events in the life of each lonely sleeper, and 
endeavors to look away into that distant land, whither his spirit has 
winged its way. If some of his friends lie slumbering there, with 
what tender interest he recalls their familiar countenances ! How 
vividly tlie recollection of each little act of kindness comes up before 
the mind. And as he muses thus all earnestly, he seems again to 
enjoy communion with them, and their spirits appear to hover around 
him, to encourage and cheer him on in the journey of life. He feels 
sure that they are near him as his guardian angels, and he joyfully 
exclaims, 

" They're with us yet, the holy dead ! 

By a thousand signs we know ; 
They're keeping e'er a spirit-watch, 

O'er those they loved below." 

By a vote of the town June 8th, 1702, a " twenty acre accommo- 
dation round, both upland, meadow and pasture divisions," in addition 
to what had already been granted to Mr. Walker and Mr. Stoddard, 
was sequestered for the use of a " future minister, and the ministry 
forever, established according to the Constitution of the Churches in 
this Government Established by law, viz : the Presbyterian and Con- 
gregational, so Called." In 1741, this vote was referred to, and tlie 
various divisions, which had been granted on this basis, were again 
dedicated to the same use and described as 

" More particularly the Sixty acres of Land Laid out att the Bent of the River, 
Sed to be laid out to the Parsonage ; the 28 acres at horse pound ; the 50 acres 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 153 

Laid out to the Westward (at Shepaiig) Sed to be Laid out for a pious use ; 
also the ten acres at ye good hill, and the ibur acres near the North End ol' Bare 
hill ; also that piece of Land laid out Near Botde Swamp ; and the 34 Lott in 
the Second tier in the North Purchase, Drawn on the parsonage Right ; and 
also the Divisions belonging to said twenty acre accomodation, not yet laid 
out."i 

In November, 1744, a committee of one in eacli ecclesiastical soci- 
ety was appointed by the town to sell these " Parsonage Accommo- 
dations." The committee consisted of Col. William Preston, Mr. 
Noah Ilinman, Lt. Henry Castle, Capt. Hezekiah Hooker, and 
Sergt. Abraham Ilurd. The land was sold at auction to the highest 
bidder. The funds were kept at interest by the selectmen for ten or 
twelve years, the interest being annually divided among the five so- 
cieties of the town, to be laid out for the support of the ministry, in 
accordance with the original intention of the proprietors. In 1759, 
the fund was divided among the several societies, and the amount 
belonging to the "ancient society" was £112 Os. bd. In 17()3, the 
last time the records speak about it, there v/as remaining in the treas- 
ury of the same society £88 lis. G^^. of this fund. 

In May, 1748, previous to the formation of the county of Litch- 
field, Woodbury took action in relation to a new county. Col. Wil- 
liam Preston was chosen an agent to attend the General Assembly, 
and prefer a memorial for a new county to be called the county of 
Woodlniry, having Woodbury for its county seat, and to consist of 
this town, Waterbury, Newtown, New Milford, Litchfield, New Fair- 
field, (now Sherman,) and as many of the new nortliern towns as 
should choose to join the new county. Col. Preston attended, to the 
duties of his appointment, and Waterbury and Newtown gave their 
assent to the proposed arrangement, })rovided they were at no ex- 
pense for county buildings. The petition, however, was negatived by 
the Assembly.^ 

In May, 1751, the subject of a new county having been further 
agitated. Col. William Preston was chosen special agent, and Deacoii 
Samuel Minor and Deacon Benjamin Ilicock were elected represent- 
atives to the May session of the Assembly at Hartford, that year^ 
with full power to act for the town, to secure the new county, with 
Woodbury for its shire town. The town also voted to furnish the 
county buildings free of charge. The object was not attained at that 



1 Woodbury Proprietors' Book, p. 39. 

2 State P.ecords, Civil Officers, vol. 3, p. 289. 

11 



154 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

session, and Capt. Increase Moseley and Deacon Samuel Minor were 
sent to the General Assembly in October following, when a new 
county was indeed made, but its name was Litchfield, and Woodbury 
was left quite in its south-east corner.* Great was the dissatisfaction 
in Woodbury at the new aspect which affairs had taken. A town 
meeting was immediately called, and a vote passed to take measures 
to be released from the 

" New County of Litchfield, & be continued as heretofore to the County of 
Fairfield, unless the Upper Towns in Litchfield County will appoint an agent 
from Every Town dissatisfied, to meet at some proper time & place to Confer 
about the matter & come to some other Conclusion respecting a County than is 
yet Determined." 

" Mr. Benjamin Stiles & Capt. Elisha Stoddard are chosen agents to appear 
at the upper Towns, to Confer Respecting what measures may be thought Need- 
full Respecting the New County of Litchfield." 

In December following, 

" Mr. Noah Hinman was chosen an Agent for the Town of Woodbury, to 
meet at Kent, with those Gent, from the other Towns, with full Power to act in 
behalf of the Town, to Endeavor to be Released from the Coimty of Litchfield '' 

The representatives sent to the next session in May, 1752, were 
instructed to endeavor to have the town set off again to Fairfield 
county, and gave them power to act in conjunction watli the repre- 
sentatives of other towns, as should be judged proper, in relation to 
a " New County or Counties." Nothing having been effected at this 
session, the same representatives were sent to New Haven, at the 
October session, and two others were sent as agents, or " lobby mem- 
bers," to accomplish the desired end. Nothing, however, resulted 
from all these efforts, and the county remained as at first constituted. 

In 1768, a period of twenty years after the first attempt, apjdica- 
tion was again made to the General Assembly to make a new coun- 
ty, consisting of Woodbury, Waterbury, Newtown, New IMilford and 



1 The tradition is, that the county, consisting of the towns desired by Woodbury , 
■with itself for a county seat, was on the point of being established, and would have 
"been, but for an unaccountable change of mind in Deacon Minor just before the vote 
was taken. He arose and informed the astonished Assembly, that lie, on prayerful 
reflection, was opposed to making Woodbury into a shire town. If it were made 
such, a great many idle and profligate young men, and much " vain company," would 
■flock to the center of the county, the morals of the youth would become corrupted, 
and in a short time there would be a sad departure from the " landmarks of the 
fathers." In consequence of this the vote failed, and at the same session Litchfield, 
which had before been faintly talked of, was made the county seat. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODKUKY. 155 

New Fairfield, to be called, as before requested, the county of Wood- 
bury, with that town for a county seat. Woodbury laid a rate of a 
penny and a half on the pound, in addition to their regular propor- 
tion, to be applied toward defraying the expenses of the county 
buildings, and also granted the use of the town hall for a court house 
as long as the county should choose to occupy it for that purpose, 
with liberty to make such additions and alterations as should be judged 
necessaiy. This application was no more successful than the former, 
and all further efforts, on the part of Woodbury, were relinquished 
for a period of more than thirty years, when in 1791, another move 
was made for the formation of a new county, to consist of the towns 
of Woodbury, Bethlem, Southbury, Washington, Waterbury and the 
parishes of Westbury, Oxford and Farmingbury, with Woodbury for 
the county town. Hon. Nathaniel Smith, Ilezekiah Thompson, Esq., 
and Nathan Preston, Esq., were appointed a committee to meet like 
committees from the other toAvns mentioned, at Washington. After 
ineffectual efforts, this attempt like both the others, ended in failure, 
and the county of Litchfield, now on its second century, remains en- 
tire, with the exception of a jjarish of Woodbury, now the town of 
Soutlibury, which has been set off to New ILiven county. 

The mine of spathic ore on Mine Hill, in Eoxbury, which has been 
before described, was known -as a mine thirty or forty years before 
IIurll)ut and Hawley worked it, but wliat was the extent of the oper- 
ations there carried on, is not now known. It was owned by Hon. 
John Sherman, before 1724, and was by him leased to Thomas 
Cranne, of Stratford, and others, May IGth, 1724, for a term of years, 
reserving to himself one-sixteenth part of all the ore which should be 
there raised. Jolin Crisscy and his wife Mary also had some rights 
in the hill. Still later, Thomas and John Wheeler, Doctor Jona'thau 
Atwood, and Doctor Thomas Leavenv/orth, acquired rights, l)y lease 
or otherwise, to said mine. The mining tract at this date was sup- 
posed to consist of six acres, and that is the number of acres men- 
tioned in the various deeds and mining leases that vrere then execu- 
ted. It is thus seen that the most valuable mine of '•' steel-iron ore'' 
in the United States has been known about a hundred and fifty 
years, and has not yet been eifectively worked for one of the most 
useful of metals. It is believed tJiat the whole territory for several 
miles along the Shepaug River, is rich in this iron ore, and perhaps 
in copper also, and that at no distant day, this will become a prom- 
inent mining district. 

For nearly a hundred years after the first settlement of tlie tov/n, 



156 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

the inhabitants were much troubled with the depredations of wolves 
and wild-cats. Bounties for tiieir destruction were at various peri- 
ods offered, both by the General Court, and by the town authorities. 
As late as 1746, so great was the dread of the public concerning these 
animals, that it was in open town meeting, solemnly 

" Voted, that lie tliat finds a wolf, that by his track is gone into a swamp & 
there lodged, & brings Intelligence into the town by two of the Clock afternoon 
on s'' Day, or any time before on s'' Day, shall have twenty shillings allowed 
him out of the Town Treasury, provided he be found there, & five pounds to 
be allowed to the Coznpany, If they shall kill s<^ wolf, — out of the Town Treas- 
ury." 

A wolf hunt was a common sport for leisure days in 'the Indian 
summer during these early times. Sometimes large parties of men 
with dogs, went for several days in succession, and scoured all the 
swamps for miles around. On some of these occasions, they met with 
fierce encounters from the pursued and infuriated beasts. The 
wolves have long ago disappeared from the territory, but the bounty 
for killing a wild-cat as late as 1761, was six shillings. And even 
at the present session of the General Assembly, (1853,) a law has 
been passed offering a bounty of five dollars apiece for their destruc- 
tion. 

After the dedication of the second church, in 1747, the "ancient 
Meeting House" had been used as a town hall till 1754, but the old 
building had seen many winters and vicissitudes, but no paint. It 
had, therefore, become considerably dilapidated, and it was voted to 
build a " House for the Town in the Place where the Old Meeting- 
House now stands." Afterward there were other opinions, and it was 
thouglit by some, that the old house should be repaired rather than a 
new one erected. As is common in such cases, this difference of 
opinion resulted in doing nothing for several years. Finally, after 
holding town meetings much of the time for several years, in the new 
church, in 1759, a committee was appointed to repair the old house 
so far as they should think proper, which being accomplished in about 
two years, it was called the " Town-House," and a regular town 
meeting held in it January 12th, 1761. 

There wei'e, during the period under contemplation, but few casu- 
alties worthy of notice. There was, however, one afflictive accident 
at Southbury, about the year 1745. The house of Solomon Johnson 
took fire in the night, was burned to the ground, and his wife, daugh- 
ter of Deacon Benjamin Hicock, perished in the flames.^ 

Remember Baker, just before the Revolution, lost his life on Mine 



HISTOKY OF ANCIENT AVOODBURY, lo7 

Hill, from the discharge of a gun in the hands of Abram Hurlhut. 
Baker had chmbed a tree for some purpose, and Ilurlbut, who was 
hunting, getting a glimpse of his head from a distance, and thinking 
it a wild-turkey, tired and killed him. 

Although there are no relics in town, so far as the author has been 
able to learn, that were brought over in the " Mayflower," that his- 
torical bark, which was so heavily freighted, if we are to believe that 
it actually brought over all the articles attributed to it, and which are 
stiW preserved ; yet there is still in the possession of Treat Davidson, 
of Roxbury, an iron kettle, which was brought to this country some 
forty yeai'S later, in 1G60, and has descended to the present owner 
from Nathan Botsford, one of his ancestors, who himself brought it 
from England. This, doubtless, is the oldest culinary utensil in the 
territory. 

When tea was ilrst introduced into town, during the first half of the 
eighteenth century, a small quantity was obtained by Parson Stod- 
dard, for use in '' case of sickness," or on occasions when company 
was invited ; but before either of those contingences had happened, 
the parson's daughters took it into their heads to have a model tea 
party on a novel scale, and test the quality of the new article of lux- 
ury in advance of the "old folks." They accordingly invited their 
" sweethearts," and conducted the afiair with great secrecy. On the 
evening of the proposed banquet, they admitted the young men whom 
they had invited, to the old parsonage, by means of a ladder placed 
at a back window. But a new difficulty presented itself. They did 
not know how to prepare the " article" for use, and under the " cir- 
cumstances," they were precluded from seeking advice and enlight- 
enment, in their accustomed manner, from their parental advisers. 
After much perplexing thought, and great tribulation, they put a 
quantity of the tea in an iron kettle, kindled a large fire under it, and 
kept it boiling violently for a long time, till they thought it sufficiently 
cooked. They then emptied the entire coiitents into a large platter, 
and consumed it in the form of soup, the herb serving as thickening. 
A Mr. Mitchell, of Southbury society, was one of the " preferred gen- 
tlemen" on this interesting occasion, and when an old man, for many 
years before his death, used to tell the story with a keen relish. 

After its organization in October, 1719, the Woodbury probate dis- 
trict comprised ancient Woodbury, Waterbury, in New Haven coun- 
ty, and all the settled portions of the present county of Litchfield. 
Indeed its northern and western boundaries w^ere not well ascertained, 
as will be seen by the following entries on its records : 



158 HISTORY OF ANCIENT AYOODBURY. 

"June 9tli, 1737. Christopher Butchers of Weatog, (Salisbury) presented to 
tliis Court the will of Ruloof Butchers, of said Weatog, for approval, which 
will is hereby approved by said Court." 

By this will, among other things, he bequeathed his slaves to sev- 
eral devisees. In the latter part of the same year appears another 
entry : 

"Oct. 24, 1737 ye Executor of ye above will, viz: Christopher Butchers 
came and took ye will and ye business out of this oflice, his counsel leading him 
so to do, apprehending it not well consisting with Law to Settle ye Estate in 
and by this Probate." 

The doubt as to whether this was the right " Probate" or not, arose 
so far as can now be ascertained, from a doubt in relation to the 
boundaries between Connecticut and New York. Nothing further 
appears on our records in regard to the matter, and the estate was 
probably settled in the other colony. 

Umbrellas were introduced into town just before the Revolution, 
and were at first considered by the sturdy, rural population, as a very 
effeminate thing. Parasols were not used by the fair damsels till 
many years later. 

When calico was fii'st introduced, it was sold for five or six shil- 
lings sterling per yard, and the favored woman who was able to have 
a gown of that fabric, was dressed in the '■'■first fashio)i." She was 
the " observed of all observers," and the envied object of all " linsey- 
woolseydom." The finest and richest fabrics which the perfection of 
manufactures now creates, could not produce a greater sensation 
among the bright-eyed damsels of a country village at the present 
day, than did the article in question, coarse and homely as it was, 
among the primitive dames of our town. 

It may appear doubtful to some whether the absurd belief in 
witches ever had place in this town. But just as well might one be 
incredulous whether such a man as Cotton Mather and other cele- 
brated divines of his day also believed in witchcraft, and pledged 
their reputation to the truth of many cases which they said came un- 
der their own view. That they honestly believed what they related, 
can not be doubted by one who carefully peruses the original. Be- 
sides they could gain no advantage by a pretended belief in the su- 
pernatural developments, as they were afilictive, and that only, to the 
sons of men, and never subserved any useful public or private pur- 
pose. The excited state of public feeling existing at that day, con- 
spired more to keep up this strange belief in supernatural events, 
than ignorance and all other causes combined. It was difficult for 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 159 

the most pious and learned minds to give up the infatuated belief, 
even after prosecutions had ceased, and the blood of victims no longer 
drenched the thirsty earth. As proof of the assertion, witness the 
following extracts from one of the ablest believers : 

" Flashy people may burlesque these things, but when hundreds of the most 
sober people in a country where they have as much mother wit, certainly, as 
the rest of mankind, know them to be true, notliing hut the absurd and froward 
spirit of Saducism can question them. I have not yet mentioned one thing, 
that will not be justified, if it be required, by the oaths of more considerate per- 
sons than can ridicule this od phenomena." 

" But the worst part of this astonishing tragedy is yet behind ; wherein Sir 
William Phips,i at last being dropt as it were, frojn the machine of Heaven, 
Was an instrument of easing the distresses of the land, now so darkned by the 
Lord of Hosts. There were very worthy men upon the Spot where the assault 
from hel was first made, who apprehended themselves called from the God of 
Heaven, to sift the business unto the bottom of it ; and indeed, the continual 
impressiveness which the outcries and the havocks of the afflicted people, that 
lived nigh unto them, caused on their minds, gave no little edge. They did take 
it for granted, that there are witches, or wicked children of men, who upon 
covenanting with and commissioning of evil spirits, are attended by their min- 
istry to accomplish the things desired of them." 

" In fine, the last Courts that sate upon this thorny business, finding that it 
was impossible to penetrate into the whole meaning of the things tlyit had hap- 
pened, and that so many unsearchable cheats were interwoven into the conclu- 
sion of a mysterious business, which perhaps had not crept thereinto at the 
beginning of it, they cleared the accused as fast as they tried them ; and within 
a little while the afflicted were most of them delivered out of their troubles 
also; and the land had peace restored unto it by the God of peace treading 
Satan under foot." 

Perhaps then, the people of Woodbury will be excused, if some of 
their number believed, they, at one time, had a veritable witch within 
their borders. That this belief existed can not be doubted. The 
name of the notorious personage was Moll Cramer. She was the 
wife of the elder Adam Cramer, a blacksmith, who lived somewhere 
in West-Side, about the year 1753. As popular belief goes, he lived 
with Moll, his wife, and kept her in good temper and spirits as long 
as he could. He took especial pains not to offend her, for whenever 
he was so unlucky as to fall under her ire, everything went wrong 
with him. If he was shoeing a horse, and she came round in wrath- 
ful mood, no shoe, however well secured to the hoof, no strength of 



1 Sir William Phips, at this time (1691) Governor of Massachusetts, was the prin- 
cipal instrument in overthrowing the ridiculous notions concerning witchcraft. 



160 HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 

nails, was able to withstand lier influence. The shoe would begin to 
loosen, and immediately fell off. 

After a while her conduct became so offensive and unendurable, 
that her character as a witch became established, and it was then 
necessary for Adam, in order to maintain a good character among his 
neighbors, and not be suspected as also " holding familiarity with 
Satan," to dismiss her from his presence, and she was accordingly 
driven from his house. She took with her a little son, and went to 
Good Hill, where she constructed a cabin of poles and boards to shel- 
ter hex'self and son from the storms of heaven. Here she lived and 
eked out a scanty subsistence by begging from the much annoyed 
neighborhood. Her son, who was believed to have been bewitched 
by her, and could not be separated from her, was her constant com- 
panion in all her begging peregrinations, as well as in the filthy straw 
of her cabin. No one of the neighbors dared refuse her anything she 
asked for. If, for instance, she asked for a piece of pork, and it was 
denied her, a blight fell upon that man's swine, and like the "lean 
kine," it was impossible ever to fatten them sufficiently to render 
them a fit article of consumption. When Moll appeared abroad, she 
was an object of dread and apprehension. None dared to oflend her. 
The school children on her approach, fled to the school-house, and 
when they came rushing with fearful countenances into the room, it 
was always a sufficient answer for the luckless little urchins, when 
inquired of by the teacher as to the cause of their mad haste, to say, 
" Moll's coming." If she visited a house where the process of spin- 
ning was going on, the band of the wheel would fly off, the thread 
would break, the flyei's would become disengaged, or some unpleasant 
misfortune would continue to occur during her stay. 

One day she went into the house of a neighbor, who was churning 
cream. She conversed indifferently with the lady of the house about 
butter and other matters, and, after a time, retired. The churning 
went on during the afternoon and evening, but no butter was produced. 
Next morning the churning was resumed by the good dame and her 
husband, with no better success than before. After a long time, it 
occurred to them that Moll had been there the preceding day, and 
that she had doubtless bewitched the cream. The good man of the 
house, determining to hum the witch out of the cream, heated a horse- 
shoe and dropped it into the churn. A few moments after, the pro- 
cess of chui-ning ceased, and the object desired was attained. 

One day a party of girls, one of them now an aged lady still living 
in the ancient territory, and who attests to the facts above related? 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURl. IGl 

together with this occurrence, went to gather grapes near Moll's 
cabin. They picked tlieir way to the spot with great caution and 
secrecy, for fear of being seen by Moll, who would undonl)tedly be- 
witch their grapes, so that they could not be eaten. While gather- 
ing the gra[)es, they stationed a sentinel to give them warning if Moll 
appeared. After a while the sentinel observed her coming, and gave 
the alarm. They ran " across lots," kept out of her way, and, as 
they supposed, saved their fruit, but ujion trial it was found to be 
utterly unfit for use. 

Such, in the language of Herodotus, are the " facts related to me in 
the neighborhood," and believed by many people, well informed on 
other subjects. They are to be classed and explained with similar 
events lui}>pening elsewhere in different ages and diverse climes. 

In October, 1751, as various divisions of land had been granted 
and were still to be granted, it was desirable to know, as accurately 
as possible, who were the original proprietors, and what was the ex- 
tent of their rights. Accordingly we find that at a town meeting of 
this date, Col. Joseph Minor and Capt. Thomas Knowles were ap- 
pointed a committee to 

"Endi'Livor to find out what is the pro[)oi-tion of Each proi)|-icror aceordhisj 
to their ongiufil grants." 

Two weeks later, October 21st, 1751, they reported a list of names 
according to requirement, and the town took the following action in 
the premises : 

" The list of the Names of the jiroprietors, as they are hereafter Reeorclec!, 
being Drawn by Col. Josejjh Minor, and Capt. Thomas Knowles, a committee 
appointed for that purpose. In which meeting it was voted and Concluded as 
follows, viz ; Forasmuch as Many of the Names of the original proprietors of the 
Lands in Woodbury are lost, or torn out of said Proprietors Records, which 
would hereafter be likely to breed many unliajipy Contentions, \\ hich to ])re- 
vent, it is voted and concluded as follows, viz ; 

"That the List of the Names of the proprietors of Lands in "Wooillmry, pre- 
sented to tliis meeting by Col. Joseph Minor and Capt. Thomas Knowles, a 
Committee appointed for that purpose, Shall be held good and valid, both as to 
the Number of proprietors, and the bigness of Each accommodation aliixed in 
Said list unto the Name of Each proprietor, unless any one proprietor can Shew 
Evidently to the contrary.' 

Jonathan Atwood 12 John Brooks, 10 Richard Brownson, 10 

Thomas Applebee 10 Ebenezer Brownson 10 Samuel Blakelee 10 

James Beers 12 Thomas Bedient 12 Cornelius Bronson 12 

Samuel Bull 10 John Baker 10 Henry Castle, Jr. 12 

John Bartlet 12 Cornelius Brownson 10 Samuel Castle 12 

1 Proprietors' Book, p. 43, et seq. 



162 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



John Curti«s 12 

Stephen Curtiss 10 

Lt. Israel Curtiss 16 

Israeli Curtiss, Jr. 12 

Henry Castle 2 12 

Isaac Castle 12 

Joshua Curtiss 10 

William Castle 10 

Thomas Drakly 12 

John Davis grant 10 

Thomas Drakly 2'' 10 

Abraham Fulford 12 

John Fern 10 

Thomas Fairchild 12 

William Fredrick 10 

Benjamin GaljMn 12 

William Gaylord 10 

Joseph Galpin 10 

Joseph Hurlbut, sen'' 12 

Joseph Hurlbut 2'^ 12 

Cornelius Hurlbut 10 

Jonathan Hurlbut 10 

John Hurlbut 12 

Benjamin Hurd 10 

Ebenezer Ilurd 10 

Robert Hurd 10 

Joseph Hurd 10 

Peter Hawjey 10 

Joseph Hicock 12 

John Iluthvvit 12 

Benjamin Hinman 10 

Adam Hinman 10 

Edward Hinman IS 

Titus Hinman 12 

Samuel Hinman 12 

Andrew Hinman 10 

Noah Hinman 10 

Benjamin Hurd 2 10 

Samuel Hicoek 10 

John Hurd 10 

Samuel Hull 10 

John Hurd first 25 

Joseph Hicock first 10 

Denis Hart 9 

Henry Hill 10 

Ephraim Hinman 10 
Joseph, Benj" & Sam' 

Hicock 10 

Joseph Hinman 10 



Nathaniel Hurlbut 


10 


John Hutliwit 2 grants 5 


Tliomas Hurlbut 


16 


Jonathan Hough 


12 


Benjamin Hicock 


12 


Lt. Joseph Jndson 


25 


John Judson first 


12 


John Judson 2'! 


10 


Joseph Judson 


10 


Jonathan Judson 


10 


David Jenkings 


10 


Samuel Jenner 


12 


Moses Johnson first 


12 


John Johnson 


10 


Moses Johnson 2a 


10 


Eliphalet Judson 


10 


Joseph Judson 3' 


10 


Horace Knowlcs 


12 


Thomas Knowles 


10 


Samuel Knowles 


10 


Thomas Levenworth 


12 


John Levenworth 


12 


Thomas Le 


10 


Capt. John Minor 


20 


William Martin 


12 


John Minor 2 


12 


Samuel Minor 


10 


Thomas Minor 


12 


Joseph Minor 


12 


Ephraim Minor 


12 


Jos i ah Minor 


10 


John Mitchcl 1 


12 


John Mitchel 2 


10 


Mathew Mitchel 


12 


Jonathan Mitchel 


10 


Samuel Mun 1 


12 


Samuel JVlun 2 


10 


Joseph Martin 


10 


Aaron Mallary 


10 


first Millaccommoda 


,- 


tion 


IG 


William Mack 


12 


Ditto for his sons 


10 


Samuel Martin 


10 


Daniel Mun 


10 


Thomas Mallary 


5 


the 2 mill accomoda 




tion 


10 


Caleb Nichols 


18 



John Nichols 10 

Samuel Nichols 12 

Andrew Nichols 10 

Valentine Prentis 10 

William Preston 5 

Jehiel Preston 5 

John Pierce 1 12 

John Pierce 2 10 

Hackaliah Preston 16 

the parsonage right 20 

the three Prestons 10 
Mr. Samuel Sherman 25 

Capt. John Sherman 12 

John Root 1 12 

William Roberts 10 

Josiah Root 10 
Mr. Anthony Stoddard 25 

Thomas Squire 1 16 

Thomas Squire 2 12 

Ebenezer Squire 10 

Samuel Sherman 10 

Adino Strong 10 

Francis Stiles 10 

Benjamin Stiles 12 

JohnSkeell 12 

John Skeel 2 1 2 

Thomas Skeel 10 

Lt. Samuel Stiles 16 

Samuel Squire 10 

John Squire 10 

Elnathan Strong 10 

Jonathan Squire 10 

John Sherman 2 10 

John Stratton 10 

Joseph Seely 15 

Roger Terrel 1 12 

Stephen ferrel 10 

Jeremiah Thomas 10 

Nathaniel Tuttle 12 

Ephraim Tuttle 10 

Hezckiah Tuttle 10 

Roger Terrel 2 10 

John Thomas 2 10 

Ezra Terrel 10 

John Thomas 1 12 

Ambrose Thompson 16 

Ebenezer Warner 12 

Robert Warner 12 

Joseph Wallar 12 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 163 

Zacliniiah Walker 12 Thomas Wheeler 12 Mr. Zaehariah Walker 25 

John Wheeler 1 Kl John Wy at 10 Dr. Ebenezer Warner' 5" 

John Wheeler 2 10 Timothy Walker 10 

This list is given entire, as it is probably an almost perfect list of 
the original proprietors to this time, and as such worthy of preserva- 
tion. 

In the expedition against the Spanish West Indies, in 1740, Wood- 
bury had some soldiers, but as most, of the troops in that filial cam- 
paign perished of pestilence, their names are lost. In May, 1743, 
and during the same troubles, it appears that some suspicions men 
were lurking about on the frontiers of the colony, and the circum- 
stance was deemed of sutilcient importance to be brought to the atten- 
tion of the General Assembly then in session. The matter was re- 
ferred to a committee, who immediately reported, 

" That we are well informed, that there are Several Strangers, and we sup- 
pose that they are not ofour Kings Subjects, but lbrrn.igners, wliich are Strug- 
gling about the inland parts of Fairfield County, and the Western ])arts of 
Hartford & Sometimes in New-Haven County, and that in a more especiall 
manner, they are conversant with those Indians, that Inhabite at podetuok in 
Woodbury, and those that live West of the Housatonick River Westward of the 
Town of Kent, . « . * * * 

and that the Indians are more and mor<' estranged IVoin his Majesty's Subjects 
by their means, and upon the whole we feare his Majesty's Interests may be 
greatly Indangered by Said Strangers."'^ 

For which reasons they recommended the arrest of those " Stran- 
gers," and their examination. A resolution to that effect was ac- 
cordingly passed, but whether the men were arrested, or what the 
subsequent proceedings were, can not now be determined. 

The story of the unliappy inhabitants of Acadia, or the " French 
Neutrals," is well known — a story of wrong, oppression and outrage 
upon humanity without excuse. Acadia, or Nova Scotia, after re- 
peated conquests and restorations, was at last, by the treaty of 
Utrecht, yielded to Great Britain. The old inhabitants remained on 
the soil they had subdued and cultivated, and for nearly forty years 
after the peace resulting from this treaty, they had been left to them- 
selves, and prospered in their seclusion from the great world. They 
had promised submission to England, but loving the language, usages 
and religion of their forefathers, they would not fight against the 
standard of France, or renounce its name. They had fertile and 

1 Proprietors' Book, p. 43, et seq. 2 War, vol. 4, pp. 126, 127. 



164 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

cultivated fields, which Avere covered with their flocks and herds. 
They constructed houses neatly built in clusters, which were well 
furnished with the comforts and conveniences of civilized life. They 
were happy in the abundance their own hands provided, and formed 
as it were, one great family. They were of pure morals, and actua- 
ted by unaffected devotion to the faith of their fathers. When Eng- 
land began to send numerous colonists to Nova Scotia,' their priests 
became alarmed for the security of their church, and fomented dis- 
affection. The arrogance of the British officers, and the cruelties 
inflicted on these unoffending people, greatly added to it. Their 
property was taken for the public service without their consent, and 
without stipulation with them in regard to payment. Compelled to 
fetch fire-wood, even, for their oppressors, they were assured, that if 
there was any delay in bringing it, the soldiers would " absolutely 
take their houses for fuel." Under frivolous pretenses they were 
compelled to give up their boats and their fire-arms, leaving them 
without the means of flight or defense. 

The region east of the St. Croix was entirely under the power of 
England, and no resistance was to be feared from the Acadians. 
They bowed in meek submission before their masters, willing to take 
the oath of allegiance to England, but still refusing to bear arms 
against their beloved France. Their taskmasters could have exer- 
cised clemency without the slightest danger to themselves, but they 
had determined otherwise. The edict had gone forth, that the 
French Neutrals should be carried away captive to other parts of the 
British dominions. Their haughty oppressors lusted after their 
comely houses and fruitful lands. No warning of their purpose was 
given, till it was ready to be executed. As soon as they perceived 
the dangers that awaited them, they offered to swear unconditional 
allegiance to the government, but they were not allowed to do so, 
being told that having once refused the oaths, they could not now be 
administered ; and some of the j^rincipal men were imprisoned. It 
was inianimously determined in solemn council, to send the French 
inhabitants out of the province, and to distribute them among the 
several colonies of the continent, that they might not be able to re- 
turn and molest the intrudex's who should secure their beautiful 
homes and cultivated fields. 

They secured their persons by artifice. By proclamation all the 
males from ten years old and upward were peremptorily ordered to 
appear at their respective posts, on the 5th of September, 1755. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 165 

They obeyed, and at one of the places of assembling, which was a 
church, they were informed by the American commander 

" You are convened together, to manifest to you, his Majesty's final resolu- 
tion to the French inhabitants of this, his province. Your lands and tenements, 
cattle of all kinds, and live stock of all sorts, are forfeited to the crown, and you 
yourselves are to be removed from this his province. I am through his Majes- 
ty's goodness, directed to allow you liberty to carry off your money and house- 
hold goods, as many as you can, without discommoding the vessels you go in." 

They were then declared the king's prisoners, and their wives and 
families shared the same fate. "The blow was sudden ; they had 
left their homes but for the morning, and they never were to return. 
Their cattle were to stay unfed in the stalls, their fii-es to die out on 
their hearths. They had for that first day, even, no food for them- 
selves or their children, and were compelled to beg for their bread !" 

The 10th of September was the day appointed for the first embark- 
ation of the exiles. One hundred and sixty-one constituted the first 
company ordered to march on board the vessel, which was to take 
them from their homes forever. It was possible for them to leave 
their homes, their lands, and their garners, but it severed a sensitive 
chord in the human bosom, when called upon to leave their parents, 
wives and children. Neither the pen nor the imagination can paint 
the scene that followed. Forced by the bayonet, the men were driv- 
en on board, and the women and children were left till other trans- 
ports should arrive. The miserable people left behind were kept near 
the sea, without proper food, or clothing, or shelter, till their turn 
came, but the fierce winds of December^ " had struck the shivering, 
half-clad, broken-hearted sufferers, before the last of them were re- 
moved." Seven thousand of these exiles were forced on board ships, 
and scattered among the colonies, from New Hampshire to Georgia, 
according to previous determination. Four liundred were sent into 
Connecticut, by Gov. Lawrence, and were distributed among the 
towns of the colony, according to their lists, by the General Assem- 
bly, which convened January 21, 1756, for that purpose. The share 
that fell to Woodbury, was nine. The names of four only are now 
known, Petre Beaumont, Ilenrie Scisceau, Alexandre Pettigree, and 
Philemon Cherevoy. The descendants of the latter are now resi- 
dents of the town. The selectmen of the several towns were desired 
to find accommodations for them, at some distance from the settle- 
ments, and take care to keep them at some suitable employment. 

1 Bancroft. 



16G HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Thus were these unhappy people scattered in small and sorrowful 
bands throughout the land. They were without resources, and the 
households to which they belonged were scattered they knew not 
where. The newspapers of the day were burdened with advertise- 
ments from members of families, seeking those they had lost. They 
sio-hed for their native land, but, to prevent their return, it had been 
laid Avaste, and their much loved homes were but heaps of ruins. 
" A beautiful and fertile tract of country was reduced to a solitude." 
Misfortune pursued them wherever they fled. " I know not," says 
Bancroft, " if the annals of the human race keep the record of sor- 
rows so wantonly inflicted, so bitter and so perennial as fell upon the 
French inhabitants of Acadia." " We have been true," said they of 
themselves, " to our religion, and true to ourselves ; yet nature ap- 
pears to consider us only as the objects of public vengeance." 

In 1744, war was proclaimed between France and England. In 
174.5, an expedition against Louisburg was planned and put in exe- 
cution, and its capture was consummated. Connecticut furnished 
more than one thousand men for this expedition, commanded by Roger 
Wolcott, afterwai'd governor of the colony. Woodbury furnished a 
portion of these, but how many is not now known. Zechariah Brins- 
made, to whom those now bearing the name in the ancient territory 
are related, was one of these soldiers. 

In 1755, this war was renewed, and during its continuance, there 
were four expeditions against Crown Point, in each of which men 
and officers from Woodbury figured. In short, daring all the wars 
between France and the mother country, which affected the colonies, 
Woodbury furnished not only men but field-officers. In the first year 
of this war, Connecticut raised one thousand men, under the com- 
mand of Col. Lyman and Elizur Goodrich, Esq. AVoodl)ury fur- 
nished two captains, Capt. Benjamin Hinman, and Capt. Adam Ilin- 
man, and a large number of soldiers. In the battle near Lake 
George, on the 8tli of September, Capt. Adam Hinman was wounded 
in the shoulder by a grape-shot. In 175G, twenty-five hundred men 
were raised in Connecticut for the invasion of Canada, and the quota 
from Woodbury was increased, under the command of the same offi- 
cers from the town as before. Next year, Capt. Benjamin Hinman 
was again in the field by commission from Gov. Tliomas Fitch. In 
this year there was an " alarm" for the relief of Fort William Henry, 
near Lake George. Two companies marched from Woodbury with 
all haste. One numbered eighty men, under the command of Capt. 
Ebenezer Downs, and the other ninety-six, under the command of 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 167 

Capt. Wait Ilinman. Among the rank and file of the latter coaipu- 
ny, were liezekiah Thompson, Esq., the first regular lawyer in the 
town, and Doctor Joseph Perry. These companies were absenttVom 
town about three weeks. A full list of the men engaged will be 
found among the. statistics at the close of the volume. Connecticut 
had already furnished fourteen hundred men for the campaign, and 
sent five thousand more in this " alarm." During this year, 1757, 
Adam Hinman was appointed captain of one of the companies that 
were raised in Connecticut, and placed under the command of the 
Earl of Loudoun, for resisting the encroachments of the French at 
Crown Point.' 

But hitherto colonial ofiicers had had little standing among the 
'' regulars." Every ollicer in the ix'gular service, of whatever rank, 
took precedence of those in the colonial service. They were treated 
with the greatest hauteur, and even insolence, by the royal oilicers 
sent here, swelling with pride, to domineer over the provincials, 
caring more to show their supei-iority over the latter than to advance 
the king's interests. Although the colonists had answered the sum- 
mons of the king with the greatest alacrity, yet their burning ardor 
was unavailing, abused and frown(;d upon as they were. They were 
kept in close subjection to the regulars, and, remaining in idleness, 
as well as those who lorded it over them, tliey had no opportunity to 
exhibit the native courage which burned in their bosoms, and conse- 
quently had done nothing. Yet instances of courage and daring 
flashed up in every part of the colonies, disconnected with the royal 
service. During the years 175G and 17.57, Abercrombie and the 
Earl of Loudoun, though having large bodies of troops inider their 
command, both regular and i)rovincial, through indolence and im";e- 
cility, did absolutely nothing, while .Montcalm and other French offi- 
cers were pressing their successes in every direction. The campaign 
of 1757, ended most ingloriously. To the incapacity and pusillanimi- 
ty of these commanders, are to be attributed the constantly recurring 
losses of that year. Had the colonies been left to themselves they 
would have done better. Indeed the ministry of England and the 
men employed by them were such that disaster and loss attended 
th(Mn in almost every part of the globe. Even a British historian, 
speaking of the cam})aign of 1757, says, " That it ended to the eter- 
nal disgrace of those who then commanded the armies, and directed 
the councils of Great Britain." Yet these imbecile men contrived to 

1 State Archives, War, vol. 6. 



168 IIISTOKY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

satisfy the home government, by complamts of America. It was 
nothing tliat the few successes which had been gained, had been prin- 
cipally the result of the efforts and bravery of the provincials. It was 
nothing that they had saved the remnants of Braddock's army ; noth- 
ing that they had conquered Acadia ; nothing that they had defeated 
Dieskau at Lake George ; nothing, in their besotted imagination, 
could be done while there was no " viceroy or superintendent over all 
the provinces." 

With such imbecile commanders to ruin everything, the patriotism 
and means of the provincials were worse than wasted. It was of no 
avail, that with a ready zeal they rushed at each alarm to the scene 
of attack. It was of no avail that each little town, like Woodbury, 
sent a hundred and seventy-six men for the defense of a single fort. 
It was of no avail that that fort was defended by the gallant Munro, 
with a small but faithful corps — naught can save it. " How peacefully 
rest the waters of Lake George between their ramparts of highlands ! 
In their pellucid depths, the clitfs and the hills and the trees leave 
their image, and the beautiful region speaks to the heart, teaching 
affection for nature. As yet not a hamlet rose on its margin ; not a 
straggler had thatched a log hut in its neighborhood ; only at its 
head, near the center of a wider opening between its mountains, Fort 
William Henry stood on its bank almost on a level with the lake. 
Lofty hills overhung and comlnanded the wild scene, but heavy artil- 
lery had not as yet accompanied war-parties into the wilderness.'" 
Such was the scene on the first of August, 1757. A few days later 
the gallant commander, the patriotic band, the fort itself, had disap- 
peared, and nothing remained to tell that civilization had reposed 
upon its margin, but the charred remains of the fortification, and here 
and there among the hills a crucifix to mark a grave. 

But Pitt attaining power at this juncture, the Earl of Loudoun was 
recalled, while other and better officers took his place. Lord Howe, 
Wolfe and Amherst were leading officers under the new regime, though 
Abercrombie was still nominally commander-in-chief. Pitt rejected 
the policy of degrading the colonists, adopted by his predecessors, 
and relied on the spontaneous ^'atriotism of the people. lie accord- 
ingly obtained the king's order, that every provincial ofiicer of' no 
higher grade than colonel, should have ecpial rank with the British, 
according to the date of tlieir respective commissions. He informed 
the colonists tliat he expected nothing of them but the " levying, 

1 Bancroft. 



HISTORY OF ANCIEXT AVOODBURT. 169 

elothing and pay of tlie men," and that for these expenses he would 
" strongly recommend to parliament to grant a proper compensation." 
Upon his summons more than twenty thousand men were, without 
ditficulty, called into service. 

The new policy produced the most favorahle results. In 1758, 
Connecticut raised five thousand men for the invasion of Canada, 
which were divided into four regiments. Col. Benjamin Hinman, of 
Woodbury, was commissioned by Gov. Fitch, as lieutenant-colonel 
of the third regiment, and captain of the second company of foot, and 
Israel Putnam, major of the same regiment, and captain of the third 
company under him. The greatest enthusiasm everywhere pre- 
vailed. Louisburg fell before the well-directed efforts of Amherst 
and Wolfe. Fort Frontenac yielded to Bradstreet, and Fort Du- 
quesne disappeared in smoke before the sagacity and perseverance of 
Washington under Forbes. The only misfortune of the year, the 
disgraceful and disastrous defeat at Ticonderoga, came through the 
miserable inethciency and cowardice of Abercrombie, who had been 
retained in command by the partiality of Bute, against the judgment 
of Pitt. In this expedition perished the gallant Howe. Most of the 
soldiers from Woodbury went north with Abercrombie, and a large 
proportion of them never again saw their homes in this pleasant val- 
le}'. Nearly all that the sword spared, disease swept away. After 
this disastrous defeat, Abercrombie Avas recalled in November, and 
Amherst was appointed commander-in-chief. 

In 1759, Connecticut, as in the preceding year, raised five thou- 
sand men. Col. Benjamin Ilinman and the other surviving officers 
of the previous year, from Woodbury, entered again into the service, 
with the full quota of men from our town. Among the subordinate 
officers were Lieut. Phineas Castle, Lieut. Nathan Tuttle, and Gra- 
ham Ilurd. This campaign was rich in victories, though destructive 
to the troops. Sir William Johnson captured Fort Niagara, and 
Amherst forced the French to retire from Ticonderoga and Crown 
Point ; but by far the most glorious event of that campaign was the 
surrender of Quebec to the victorious army under Wolfe, who met 
death on the battle field, and whose " spirit escaped in the blaze of 
his glory." 

Of the soldiers from Woodbury who perished in this campaign, 
only three names are preserved, Amos Ilurd, Benjamin Sanford and 
Lovewell Ilurd. Great was the rejoicing in Woodbury, not unac- 
companied with sorrow for the loss of the slain, when the news of this 
victory arrived. Not here only was such the case, but everywhere. 
12 



170 ' HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

In the eloquent words of Bancroft, " America rung with exultation ; 
the towns were bright with illuminations ; legislatures, the pulj^it, the 
press, echoed the general joy ; province and families gave thanks to 
God. England too, which had shared the despondency of "Wolfe, tri- 
umphed at his victory, and wept for his death. Joy, grief, curiosity, 
amazement, were on every countenance." When the parliament as- 
sembled, Pitt modestly and gracefully put aside the praises that were 
showered upon him. " The more a man is versed in business," said 
he, " the more he finds the hand of Providence everywhere." 



CHAPTER X. 

REVOLUTIONART HISTORY. 

Cause of the "War; Convention of IVfjO; Boston Port Bill, 1774; Town 
ACTION 1774; Boston Alarm, 1774; First Measures of Resistance by 
THE Town, November, 1774; Association Articles; Capture of Ticon- 
DEROOA and Crown Point by Ethan Allen, 1775; Committees of Inspec- 
tion, and Acts of the Town ; Toryism ; Jabez Bacon's Salt sold by the 
Committee of Inspection; Tory Complaint; Levies of Troops and Boun- 
ties ; Council of Safety ; Character of Hon. Daniel Sherman ; Com- 
mittees to provide for Soldiers' Families ; Supplies ; Commissary Os- 
born's Purchases; $500,000 worth of Provisions furnished; Salt $;100 
PER bushel; Events of 1775; Lexington Alarm; Northern Army; 150 
Woodbury Men in the Field; Events of 1770; All the Militia West 
OF Connecticut River go to New York ; 500 Men furnished by the 
Town ; Detachment to Stamford ; New York Prisoners of War ; Beth- 
lem Volunteers ; Census and Militia ; Prisoners at New York ; Ethan 
Allen and others Prisoners at Halifax; Events of 1777; Danbury 
Alarm ; Soldiers at Peekskill ; Supplies furnished ; Battle of Still- 
water ; Appearance of Troops; Events of 177S; Small Pox in the 
Army; Events of 1779; Affair at Norwalk ; Col. Moseley Resigns; 
Arnold turns Traitor ; £45 Bounty offered for Enlistments ; Enlist- 
ments TILL New York should be taken ; Events of 17S0 and 17S1 ; La 
Fayette and his Army pass through Woodbury ; Events of 17S2 ; Bat- 
tle OF Yorktown; Surrender of Cornwallis ; Rejoicings of the Peo- 
ple; Peace of 1783; Reflections. 

We have now arrived at one of the most thrilling and interesting 
periods of the history, not only of our own town, but of the North Amer- 
ican continent. Many long years have rolled their slow course away, 
since the stirring scenes of the Revolution were acted, but they live, 
engraved in a manner never to be effaced, on the memories of the few 
individuals who have " come down to us from a former generation," 
witnesses of the events in the " times that tried men's souls." The 
brilliant events of that important period shall live, too, on the bright- 
est page of history, while thought shall endure, or the recollection of 
human greatness shall remain. Their fame shall be perennial with 



172 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

that noble language in wliich they are recorded, now " spread more 
widely than any that has ever given expression to human thought," 
conveying, as it does, the strong tendency to individuality and free- 
dom, of the Teutonic race, its happy possessor. The representatives 
of that language have ever been famous for deeds of valor and high 
renown. In that most beautiful apostrophe of Bancroft, we would 
most fervently join : " Go forth, then, language of Milton and Hamp- 
den, language of my country ; take possession of the North American 
continent ! Gladden the waste places with every tone that has been 
rightly struck on the English lyre, with every English word that has 
been spoken well for liberty and for man ! Give an echo to the now 
silent and solitary mountains ; gush out with the fountains that as yet 
sing their anthems all day long without response ; fill the valleys with 
the voices of love in its purity, the pledges of friendship in its faith- 
fulness ; and as the morning sun drinks the dew drops from the flow- 
ers all the way from the dreary Atlantic to the Peaceful Ocean, meet 
him with the joyous hum of the early industry of freemen! Utter 
boldly and spread Avidely through the world the thoughts of the com- 
ing apostles of the people's liberty, till the sound that cheers the desert 
shall thrill through the heart of humanity, and the lijos of the messen- 
ger of the people's power, as he stands in beauty upon the mountains, 
shall proclaim the renovating tidings of equal freedom for the race !" 

It became generally known, that at the end of the war with France, 
new regulations would be introduced into the governments of the 
American colonies. The purpose of taxing them, and raising a rev- 
enue out of them, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the 
colonial system, and for replenishing its needy exchequer, was now 
planned. The mother country wished also to punish some of the re- 
fractory colonies for their insubordination, and to repress the rising 
sentiments of freedom. Connecticut was said to be "little more than 
a mere democracy, most of them being upon a level, and each man 
thinking himself an able divine and politician," and to make its in- 
habitants a " good sort of people," it was supposed, all that was ne- 
cessary would be to take care that the " Church should be supported, 
and that the charters of that colony, and of its eastward neighbors, be 
demolished." 

It was therefore determined to tax the colonies, and human ingen- 
uity was brought under contribution to invent the most feasible way 
of doing it. The result of these efforts was the passage of the Stamp 
Act, a most odious and unjust measure, which it was further deter- 
mined should be executed among the colonists by men appointed from 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 173 

among their own number. This <act required all the business of the 
colonies to be carried on upon stamped paper, on which a duty had 
been paid to the mother country, and rendered invalid all wills, deeds 
of sale, and instruments of all kinds, unless they were written on 
stamped paper. This struck a fatal blow at every interest, and the 
very existence of the commonwealth, unless the arbitrary provisions 
of that act were complied with. The passage of this'act aroused the 
most intense excitement, alarm and indignation throughout the colo- 
nies. Absolute resistance to the execution of this measure every- 
where appeared, and the men who had been appointed by the crown 
as stamp-masters, were everywhere compelled by the excited people 
to resign their offices, by menaces, and in some instances, by force. 
Associations of the " Sons of Liberty" were formed in various parts 
of the country, and measures taken to excite the people to resistance 
to such an arbitrary and unjust law. 

On the 11th of February, 17G6, a convention of nearly all the 
towns in Litchfield county was held, in Avhich the leading men of 
Woodbury figured largely. By this body of men it was " resolved 
that the stamp act was unconstitutional, null and void, and that busi- 
ness of all kinds should go on as usual." Then, too, the hum of do- 
mestic industry was heard more and more ; young women would get 
together, and merrily and emulously drive the spinning wheel from 
sunrise till dark ; and every day the humor spread for being clad in 
homespun. Delegates of the " Sons of Liberty," from every town of 
Connecticut, met at Hartford, and were for establishing a union as 
the only security for liberty. 

No colony submitted to this law save Canada, Nova Scotia, and 
the Floridas, which were mere military governments. England be- 
gan to discover, that the law could not be executed, and sought a 
way to escape from the humiliating position. Pitt, true to the best 
interests of genuine liberty, took the side of the colonists in fovor of 
the unconditional repeal of the hated and unfortunate law. It was 
repealed, and great rejoicing ai'ose in all the colonies. 

But it soon became apparent to the colonists, that the mother 
country had by no means abandoned its darling purpose of bringing 
them under absolute and unconditional subjection. Discontent, jeal- 
ousies and contentions from various causes, followed till 1774, but the 
more prominent and immediate cause of the great and ever memora- 
ble struggle of the Revolution, was undoubtedly the passage of the 
Boston Port Bill. This outrageous and malicious act excited uni- 
versal sympathy for that town, throughout the colonies, but nowhere 



174 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKT. 

was it manifested in a more lively or effective manner than in Con- 
necticut. The misery brought upon the great commercial emporium 
of New England, by this unnecessary act of the British parliament, 
raised a spirit of resistance never before witnessed in this sober " land 
of steady habits." The General Assembly, which was in session at 
Hartford, passed strong resolutions against the cruel and unjust act, 
and the several towns in the colony called large meetings, and passed 
resolutions expressing their disapprobation of the act, and their sym- 
pathy with the people of Boston. Donations were also sent from 
almost every town in the state, for the relief of the distressed inhab- 
itants of Boston and Charlestown. These consisted of money, live 
stock, and provisions of all sorts. The town meetings, during the 
year 1774, were conducted with the greatest propriety, and though 
the people continued to use loyal expressions in their resolutions, 
they breathed the utmost decision and firmness against oppression, 
and had a very great influence in arousing an almost universal spirit 
of resistance to British oppression, and a full determination to make 
common cause with the people of Boston, in their afflictions. 

The people of Woodbury caught the prevailing spirit, and a town 
meeting was called September 20th, 1774, to take into consideration 
the " unhappy Differences and Difficulties," and the alarming cir- 
cumstances which threatened the people of the colonies, and espe- 
cially the suffei'ings of the inhabitants of Boston and Charlestown. 
The meeting was fully attended, and the following determination was 
the result of their assembling : 

" At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Woodbury on the Twen- 
ty"' Day of September, A. D. 1774, being Legally Warned, Increase Moseley, 
Esq' was chosen Moderator, this meeting takeing into consideration the iinhapy 
Diferences and Disputes subsisting between Great Britain and her colonies, and 
Particularly the unhappy State of Boston and Charlestown and the many Greav- 
iences and Dificulties the poor People in Each of those Towns Labour under 
occationed by sundry Late acts of Parliment. Voated that Capt Matthew 
minor Lieut Increase moseley Capt Elias Duning Mr Jonathan Farrand Mr 
Samuel Hurd and Capt Ebenezer Down be a comtee to Receive Such Gifts dad 
Donations as shall be Delivered to them by the Inhabitants of the Town of 
Woodbury for the support of the poor of the sd Towns of Boston and Charles 
town and Shall Send such Donations as they so Receive to the Select men of 
the Several Towns of Boston and Charles Town to be laid out by them for the 
Purpose afore stl in Such manner as they jude Right. 

" 2^ voated that Increase moseley Esqr Gideon Walker Esq^ Daniel Everet 
Esqr Col Benjamin Hinman Thomas Warner Esqr Increase mosely Junr Dea 
John Pearse and Mr Hesekiah Thompson be a comtee of correspondence to 
Receive and Communicate Such Inteligence as may Find to maintain peace 
and union in this and the Neighbouring Colonies. The Right Rev'* Jonathan 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBUEY. 175 

Shipley Bishop of St Asaphs speech in the house of Lords being read to this 
meeting voted to Desire our Representatives to Recomend to the General As- 
sembly of this colony at their sessions in October Next that they return publick 
thanks to the sd Rev Doct Shipley for said Noble Patriotic speech in favour of 
British Americai and to all other friends of Americai in Great Britain. We 
Postpone any Particular Resolves Relative to the afair of Americai until the De- 
termination of the General Congress Shall be Known." 
« 

It will be seen by this vote, that although there was sufficient loy- 
alty in expression, yet the committee of correspondence was expected 
to perform duties quite different from exciting loyalty to the king, 
while oppression continued on the part of his government. In ac- 
cordance with this vote, a respectable amount of " Gifts and Dona- 
tions" were collected and forwarded to Boston with all possible dis- 
patch. It is to be noted, that it was not forgotten by the meeting to 
take especial notice of the " noble, patriotic speech" delivered by the 
Rt. Rev. Dr. Shipley, of St. Asaph's, in the House of Lords, in favor 
of the American colonies. Besides, this meeting took place just after 
the " Great Boston Alarm," which occurred Sept. 3, 1774. On this 
occasion quite a number of soldiers marched from Woodbury, and 
joined the companies from the other towns, as not enough to make 
a full company of their own volunteered in time to march together. 
The cause of this alarm was a report that the ships of war were 
cannonading Boston, and the regular troops slaying the inhabitants, 
without distinction of age or sex. The news spread with the great- 
est expedition, in all directions, and in less than thirty-six hours, the 
country for nearly two hundred miles, was thoroughly rallied. " From 
the shores of Long Island Sound to the green hills of Berkshire, to 
arms, to arms, was the universal cry. Instantly, nothing was seen 
on all sides, but men of all ages cleansing and burnishing their arms, 
and furnishing themselves with provisions and warlike stores, and 
preparing for an immediate march ; gentlemen of rank and fortune 
exhorting and encouraging others by their advice and example. The 
roads were soon crowded with armed men, marching for Boston with 
great rapidity, but without noise or tumult. By the most moderate 
computation, there were in the colony of Connecticut alone, not less 
than twenty thousand men completely armed, actually on their 
march for that town, with full speed, until counter intelligence was 
received on the road."' 

As it had become apparent to thinking minds, that war with the 



1 Hinman's War of the American Revolution. 



176 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

mother countiy was inevitable, their great object had been to form 
public opinion in fixvor of a contest with England. To do this, it be- 
came necessary to infuse into the people a proper appreciation of 
their just rights. This was best effected in that day of scarcity of 
newspapei's, by holding town meetings, in which they could read 
publicly such papers as treated updn the subject of common interest, 
and discuss their rights and grievances. 'In this manner the people 
became highly excited and exasperated, and patriotism glowed with 
more or less intensity in the coldest breasts. " The Congregational 
clergy of New England were active in the cause of liberty during 
the Revolution, and taught the people from their pulpits, that the 
Christian religion was a stranger to mere despotic power, as the 
great Montesquieu declared." This was to be expected, as they 
were bound to no " Head of the Church," on the other side of the 
water, to whom they owed supremacy and allegiance, but were the 
representatives of a Christian democracy. 

Our fathers were fully up to the spirit of the times, and held fre- 
quent meetings to consult concerning the public weal. As soon as 
they had learned the action of the Continental Congress, and that of 
the October sest,ion of their own legislature, a town meeting was duly 
warned to take action in regard to the subjects to which the attention 
of the several towns had been invited. With entire unanimity and cor- 
diality, they indorsed the action of the two bodies mentioned, and took 
the necessary measures to carry it into eifect. This meeting was 
held Nov. 17, 1774, and copies of its votes follow. 

" At a meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Woodbury Novemr the 17*'', 
1774 being Legally Warned Daniel Sherman Esqr Was chosen moderator. 
" The association of the Deligatesof the american Colonies in the Late General 
Congress held at Pheladelphia Was Read to this meeting, and also the Resolves 
Relative to it in House of Representatives at the Last Sessions of the General 
assembly of this Colony at New Haven, one of which was in these words 
Namely, Resolved that it be and it is hereby Recommended to the several Towns 
in this Colony to Chuse a Com'^^ of their own Body agreeable to the Eleventh 
article of Association for the purposes in s'' article Expressed, this meeting ap- 
prove and accept said association and promiss to act agreeable to it, and that 
the plan therein proposed may be Etiectually Carryed into Eccecution We Do 
appoint Daniel Sherman Esq Mr. Hezikiah Thompson Cap' Gideon Stoddard 
Gideon Walker Esq Edward Hinman Andrew Graham IMajor Increase Mose- 
ley Daniel Everit Esq Capt. Elias Duning James Hannah Jonathan Farrand 
Increase iMoseley Esq Capt Nathan Hicok Thomas Warner Esq Capt Thadeus 
Lacy Capt David Hurd Eleazer Mitchell, Joseph Pearse Esq and Justus Pearse 
a com'" Whose Business it shall be agreeable to the Eleventh article attentive- 
ly to observe the conduct of all persons Touching s'' association &cc — and When 



HISTOKY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 177 

it Shall be made to appear to the majority of ye s'^ com'''^ that any Person With- 
in the Limits of this Town have violated the s'' association, that s** majority Do 
forthwith cause the truth of the case to be published in the Gazette to the End 
that all such foes to ye Rights of British americai may be publikly known and 
universially Contemned as Enemies to american Liberty, and thensforth we Do 
bind our selves to break off all Dealings With Such Persons and also with all 
Persons in other Towns and Cilys who shall be found Guilty as above Ex- 
pressed, and that it shall be ye Duty and Business of the s^ com'" to Receive 
and Communicate all Such intelligence as they shall judge to be conducive to 
ye Peace and Tranquility of this and the Neighbouring Coloriies ; this meeting 
presents their most thankful! acknowledgments to those truly Honourable and 
Worthy Gentleman members of y"' Congress who have Shewn themselves able 
advocates of the civil and Religious liberty of the american Colonys. 

" Voted that the doings of this meeting be Recorded by the Town Clerk and a 
Copy thereof be forthwith sent to one of the printers of the Conneticut Journal 
to be published accordingly. The Whole of the above Written as voated in 
said Meeting." 

The decisive step seemed now to be taken. Neither party could 
recede without betraying weakness or cowardice to the opposite 
party. The Rubicon seemed to have been passed, and all waited the 
next move with intense solicitude. Darkness and gloom had settled 
upon the moral vision, the vail of the future was drawn over the re- 
sult, and it was impossible for the man of greatest wisdom to raise 
that vail, and penetrate the mystery beyond. The articles of the 
" General Congress," referred to in the foregoing vote of the town, 
are of much interest, and were recorded by the town-clerk on the 
land records of the town. They are as follows : 

" Association of the Continental Congress held in the City of Philadelphia on 
the 5th day of September A. D. 1774 — 

" In the House of Representatives The Report of the Delegates of this Colony 
in the State Continental Congress held at Philadelphia being made, accepted 
and approved. Resolved that the Association entered into and signed by them 
in behalf of this Colony ought to be faithfully kept and observed, and that the 
Same may be fully known & understood Resolved that Said Association be 
l^rinted together with this Resolve and Dispersed throughout this Colony ; and it 
is further Resolved that it be and it is hereby Recommended to the Several 
Towns in this Colony to Chuse a Committee of their own Body agreeable to the 
Eleventli Article of s' Association for the purposes in s'' article Expressfi. 

" Test Richard Law Clerk. 

" Association &e. 

" We his Majesty's most Loyal subjects the Delegates of the Several Colonys 

of New Hamshire, Massachusets Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, 

New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three lower Counties of New Castle Kent & 

Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, jwid South Carolina, 



178 HISTORY OF ANCIEXT AVOODBURY. 

Deputed to Represent them in a Continental Congress held in the City of Phila- 
delphia on the 5'ii Day of September 1774, avowing our allegiance to liis Maj- 
esty, our affection and Regard for our fellow subjects in Great-Britain & Ells- 
where, aflected with the Deepest anxiety and Most alarming apprehensions at 
those Grievances and Destresses with which his Majesty's American Subjects 
are oppressed, and having taken under our Most Serious Deliberation the State 
of the whole Continent, find that the present unha^jpy Situation of our affairs is 
occasioned by a Ruinous System of Colony administration adopted by the Brit- 
ish Ministry about the year 1763, Evidently Calculated for Enslaving these Col- 
onies and with them the British Empire, in prosecution of which System vari- 
ous acts of Parliament have been passed for Raising a Revenue in America, for 
Depriving the american Subjects in Many Instances of the Constitutional 
Tryal by Jury. Exposing their lives to Dangers by Directing a new and illegal 
Tryal beyond the Seas, for crimes alledged to have been Committed in amer- 
ica and in prosecution of the Same System, several late Cruel and ojjpressive 
acts have been passed Respecting the Town of Boston and the Masechusets 
Bay, and also an act for Extending the province of Quebec So as to Border on 
the Western frontier of these Colonys, Establishing an arbitrary Government 
therein and Discouraging the Settlement of British Subjects in Extended Coun- 
try; thus by the Influence of Civil principles and antient prejudices to dispose 
the Jnhabitants to act, with hostility against the Free Protestant Colonies ; 
whenever a "Wicked Ministry Shall chuse so to direct them. 

"To obtain Redress of these grievances which Threatened Distraction to the 
Lives, Liberty and property of his Majesty's Subjects in North america. We are 
of opinion that a non Importation, non Consumpsion and non Exportation agree- 
ment faithfully adhered to Will prove the Most Speedy, Effectually and peace- 
able Messure and therefore we do for ourselves and the Inhabitants of the Sev- 
eral Colonies Whom we Represent firmly agree and associate under the Sacred 
Ties of virtue and Honour & Love of our Country as followeth 

" First— 

" That from and after the first Day of December Nex we will not Transport 
into British america from Great Britain or Ireland any such goods wares or Mer- 
chandise as Shall have been Exported from Great Britain or Ireland, nor will We 
after that Day Import any East India Tea from any part of the world, Nor any 
Molasses, Syrups, paneles,Coffee, or pemento from the British Plantations or from 
Dominica, nor Wines from Mederia or y^ Western Islands nor Foreign Indigo 

" Second 

" that we will neither Import nor purchase any Slave Imported after the 
first Day of December Next . . after which time we will Wholly Descontinue the 
Slave trade, and will neither be concerned in it ourselves nor will we hire our 
vessels nor Sell our Commodities orManufactuers to those who are Concerned 
jn it. 

" Third 

" as a non Consinnption agreement Strictly adhered to will be an efliectual 
Security for the observation of the non importation, We as above Solemnly agree 
and associate that from this day vfe will not purchase or use any Tea Imported 
on account of the East India Company or any on which a Duty hath been or 
Shall be paid, an4 from and after the first Day of March Next, we Will not pur- 
chase or use any East India Tea whatever, nor Shall any person for or under 



HISTOKT OF ANCIENT -WOODBURY. 179 

ns purchase or use any of those goods Wares or Merchandise We have agreed 
not to Import which we shall know or have cause to Sttspect %vere Imiiorted 
alter the tirst Day of December, Except Such as come under the Rules and Di- 
rections of the tenth article hereafter Mentioned — 

" Fourth 

" The Earnest Desire we have not to Injure our fellow Subjects in Great 
Britain, Ireland or the west Indees Induces us to Suspend a non Exportation 
untill the tenth Day of September 1775 at which time if the s^ acts and part of 
acts of the British Parliament hereinafter mentioned are not Repealed, we will 
not Directly or Indirectly, Expjort any Merchandise or Commodety Whatsoever 
to Great Britain, Ireland or the West Indies Except Rice to Europe — 

" Fifth 

" Such as are Merchants and use the British and Irish trade will give Orders 
as soon as possible to their factors, agents and Correspondents in Great Britain 
and Ireland, not to ship any goods to them on any pretence Whatsoever, as they 
Cannot be Received in ameriea, and if any Merchant Resideing in Great Brit- 
ain or Ireland Shall Directly or indirectly Ship any goods Wares or Merchan- 
dise for ameriea in order to Break the s'' non importation agreement or in any 
Manner Contravene the Same, on such unworthy Conduct being well attested 
it ought to be Made Publick, apd on the same being done we will not from 
henceforth have any Commercial Connexion With Sucli Merchant 

" Sixth 

" that such as are owners of vessels will give positive orders to their Cap- 
tains or Masters not ,to Receive on Board their vessels any goods prohi]jited 
by sd non imjiortation agreement on pain of emediate Dismission from their 
Serviss — 

" Seventh 

" We will use our utmost endeavours to improve the breed of Sheep and 
increase their number to the greatest Extent, and to that end we will use them as 
Sparringly as may be. Especeally those of the most profitable kind nor will v/e 
Export any to the west Indies or Elswhere, and those of us who are or may be 
overstocked with or can Conveniently Spare any Sheeji will disjiose of them to 
our Neighbours especeally the poorer sort on Moderate terms — 

" Eighth 

" That we will in our Several Stations Encourage frugallity, economy and 
Industry and promote agriculture arts ; and the Manufacturies of this Country 
Especially that of Wool, and Will Discountenance and Discourage Every Spe- 
cies of Extravagance and Dissipation, Especially all horse Raceing and all kinds 
ofGameing, Cock fighting. Exhibitions of Shows, plays and other Expensive 
Diversions and Entertainments, and on the Death of any Relation or friend none 
of us or any of our famely Willgo into any further mourning Dress, than a black 
Crape or Riband on the arm or hat for Gentlemen and black Riband and Neck- 
lace for Ladies, and we Discontinue the giving of Gloves and Scarfs at funer- 
als — 

" Ninth 

" that Such as are venders of goods or Merchandize Will not take advan- 
tage of the Scarcity of goods that may be occasioned by this association, but 
will sell the same at the rates we have been Respectively accustomed to do for 
twelve months last past and if any vender of goods or Merchandise Shall sell 



180 .HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

any Such goods oa higher tortus, or Shall in any manner or by any Divice 
Whatsoever violate or Depart from this agreement no person ought, nor will any 
of us Deal with any Such person or his or her factor or agent at any time there- 
after for any Commodity Whatsoever — 

" Tenth 

" in Case any Merchant, trader or other persons Shall Import any goods or 
merchandise after the first day of December and Lelbre the first day of February 
next, the same ought forthwith at the Election of the owner to be Either Re- 
shiped or delivred up to the Committee of the County or Town Wherein they 
shall be imported to be stored at the E isque of the Importer until the non 
importation agreement shall Cease, or be Sold under the direction of the 
Comtee aforesii, and in the last mentioned Case the owner or owners of Such 
goods Shall be reimbursed (out of the Sales) the first Cost and Charges, the 
profit if any to be applied towards Relieveing and imploying Such poor Inhab- 
itants of the Town ol' Boston as are Immediate Suiferes by the Boston port Bill, 
and a particular account of all goods so Returned, stored or sold to be inserted in 
the publick papers, and if any goods or merchandize shall be imported after the 
s'l first day of February the same ought forthwith to be sent back again Without 
breaking any of the packages thereof — 

" Eleventh 

" That a Committee be Chosen in every County, City, or Town by Those 
who are quail ified to voate for Representatives in the Legislature Whose busi- 
ness it shall be attentively to observe the Conduct of all persons touching this 
association, and When it shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of a nrajor- 
ity of any such Committee that any person within the limits of their appoint- 
ment has violated this association that such majority Do forthwith Cause the 
truth of the Case to be published in the Gazette to the End that all Such foes to 
the Rights of British America may be publickly known and universally con- 
temned as the Enemies of American Liberty, and thenceforth we Respectively 
break off all Dealings with him or her — 

" Twelfth 

" that the Committee of Correspondence in the Respective Colonies do fre- 
quently Inspect the Entries of their Custom Houses and Enform each other from 
time to time of the true State thereof, and of Every other material Circumstance 
that may occur Relative to this Association — 

" Thirteenth 

" That all manufactries of this Colony be Sold at Reasonable prices, so that 
no undue advantage betaken of a future scarcity of goods — 

" Fourteenth 

" And we do further agree and Resolve, that we will have no trade. Com- 
merce, Dealing, or Intercoure Whatsoever with any Colony or Province in North 
america whicli shall not acceed to, or Which shall hereafter violate this Asso- 
ciation, but will hold them as unworthy of the Rights of freemen and as Enemi- 
cal to the Liberties of their Country — and we do solemnly bind ourselves and 
our Constituents under the ties aforesd to adhear to this association until such 
of the several acts of Parliament passed since the Close of the last warr as Im- 
pose or Continue Duties on Tea, Wine, Molasses Syrup, pameles Coffee, Sugar, 
Pimento, Indigo, foreign paper, glass and painters colours Imported into Amer- 
ica, and Extend the powers of the admiralty Courts beyond antient Limits, De- 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 



181 



prive the American Subject of Tryal by Jury, authorize the Judges Certificate to 
Indemify the Prosecuter from Damages that he might otherwise be liable to, 
from a trial by his Peers, Require oppressive Securities from a Claimant of 
Ships of goods Seized before he Shall be allowed to defend his 2)roperty, 
are Repealed, and until that part of the act of the 12 G. 3d Ch. 24 : Entitled, 
" an act for the better secureing his Majestys Dock yards, magazines, Ships, 
ammunition and Stores by which any persons charged With Committing any 
of the offences therein Discribcd in America may be tried in any Shire or Coun- 
ty within the Realm" is Repealed, and until the four acts passed in the last ses- 
sion of Parliament (viz) that for sloping the port and blocking up the harbour 
of Boston, that for altering the Charter and Governmentof the Machusetts Bay, 
and that Which is Entitled an act for the better administration of Justice &c. 

" And that for Extending the limits of Quebec tVc are Repealed, and we Re- 
commend it to the provincial Convention and to the Committees in the Respect- 
ive Colonys to Establish such further Regulations as they may think proper for 
Carrying into Execution this association. The foregoing association being de- 
termined upon by the Congress Was ordered to be subscribed by the several 
Members thereof, and thereujion we have hereunto set our Respective names 
accordingly in Congress. Philadelphia October 20th 1774 

Signed Peyton Randolph, President. 
John Sullivan 
Nathaniel Folsom 
Thomas Cushing 
Samuel Adams 
] John Adams 
[ Robert Treat Pain 
C Stephen Hopkins 
( Samuel Ward 
C Eliphalet Dyer 
< Roger Sherman 
( Silas Deane 
f Isaac Low 
John Alsop 
I .lohn Jay 
James Duane 
William Floid 



New Hampshire . 

Massachusetts Bay 

Rhod Island . . 
Connecticut. 

New York , . . 



New Jersey 



Pennsylvania 



New Castle &:c 



Maryland 



Henry Wisner 

S: Boerum 

James Kinsey 

William Livingston 

Stephen Crane 
(^ Richard Smith 

Josejih Galloway 

John Dickinson 
^ Charles Humphreys, Mifflin 
j Edward Biddle 
I John Morton 
[ George Ross 
C Cesar Rodney 
< Thomas Mclvean 
^ George Read 

iMathew Tiglhman 
Thomas Johnson 
William Paca 
Samuel Chase 



182 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

C Richard H. Lee 

I George Washington 

Virginia -^ P. Henry Junr 

Richard Bland Harrison 

[ Edmund Pendleton 

C William Hooper 
North Carolina . . < Joseph Hewes 

( R. Caswell 

f Henry Middleton 

I Thomas Lynch 
South Carolina . . . <J Christojdier Gadsden 

I John Rutledge 

i Edward Rutledge" 

These articles are a history in themselves. They give us a bird's- 
eye view of the urgency of the danger that threatened the colonists, 
and of the extreme, stern measures judged necessary by the coolest and 
wisest intellects of the colonies. It shows us, too, the caliber of the 
men who settled this new world, and sought here the supreme blessing 
of freedom. The colonies had been kept in dependence on the moth- 
er country for nearly all manufactured goods, and were therefore illy 
prepared to meet the struggle which must ensue. But putting their 
trust in the God of battles, and in the justice of their cause, they dared 
every evil that might befall them, earnestly pledging " tlieir lives, 
their fortunes and their sacred honor" on the issue, and sacrificing all 
the dearest interests we know in life, on the altar of their country's 
good. 

In the exuberance of the materials in this part of our labor, circum- 
scribed as one must ever be in a work of local history, he hardly 
knows whei'C to begin, what to select, or in what manner to arrange 
the wealth of facts and incidents that come ready to his hand. It will 
be most perspicuous, however, to continue an account of the action of 
the town, in the various emergencies which arose in that most event- 
ful struggle, that resulted in our independence from " every foreign 
prince and potentate." In that great contest, Connecticut was one of 
the foremost, if not the very first in the confederacy, in resisting the 
tyranny of Great Britain, and was lavish of blood and treasure in 
sustaining the conflict against her oppressions. Her soldiers were 
applauded by the commander-in-chief of the American armies, for 
their bravery and fidelity. The honor of the first conquest made by 
the united colonies dui'ing the war of the Revolution, belongs chiefly 
to Connecticut, and in a distinguishing manner, to the sons of Wood- 
bury. This was the capture of Ticonderoga, May lOth, 1775 — one 
of the most brilliant exploits of the war. The projectors of this expe- 
dition were some patriotic members of the General Assembly, which 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 183 

convened at Hartford, in April of that year. They obtained the 
funds necessary (£810) to carry out the design, from the colony treas- 
ury, as a loan, and gave their individual guarantee, with security for 
its repayment. The Assembly, in May, 1777, canceled the obliga- 
tion and charged the amount to the general government. Sixteen 
men were collected in Connecticut, Avho proceeded to Berkshire 
county, Massachusetts, where forty or fifty volunteers were added to 
their small force. The expedition continued its march to Benning- 
ton, Vermont, where it was joined by Ethan Allen, Seth Warner, and 
nearly one hundred volunteers. This little force of about one hun- 
dred and fifty men, marched to Castleton, where Col. Ethan Allen, a 
native of Woodbury, Connecticut, was appointed commander ; Col. 
Seth Warner, of the same place, was chosen to be third in command, 
and Capt. Remember Baker, also of the same town, held a subor- 
dinate station in the expedition. A part of this small force was 
sent to Skeensborough, after having sent Capt. Phelps to examine 
the fort. The remainder of the troops, amounting to only eighty- 
three chosen men, having secured the assistance of Nathan Beeman, 
as guide, and awaited the return of Capt. Phelps, assaulted the fort 
of Ticonderoga, on the morning of May 10th, 1775, and on the demand 
of surrender by Ethan Allen, in the name of the " Great Jehovah 
and the Continental Congress," its capture was secured without the 
loss of a man. The result of this first military op.eration of the war 
was of great advantage to the colonies, supplying them with large 
quantities of arms and military stores, and opening to them an en- 
trance into Canada. Connecticut was also obliged to sustain the bur- 
den of maintaining the post acquired, although it was within the juris- 
diction of the colony of New York. One thousand men were sent 
from Connecticut, under the command of Col. Hinman, of Woodbury, 
in 1775, to garrison the forts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point. 
Eighty of these went from ancient Woodbury, a list of whose names 
is in the possession of the author, and will appear in a subsequent part 
of this volume. So in the war of 1812, in the first naval battle, the 
first flag struck was to a native of Connecticut ; and on land, the first 
flag which was taken, was surrendered to a son of her soil. Our 
State has never had full justice done her Revolutionary career, in any 
published account. No State did more according to her population 
than Connecticut, to carry on the war, or mo/e to bring that war to 
a successful and glorious issue. Her troops were found in almost 
every battle of the United Colonies. 

Woodbury was noted for the vigilance with which it watched the 



184 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

movements of the enemies of the country, or tories within its borders, 
of which it had a few, as well as for its active cooperation in every- 
thing necessary to carry on the great struggle which had now begun 
in good earnest. A committee of inspection and observation of the 
conduct of the inhabitants of the town was appointed from its chief 
men and patriots. The duties which this committee felt themselves 
called upon to perform, were of the most delicate and difhcult nature. 
In the struggle for freedom from the mother country, it seemed to 
them necessary to suppress all action, and every expression of 
thought, which did not run in the popular direction — the independ- 
ence of the country. A species of inspection and interference in 
men's private affairs thus became necessary, which could only be jus- 
tified in such a case of emergency — a question of life and death — as 
was then existing. None in any station escaped its exactions, from 
* priest to common people." Slight causes often attracted the atten- 
tion of this body — an unguarded word spoken, or a thoughtless act 
done, when the delinquent was forthwith brought before the " com- 
mittee," to be dealt with as the " law directs." There is no doubt 
that the peculiar dangers and alarms of the period, justified all this, 
and there is scarcely less reason to doubt that many innocent persons 
unjustly fell under the odium of suspicion of being enemies to their 
country. Certain it is, that some of the most respectable and pi'om- 
inent citizens fell under the suspicion of toryism, early in the contest. 
Rev. John R. Marshall, the first Episcopal clergyman of this town, 
together with a considerable number of his church, fell under the 
suspicion of " wishing well to the mother country." He was sum- 
moned before the committee of inspection, and " put on the limits," 
or forbidden to go beyond certain prescribed bounds. During the 
war, he petitioned the General Assembly for liberty to go to New 
York, then occupied by the British army, to see his relatives. In 
this petition he states, that he lost his parents in New York, when he 
was four years of age, and was left to the care of three maiden aunts, 
who gave him a liberal education, and designed to make him their 
heir ; that the only survivor of these was eighty-two years old, and 
he wished to go, and return with the property of the deceased. This 
petition was granted, and he was allowed to go to New York.' Jan- 
uai-y 9th, 1783, he petitioned for liberty to go again to New York, to 
visit his surviving aunt„ "whose estate is worth £15,000, and bring 
home clothing, plate and money." This he was allowed to do on 

1 State Archives, Rev. War, vol, 2, p. 150. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AVOODBURY. 1)^5 

condition that he should only bring articles for the use of his own 
family. It would seem by this, that the government of the state had 
full coniidence in his word of honor. lie was, however, subjected to 
many inconveniences in this town, in common with others, suspected 
of being in favor of the home government. One of the regulations of 
the committee of inspection was, that no grain should be ground for 
such persons at the gristmills, thus rendering a return to the samp 
mortars of the " early fathers" necessary. Consequently they were 
obliged to get this important service done in the names of their whig 
friends. 

The Episcopal church and its ministers, during this eventful strug- 
gle, fell under great suspicion on account of their subjection in church 
government to the English establishment. In many places their 
churches were closed 

" From the time when it became unlawful to pray for the king as our king, 
till the time when the recognition of our independence made it canonical to - 
omitjjraying for him. Some ministers of that denomination, like the late excel- 
lent Bishop White, of Pennsylvania, who was one of the chaplains to Congress, 
yielded to their iiatriotic syiii [iriihies, and filt tliat nn vow of canonical obedi- 
ence could be of force to annihilate their duty to thi-ir country. Others, whose 
conscientiousness ought not to be questiom-il, while tlieir hearts were on the 
side of tlie coitntr}', were ]ierplexed by their ecclesiastical subjection to the 
church of England ; nnd in the absence of any ecclesiastical authority in this 
country, which they could recognize, they dared not to deviate from the forms 
and orders of the English liturgy. Nor are those to be judged harshly, whose 
sympathies in the conflict were altogether with the parent country. England 
was as their home; thence they liad long received their subsistence: thither 
they had been accustomed to look with grateful and humble veneration ; there 
M'ere their patrons and spiritual sujieriors ; and there were all their hopes of 
prevailing against the dissenters^ and of building up in this western world wliat 
they esteemed the only true church. No church has gained luore than theirs 
by the very revolution which they so much dreaded, for that revolution gave to 
their church ecclesiastical independence, and the power of self-reformation. "j 

In this view, could Rev. Mr. Marshall and his followers be ex- 
cused for any partialities they might possess. There were others 
who were also supposed to be " conservatives." On one occasion 
Gen. Arnold, before he turned traitor himself, ordered the deputy 
commissaiy general, Peter Colt, to seize certain provisions at Derby 
belonging to Jabez Bacon and Capt. Isaac Tomlinson, of Woodbury, 
as they were supposed to be unfriendly to the country, and intended 
them for the use of the enemy. They were afterward tried as ene- 

1 Bacon's Historical Discourses, p. 256. 

13 



186 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

mies, but were acquitted.^ Many others at intervals, during the 
progress of the war were tried, found guiltj, and their estates were 
confiscated. Quite a file of the proceedings in the settlement of 
such estates is now in the probate office in the district of Woodbury, 
but as it can serve no useful purpose to drag into the light the 
names of such as were tories in the Revolution, and as many of their 
descendants are ahiong the most respectable and useful of our citi- 
zens, and among the best lovers of their country, it has been deemed 
appropriate to omit the list. The number was insignificant when 
compared with that of the " Sous of Liberty," who rushed forth to 
fight the battles of their country at every call. 

Durino- almost the entire length of the war, the article of salt was 
one of prime importance, and most difficult to be obtained. As has 
been seen, it was one the "Articles" agreed upon, not to raise the 
price of the necessaries of life for a certain period. At the expira- 
tion of that time, traders, like the rest of the world in other times, 
demanded such prices as the exigencies of their pockets required, or 
their avarice deemed most convenient and consoling to its voracious 
appetite. At one period Mr. Jabez Bacon, the most opulent mer- 
chant of the town and vicinity, had on hand a large quantity of this 
article, for which, it was deemed, he asked an exhorbitant price. 
Accordingly the committee of inspection, in the " due exercise of 
their powers," as they judged, took possession of the store, estab- 
lished Avhat they considered to be a sufficiently remunerative price 
to Mr. Bacon, and gave notice to the inhabitants that on a certain 
day named, salt in proper quantities, according to the necessities of 
the purchasers, would be for sale. On the day appointed, a croAvd 
of hungry applicants appeared at the rendezvous, the " Hollow Store" 
" to be salted." Among the rest, who were in pressing need of the 
culinary article, came Doct. Obadiah Wheeler, who was understood 
to entertain affectionate feelings for the "mother country," and who 
frequently reprehended mobs, — with his measure for the reception of 
the " coveted necessary," which should fall to his lot to obtain. On 
seeing him approach, an ardent whig cried out, " Ah Doctor, I thought 
you were a hater of mobs ; why do you show yourself here ?" The 
doctor replied, " It is true, I hate mobs like the d — 1, but necessity is 
the motlier of many shifts — I must have salt!" The ready answer 
of the doctor saved him, perhaps, from inconvenience, and concilia- 



1 State Archives, Rev. War, 15 vol., p. 66. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT TVOODBURT. 187 

tccl the multitude in sucli a manner, that he was permitted to carry 
olf his sliare of salt under the same regulations as the rest. 

The " Committees of Inspection," it will be seen, were of great 
consequence during the war, and had manifold duties to perform, 
which they executed without flinching : 

" At a Lcg-il Meeting of the Freemen of the Town of Woodbury, September 
the lOtli, 177.'). 

" Abijah Mitch?ll was Chosen Moderator for said meeting. 

" Gideon Wiilker wa^ chosen Clerk for s'^ Meeting. 

" Capt. Gideon Stoddard, Daniul Sh.ennan, Esqr, Gideon "Walker, Esq'', Dca. 
Clement Minor, Capt. Thomas Bull, Doct. Andrew Graham, Col. Increase 
Mosely, Agur Curtiss, Edwanl Hinman, Esqr, Tinrothy Osborn, Daniel Ev- 
erit Esqr, Capt. Elias Diia,ying, Amos Claik, .lames Hannah, Timothy Strong, 
Increase MoseIy"1Esfj^r, Jonathan Farrand, Capt Nathan Hicok, Doct. John 
Calhoon, Elihu Smith, Thomas Warner liis^r, Samll Hmd, Abraham Brown- 
son, Diivid Hurd, Ebenezer Hull, Elijah Ilinman, Thomas Tousey, Capt. 
Down, Comfort Ilnbht-ll, and KoLert Edmond, Were Chosen a Committee of 
Inspection or Observation." 

Here we have a committee of thirty of the principal men from all 
parts of the " ancient town," lawyers, doctors, deacons, farmers and 
military men. They were men upon Avhom dependence could be 
placed in times of difliculty and danger. Well did they play their 
parts in this and various other capacities during the war. They 
continued Avithout change in their number, except by death, till the 
close of the war. They continued their " fatherly care" over the 
sentiments of the town even after peace was proclaimed and our in- 
dependence gained. To their influence, in part, though their office 
had become vacant, may be ascribed the following vote, though when 
once proposed it met tlic unanimous support of the town : 

" At a Lawful Town Meeting held April 12, 17S4. 

" Doct. Andrew Graham was Chosen iModerator. 

"Voted, that those persons who joined the enemies of the United States in 
the course of the late civil war of what descrij)tion soever are denyed a resi- 
dence in tliis Town from this date until the Gen" Assembly shall grant them 
full liberty for that purpose " i 

This was the last action taken by the town in relation to this por- 
tion of its citizens. Provision was soon made that they might be 
restored to the rights of citizenship, and in some cases to their prop- 
erty, on taking what was called the " Oath of Fidelity." According- 



1 Town Journal. 



188 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Ij we find them returning at intervals and taking that oath. The 
records show a number of such instances till some years afterward, 
when all fear had subsided, it fell into disuse. As a matter of curi- 
ous record a copy of an original complaint is subjoined which ex- 
plains itself: 

" To the Com" of Observation in & for the Town of Woodbury in Litchfield 
County I the subscriber hereunto Do hereby Informe Complain and Give you 
gentelmen to understand that Doctr Benjamin Hawley of sJ Woodbury (in my 
opinion) has been Guilty of Violating the Association of the Late Continental 
Congress Recomended by the General Assembly of this Colony by Expressly 
Disavowing the whole Doings of sd Congress & said Association & Declaring 
that he would Pay no Regard to the Same and Maintaining the acts of Parlia- 
ment Complained of as Grievances are Constitutional and that tine Brittish 
Parliament have a Constitutional Authority to impose taxes on the Inhabitants 
of America & by his Boldly Declaring the Colonists to be in a State of actual 
Rebellion against the Crown of Great Brittian & by his Treating with open Con- 
tempt the Measures and Proceedings of the Americans for Obtaining Redress 
of theire Grievances and by Endeavouring in his Conversation to inspire oth- 
ers with his above Described Sentiments he Discovers himself to be obstinately 
fixed in the most Criminal opposition to the Rights and Liberties of ameraica 
&c which Conduct of said Hawley (in my opion) Claimes the attention of 
sd Comtt who are hereby Requested to take the matter into their Consideration 
and proceed there in according to the advice of sd Congress I am Gentelmen 
your mostObedt Hum'l Ser' Woodbury Augt 2d A. D. 1775. 

James Hannah. 

To Doctr Benjn Hawely of Woodbury in Litchfield County these are to noti- 
fie you to appear before the Com" of Observation for the Town of Woodbury 
at the Dwelling house of Gideon Walker Esqr in sd Woodbury on the third 
monday of Instant augt at Ten of the Clock in the fore noon (if you see cause) 
then and there to answer unto the foregoing Information and Shew Reasons if 
any you Can why you should not be proceeded against and dealt with accord- 
ing to the advic of the Continautal Congress Dated at Woodbury the 14tli Day 
of Augt A. D. 1775. 

Daniel Everit. 

One of Said Com" 

The within is a true Coppy of the origonal Complaint an Citation 

C Signer of the Complaint &: one 
Test . . James Hannah < of the Committe of Ob.'<ervation 

(_ for the Town of Woodburj'." 

During the first two years of th^^war, the larger part of the mili- 
tia, which comprised all the able bodied men from the age of sixteen 
to fifty years old, had been called to seiwe at various posts, and on 
various expeditions a great part of the time. Early in 1777, enlist- 
ments for three years, or during the war, were called for, and the 
quota for each town established- It was a sevez-e levy on the already 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 189 

weakened strength of the town. But they met the call with a ready 
zeal, and an undaunted perseverance. Large bounties were oflered 
to those who would enlist, and heavy taxes laid on the property of 
the inhabitants who were not liable to military duty, or did not en- 
list into the army. Immediately on the reception of the order for 
new levies of troops, the town was convened in lawful meeting and 
had the following action : 

" A', a Legal meeting of the Inhubilants of the Town of Woodbury April 
3d, 1777: 

"Daniel Sherman, Esq., was Chosen Moderator. Voted, that the Select 
men in this Town for the time being be a Com'ee as is specified in the Resolve 
Issued by his Honour the Goveriiour and Committee of Safety. Dated March 
the ISih 1777, to take Care of such Soldier's Famelys, as shall Inlist into the 
Continental Army, 

" Voated, that Each Able Bodied ElTective man, who hath or shall volunta- 
rily Inlist into the Continental Army in such way and Manner toward makeing 
the Quota of this Town for the space of Three years, or during the War, shall 
bo Intitled to Receive out of the publick Treasury of this Town the sum of 
Twenty Shillings Lawful money, as an Addition to Each month's Wages he 
shall continue in the service, to be paid to him, or his order, at the End of 
Each six month's serviss." i 

This was in addition to the wages the soldier received from the 
authorities of the confederation, and a tax of eight pence on the 
pound was at the same meeting laid " on the Poles and Rateable Es- 
tate of the Inhabitants" to pay the bounty thus offered. It will be 
seen that this order was given by the governor, with the advice and 
consent of the " Council of Safety." This council was appointed 
annually by the Assembly, and was composed of from nine to four- 
teen of the most distinguished men in the state, whose duty it was 
to assist the governor, when the assembly was not in session ; with 
authority to direct the militia and navy of the state, marches and 
stations of the troops, either in whole or in part, and give all neces- 
sary orders for furnishing said militia, troops and navy, in every re- 
spect, to render the defence of the state effectual ; to fulfil and exe- 
cute every trust already reposed by the assembly in the governor, 
with power and authority in the governor to notify and convene the 
whole of said council on all important occasions. But in cases where 
necessity and safety required immediate action, or on small matters, 
the governor, at his discretion, was authorized to convene a part of 
said council, not less than five, to act with him. The per diem al- 

1 Town Journal. 



190 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

lowance to each of the council for this service, including their ex- 
penses, was settled at eight shillings per day. "Woodbury was for 
four years from May, 1777, repi-esented in this council, by Daniel 
Sherman.^ His colleagues the first year were Hon. Matthew Gris- 
wold, William Pitkin, Eoger Sherman, Abraham Davenport, Wil- 
liam Williams, Titus Hosmer, Benjamin Payne, Gen. James Wads- 
worth, Benj. Huntington, William Hillhouse, Thaddeus Burr, Na- 
thaniel Wales, Jr., and Andrew Adams. A more brilliant array of 
names, perhaps, could not have been selected. This committee were 
frequently in session, and the most responsible, arduous and difficult 
details of the service were confided to their care. Perhaps no body 
of men of similar numbers contributed more by wise councils and 
vigorous action to the success of the general cause than this. For 
his attendance and services during the years 1777 and 1778, Daniel 
Sherman's bill was £56, Ss., showing an attendance of 141 days, at 
the established price. He was called to Hartford on public duties 
four times during 1779, and was in attendance forty-five days. 

Daniel Sherman was perhaps the most distinguished man that had 
arisen in the town previous to his day. He was a descendant of 
Samuel Sherman, of Stratford, who emigrated to this country from 
England, in company with his brother Rev. John Sherman, and his 
nephew, Capt. John Sherman, ancestor of Hon, Roger Sherman. 
He was a justice of the quorum for twenty-five years, and judge of 
the Litchfield County Court five years from 1786. For sixteen 
years he was probate clerk for the district of Woodbury, and judge 
of that district thirty-seven years. He represented his native town 
in the General Assembly sixty-five sessions,^ retaining the unbound- 
ed confidence of his fellow-citizens. This was by far the longest pe- 
riod of time any one has ever represented the town. He was a man 

1 Hinman's Kevolution. 

2 Jlr. Sherman was a representative at the May Session of the General Assembly 
hi 1791, and, it is related, desired to be elected to the October Session of the same 
year, in order to make the full m;mber of thu-ty-thi-ee years that he would then have 
represented the town. But at the time of the election for the October Session, the 
moderator of the meeting happened to think that he had had liis share of honors, and 
in order to turn the tide of feelmg in Mr. Sherman?s favor against hun, if possible, 
when he made proclamation that the ballot box was open for the reception of votes, 
remarked in a loud tone of voice, " Gentlemen, the box is now open; you will please 
to bring in your ballots for him whom you will have for your first representative — Hon. 
Daniel Sherman, of course .'" This simple incident gave a cliange to the popular cur- 
rent, and on countmg the votes it was found that Hon. Nathaniel Smith was elected 
instead of Mr. Sherman. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKY. 191 

of comtnantling powers of mind, of sterling integrity, and every way 
qualified for the various public trusts confided to his care. He died 
at a good old age, full of honors, and was followed by the affection- 
ate recollections of the inhabitants of the town among whom he had 
60 long lived. 

One iuducement which the town held cut to men to enlist into the 
army, besides increased wages, was a provision which required it to 
take care of and support their families daring their absence in their 
country's service. Committees were annually appointed to carry 
this provision into effect. At the annual town meeting, Dec. 20, 
1779, the committee thus appointed consisted of - 

" Jaines Jiulson, John Minor, Elislia At^vood, Jeliiel Preston, Alexander Kas- 
son, I\Iosfs Galpin, Anios Martin, Jonathan Mitchell, ELeazur Knowles, Gideon 
Ricok, Israel Minor & Isaac Hunt." 

In March, 1780, Solomon JMinor, Thaddeus Judson, Jonathan Jud- 
son and Daniel Tuttle were added to this committee. In December, 
the same year, the following persons were '• Chosen a Committee to 
provide for the Soldiers' Wives :" 

" Elisha Stoddard, Will™ Preston, Solomon Strong, Tho^ Smith, Jonas Mar- 
tin, Dea. Stephen Gurtiss, Alexander Kasson, Ja' Kasson, Jr., Tlio' PLOOts and 
John Hunt." 

In March, 1782, Samuel Carr was appointed on this committee in 
place of Thomas Smith, and Seth Stoddard, Jesse Roots, Capt. Timothy 
Judson and Capt. Nathaniel Tuttle added to it. In December of the 
same year, Ebenezer Bird, Elisha Stoddard, David Mitchell, John 
Martin, and Amos Martin were appointed to take care of the families 
of the absent soldiers. March 3, 1783, Barzillai Ilendee and Lee 
Terrill were added to this committee. From a return to the Gen- 
eral Assembly, Oct. 22, 1783, we learn that £2,718, 7s. Sd. worth of 
provisions had been furnished to soldiers' families by one man, John 
Sherman. Such was the care of the town to support and defend 
those nearest and dearest to the brave men, who were manfuUy fight- 
ing the battles, and consecrating with their blood every battle-field 
of their country. Those who went forth to war suffered extreme 
hardships, in common with their brethren from other parts of our 
country, and those who remained at home, suffered hardships scarcely 
less severe, in the heavy taxes to be paid for the soldiers' bounties, 
and the support of their families, while their own business was crip- 
pled and nearly ruined. 



192 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

No colony was more liberal in furnishing supplies than Connecti- 
cut, and Woodbury was a prominent point for their collection. The 
streets of the village, in those days, were piled high, on either side, 
with baxTels and hogsheads of pork, beef, lard, flour, and other mili- 
tary stores for the use of the army. Nor was the supply of clothing 
of every kind, less profuse in quantity. In 1780, the selectmen were 
directed to give orders on the town treasury for all sums necessary 
for the purchase of clothing for all the soldiers in the Continental 
army from this town. Eleazur Knowles was appointed a committee 
to provide salt and other provisions for the soldiers. At this time it 
was diflicult to obtain salt at any price, in sufficient quantities for the 
use of the army, and the inhabitants generally. On the 8th of Jan- 
uary, 1781, William Preston, Capt. Amos Hicock, Daniel Hinman, 
Waitstill Goodrich, and Samuel Hurd were appointed a committee 
to " Provide Clothing for the Army." In July following, a tax of 
four pence on the pound was levied, to purchase " Beef Cattle" for 
the use of the soldiers, and Israel Stoddard was appointed to collect 
the tax, and buy the cattle. 

The exact amount of provisions, furnished by the town, is not now 
known, but it may be estimated, from isolated facts that remain. In 
July, 1775, the selectmen furnished £10 worth of powder, lead and 
flints, for the companies under the command of Col. Hinman and 
Capt. Tuttle, that marched to Ticonderoga. In 1776, the town fur- 
nished £102, Is. Id. worth of arms, saltpetre and lead.' Nov. 18, 
1777, blankets and military stores to the amount of £46, 13s. 5d. 
were sent to the army by Capt. Nathan Stoddard and Lieut. John 
Strong. March 12, 1778, the selectmen furnished for the use of the 
soldiers, 159 pairs of shoes, 165 pairs of stockings, 144 woolen shirts, 
(3 linen shirts, 117 fulled overalls, 29 linen overalls, 2 great-coats, 1 
pair of leather breeches, 1 pair of breeches and 1 vest ; the whole 
being valued at £7G3, Is. Od. In 1779, the town petitioned the Gen- 
eral Assembly for liberty to " forward the clothing furnished" by its 
citizens, " directly to their own soldiers in camp," but whether the 
request was granted, and if so, what was the amount forwarded, is 
not known. Enough appears from the foregoing to assure us, that 
our revolutionary fathers were not wanting in labors and sacrifices in 
the cause of their country, even those of them exempt by disease or 
age, from going into actual service. 

Besides the amount of provisions furnished for the army during the 

1 State Archives, Eev. War, vol. 6. 



n I S T O K Y OF ANCIENT "\V O O D B U K Y . 193 

■R-ar, large quantities were purchased of the inhabitants of this and 
neigliboring towns, by Shadraoh Osborn, of Woodbury, who was 
assistant commissary of purchases, and also an issuing commissary. 
His first service in this department was in 1775, when lie purchased 
and furnished supplies to the army at Ticonderoga, in conjunction 
with Truman Hinman. lie seems also to have acted, during that 
year, as a sutler to the army. The volume from which the following 
items are taken, is entitled "• Truman Ilinman & Shadrach Osborn's 
Book of Accounts Kept in Connecticut Courancy — began at Ticon- 
deroga, June 21st 177o," The reason why it is supposed they acted 
as sutlers, on this occasion, is, that there are fi'equent entries on the 
book like the following : 

" Col" Easion, Dr. To 1 Nip Braiuly Toddy £0—0—9 

Es(j^'' palmer Dr. To 1 Bowl Braiuly Toddy — 1 — G" 

They M'ere with the army, and dealt out to the soldiers whatever 
they wanted. Shadrach Osborn's accounts, as regular assistant com- 
missary of purchases, begin with Nov. 17, 1777. He rendered his 
accounts to Coh Peter Colt, deputy commissary general of purchases, 
and by them we learn, that he expended in purchases as follows : 



'ro:n Nov. 


17, 


1777 


to 


jMarch 


1, 


177S 


£2742-13-2 


Mar 


3, 


177S 


to 


Sept. 


2s, 


177S 


.0079-13-7 


" Sept 


2s, 


177S 


to 


Oct. 


31, 


17 7S 


7620-00-0 


Oct. 


•21 


17SS 


to 


Apl. 


30, 


177'J 


21.573-02-Sf 


- Apl 


30 


1771J 


to 


Oct. 


31, 


177 J 


1547.5-02-10 


Oct. 


31 


1770 


to 


Aug. 


2 


17S3 


60S23-0G-4 




£114313-18-71" 



-This amount, at twenty shillings to the pound, would be more than 
$381,000. There were other expenditures and disbursements con- 
nected with his office, which were considerable, the exact amount of 
which cannot now be ascertained. Add to this the amount furnished 
by the authorities of the town, and we have more than half a million 
dollars worth of supplies, furnished by this town and vicinity towards 
the grand amount necessary to achieve our country's independence. 
This is indeed a showing of which any town may be proud. 

All this was accomplished under the pressure of most unparalleled 
financial difficulties. The continental money, by means of British 
counterfeiting, and the unavoidable loss of credit, arising from so long 
and sanguinary a struggle, constantly depreciated, and at last became 
nearly valueless. By Mr. Osborn's accounts we see, that on the 
30th of January, 1780, the depreciation was so great, that one dollar 



194 niSTORT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

or pound in specie, was equal to tliirty-three and one third of conti- 
nental money ; and in 1783, tlie ratio was one for seventy-tv/o. We 
also find in these accounts, pork carried out at eight shillings per 
pound, tallow at twenty shillings, tlour at eighteen pounds per cwt., 
and salt at one hundred dollars per bushel. Money had become an 
article in great demand, as early as 1774; so much so, that we find 
Elisha Steele, of Woodbury, petitioning the General Assembly in 
that year for a reimbursement of two twenty shiMing bills, which lie 
had lost the year before while plowing, and which his hii'ed man had 
found moulded and destroyed in his pocket-book. It would seem a 
very trivial loss, at the present day, but the matter engaged the at- 
tention of the legislature, and the prayer of the petition was granted. 
At the same session, a state certificate for £5, 10s. was reimbursed 
to Daniel Ilinman, Jr., which had been burned with his house.* 
This depreciation went on from bad to worse, till, at last, when the 
soldiers of the continental army were discharged after the peace of 
1783, many of them were forced to beg their way home, their wages 
being scarcely sufficient to buy them a dinner. 

1775. But Woodbury, in a far more important manner, contrib- 
uted towards a successful issue of the dispute with Great Britain. 
This was accomplished by sending large numbers of her best sons to 
the field of battle. In the number and valor of her troops, it is be- 
lieved that few towns of similar territorial and numerical strength 
can vie with her. Their heroic deeds should grace a bright page of 
history. A list of nearly a thousand of her sons will be found in the 
succeeding pages of this volume, who " did battle for their country," 
and the list is by no means complete. It is believed that several hun- 
dred more names are irrecoverably lost, so that the pen of the histo- 
rian can not do them the justice they so hardly earned, and so richly 
merit. Their glorious achievements, their noble deeds, their peren- 
nial fame, survive ; but their names have perished. The sacred turf 
covers them, but the consecrated places may not be found to be wet 
with the grateful tears of a free and happy people. They sleep 
well ; let them rest in their glory, till the final consummation of all 
things, when they shall be raised to a bright reward. 

In April, 1775, after the battle of Lexington, there was an " alarm," 
called the " Lexington alarm," on which more than fifty towns sent 
companies of soldiers with all haste to the point of attack. Wood- 

1 State Archives, Miscellaneous, vol. iii., p. 335. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 195 

burj sent a full company on this occasion, but the roll is lost, and the 
names cannot be recorded. 

At the commencement of the -vwar, Col. Hinman's, or the loth 
regiment of militia, comprised only the three towns of Woodbury, 
Kent and New Milford. From tliis regiment in 1775, marched 
eight companies to garrison Ticonderoga and Crown Point, after it 
had been taken by the gallant conduct of Ethan Allen and the braye 
men under his command. The precise proportion of these companies, 
furnished by Woodbury, cannot be stated ; but as it contained two- 
thirds of the soldiers in the regiment, it is belieyed that its quota was 
in the same ratio.' Eighty names haye been collected, and appear 
in the " Eeyolutionary list" of this yolume. It is certain that the 
number of soldiers furnished for the continental ai'my, exclusive of 
those in the Lexington alarm, was one hundred and iifty, as this was 
the number wliose '' Poll taxes" wei'e abated that year by the Gen- 
eral Assembly, on account of their service.^' 

177G. The sun of 1776, although our armies had been successful 
tbe preceding year, arose clouded and in gloom. The " note of prep- 
aration" was sounded throughout the land. There was a " hurrying 
to and fro" throughout the country on business of the most solemn 
import, affecting the dearest interests we know in life. The General 
Assembly was early in the field. Fiye sessions of that body, three 



1 At this date the officers of the regiment were as follows: 

"March 2151 : 1775. The Dignificatiou of the Several Companies in the 13'^ Reg^: 
hi the Colony of Connecticiit — 
The iH: Company. Cap'. Tim'': Judson Woodhury old Society 
2"J. Co. Southbury — Capi. Truman Hhiman \ 

8'^ Co. N. Milford— N. C '. Epenetus Piatt 

David Leavenworth 
Elias Dunning 
Abraham Trailer 
David Judson 
Isaac Bostwick 
Jos: Carter 
W". Cogswell 
Jno. Hinman 
Eleazar Mitchel 
Benj" Hinman 
■, Increase 
{ Samuel 

2 State Archives, Eev. War, vol, 6, 63. 



4. 


C„. 


Roxliury . . . 


5ih 


Co. 


, Bethlem . . . 


6. 


C- 


Kent 1" C». . 


r 


c^ 


Jiidea . . . 


8 


C'^ 


N. Milford S. C '. . 


9 


Co. 


E. Greenwich . . 


10th. 


, C". 


N. Preston . . . 


11 


Co. 


S.bury N. Co. . . 


12Lh 


Co, 


. S. Britton . . . 
By us 



.J Hinman \ Field 

Increase Mos eley Jr : > Officers of 
lel Canfield J s-^ Keg'" 3 



3 There were more commissioned officers diiring the war, of the name of Hinman, 
in Connecticut, than of any other name, being thu-teen in number, all of whom were 
natives of Woodbury, viz : one colonel, five captains, four Ueutenants, two ensigns, 
one war-ship captaui, (Elisha Hiuman, of New London, captain of the Alfred,) and one 
quarter-master. 



196 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

of which were special, were held during the year. Among the acts 
passed at the May session, was one requiring a draft, or enlistment, 
of one-third of the soldiers in the 2d, 3d, 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 20th 
regiments ; and one-fourth of all the rest. By an order dated June 
10, 1776, Col. Benjamin Hinman commanded Capt. David Leaven- 
worth, and the other officers of his rank in the 13th regiment, to 
draft, or enlist, one-fourth of the men in their companies forthwith, and 
have them ready for service. Capt. Leavenworth's company was 
No. 4, in the regiment. It is not now known how lai-ge his company 
was at this time, consequently it cannot be determined how many 
were enlisted on this occasion. 

After the evacuation of Boston by the British, and Gen. "Wash- 
ington had taken possession of this town, the British commander 
changed the plan of the campaign, and concentrated his forces near 
New York. At this time of danger and apprehension, Washington 
in like manner prepared to defend that post. In August, 1776, he 
sent a very urgent request to Gov. Trumbull, to order to his aid the 
whole of the militia west of Connecticut River. Accordingly the 
whole militia was ordered to New York, and at this time there were 
not less than^Q,000 men in the service from Connecticut. Col. Hin- 
man's oi'der to Capt. Leavenworth is here given, and a like copy was 
sent to each of the other captains in the limits of the town : 

" To Capt David Leavenworth, Capt of the 4tli Millitary Company in the 
13th Regtjn the Colony of Connecticut, Greeting, 

" Whereas I have received order from his HonrQovr Trumbull to cidl forth 
(on notice given by Genl Washington, that Assistince is Necessary) and March 
the sii Regt for the Defence of the Colonies to be under the Commander-in-chief 
of the American Army. And having this day Received a Request from 
Genl Washington to March s'i Regt immediately to New York, Armed iSrc. 

" These are therefore to order you without delay to call forth the company 
under your command, & see that they- are Equip'd with Arms, Blankets, Amu- 
nition &c. and march them immediately to New York, at which jilace I expect 
to join you. 

" Dated at Woodbury the 10th day of August A. D. 177G. 

"Benjn Hinman, Colo, 13th Regt. 

"N. B. You will make Necessary provision for the March of your Company, 
which expense will be paid as usual." 

By this it will be seen that this company was ordered out on the 
10th of August. It was mustered on the 11th, marched on the 12th, 
and most of the men w^ere gone till their discharge on the 2oth of 
September following. How many were called out by this order does 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 107 

not appear. It comprised all tlie able-bodied men between the ages 
of sixteen and fifty years. It was probably not far from 500 men. 

The soldiers had just arrived from this expedition at their homes, 
and greeted their wives and children, when they were again ordered 
into service by a resolve of the legislature, as Avill be seen by the fol- 
lowing : 

" To David Leavenworth, Cap'" of the 4th Military Company in the 13^1^ 
Regt in Connecticut; Greeting — - 

" In pursuance of a Late Resolve of the General Assembly of this State, and 
an order from Major General Wooster, you are hereby ordered &; directed to 
call forth the Company under your Command, Such of them as are fit for Ser- 
vice, and others, Householders &c. who are able bodied, EtTective IMen, within 
the limits thereof; without Loss of time k have them well Armed & Equij^ed : 
and you are further directed to March them immediately to Stamtbrd in Fair- 
field County, and there wait for further Orders. 

" Dated at Woodbury this SiH'' day of October A. D. 177G. 

" Increase Moseley, Jr. Col^ of s^ Regt. 

" N. B. Usual Provision will be made for you on the March." 

Unfortunately the length of the service on this occasion, and the 
list of the men are lost. These excessive drafts had exceedingly in- 
jured the agricultural interests of the town, and it had scarcely suffi- 
cient to support the inhabitants during the winter. The crops had 
been neglected, and consequently there was little food to be garnered. 

The committee of safety of New York sent to Woodbury, October 
21st, 1776, eight sailor prisoners, and a child belonging to one of 
them, for safe keeping. Their names were James Wilson, John 
Murray, Samuel Copj>in, Jeremiah Rierden, Henry Killigrove, Mi- 
chael Couney, Caesar Freeman, William Patterson, and his daughter, 
Maiy Ann Patterson. The General Assembly ordered the committee 
of inspection of the town to give such assistance as was necessary till 
further orders, which was accordingly done. The Assembly next 
year reimbursed the expenses to Edward Hinman, Esq., chairman of 
the committee, to the amount of £22, 16s. dd.^ 

The spirit of the people was well exemplified by their action in the 
society of Bethlehem during this year, as will be seen by the follow- 
ing : 

"We the subscribers in Bethlem, Considering the great Danger we are in 
from our unnatural Enemies do voluntarily Ingage to Equip ourselves as soon 
as we Can with a Good Gun, Sword or Bayonet, & Carterage Box for any Es- 
pecial Emergency, for the Defence of our Invaluable Rights A: Piivcleges & 
Promise to support the same with our Lives & fortunes, as witness our hands 
the ISth day of July A. D. 1776."2 

1 Rev. War, vol. 5, p. 438. 2 Do. vol. 5, p. 9. 



198 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

This agreement was signed by Capt. Andrew Martin, and forty- 
four others. By such means as this was the j^atriotism of the people 
kept glowing during all the vicissitudes of the protracted warfare. 
This was a company of householders, exempt from military duty, 
who thus formed themselves into a volunteer cempany for the com- 
mon defence, on any sudden emergency. It was formed in accord- 
ance with a recommendation of the governor and council of war, to 
this class of citizens, in all the towns. 

Toward the close of this year, a census of the town was taken, 
which showed a population of 5325 souls. The number of officers' 
and soldiers on the military rolls was 564, and the number of " Able 
bodied Men between 16 & 45 not on the Militia Rolls" was 318, 
making a total of 882 effective men, a decided majority of whom 
were subject to draft or detachment, and the remainder, if they chose, 
could enlist into the service. Besides these, there were then " 248 
Men in the Continental Army." So that in the two calls for the 
whole militia of the town, Woodbuiy had furnished the Avhole of the 
above number of 5G4, except such of them as wei'e sick, or became 
liable to the usual forfeiture. But v:e are not left to conjecture on 
this point. We have the exact number of those who thought it bet- 
ter for them to pay the fine than to leave their business. A petition 
was sent to the Gene:jj^l Assembly, signed by thirty-nine persons, who 
did not march at the call of the commanding officers. They peti- 
tioned to be released from bonds for not marching when called on for 
this service. They urged that they " were overburdened : that they 
either had to go into service nearly all the time, or have their estates 
ruined.'" The Assembly took the petition into consideration, but 
negatived the prayer thereof, not deeming it best by any act of clem- 
ency to countenance insubordination. We can, therefore, state con- 
clusively, that more than 500 men from Woodbury were on duty in 
these two calls, which, with the 248 men who had enlisted into the 
continental army, made a sum total of more than 850 men from 
'•Ancient Woodbury," in the service of the country at one time. 
This " raw militia" was present in the unfortunate operations on Long 
Island, toward the close of this year, and in Washington's retreat 
from New York, soon after which they were discharged. 

One would have thought that it would be impossible to arouse and 
lead to the field of battle, at a moment's warning all the able-bodied 
men in the militia of a town, in this manner, but the interests at stake 

1 State Archivef, Rev. War, vol. 10. p. 347. 



HISTOUT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 199 

were great,^an(l the most prominent and popular men in the commu- 
nity wefe in the movement " Jieart and liand." The officers addressed 
the sokliers in the most patriotic and urgent language, and even the 
pulpit lent its- powerful aid to the cause by prayers to the Almighty, 
by encouraging the soldiers, and by volunteering to go with them as 
chaplains, on their expeditions against the common enemy. In ac- 
cordance with this spirit, Rev. Mr. Wildman, of Southbury society, 
went as chaplain upon one of the calls made upon the soldiery of the 
town. As a specimen of the appeals made to the militia and enlisted 
soldiers by the regimental officers, the following order is given, which 
was sent particularly to the enlisted trooj^s that had not yet mustered 
into service : 

"ToCapt 4t'' July, 177G. 

" You are hereby ordered to march off immediately. Spare no pains, nor 
loose one Moments time, as our army is in the Greatest distress. For God's 
sake push oil every man you have iulisted immediately, beg of the people to go 
on to carry off Soldiers. Forward them with all your Might. Send Expresses 
off to your other Officers immediately. Beg of the Militia, as many as can find 
it in their Hearts to go on for the help of the Lord against our Inveterate ene- 
mies. Unless our Army have help immediately we are gone. Now is the 
Crisis ! Press Horses if you want, ^ go off innnediately. 

T. F , Colo " 

From the commencement of the war to tlie time of the action at 
White Plains, in which about a hundred and fifty were killed and 
wounded in the short space of an hour, the soldiers from AVoodbury 
had been remarkably fortunate. Scarcely one had been killed or 
wounded, though many had been sick of smallpox, at Ticonderoga 
the year before, insomuch that it became a common remai'k that the 
" balls would not liit the "Woodbury boys." In consequence of this 
feeling of security, enlistments went on briskly, and to this feeling, in 
part, is to be attributed the large number of soldiers who volunteered 
to go into service. But at this action quite a number of the soldiers 
were killed, several others severely wounded, and the spell was 
broken. They could rely no longer upon the preservation of " blind 
chance," but must put tlieir trust in the protection of an overruling 
Power. 

At the capture of Fort Wasltington by the British, a large number 
of soldiers were taken prisoners, carried to New York, and confined 
in the sugar-house, where great cruelties and sufterings Avere inflicted 
upon them. The larger })art, being deprived of food and drink, and 
crowded together in dense masses, literally died of starvation. In an 



200 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

extract from a letter of a distinguished person in New York, from 
Connecticut, dated 26th December, 1776, it is stated that 

" The distress of the prisoners cannot be communicated by words.- Twenty 
or thirty die every day — they lie in heaps unburied ! What numbers of my 
countrymen have died by cold and hunger, perished for the want of the neces- 
saries of life ! I have seen it ! 

" This, sir, is the boasted British clemency — I had nigh perished — New Eng- 
land people can have no idea of such barbarous policy ; nothing can stop such 
treatment but retaliation. It is due to the Manes of our murdered countrymen, 
to protect the survivors, rather than experience their barbarity and insults. 
May I fall by the swords of the Hessians. "i 

"Woodbury had some representatives in this scene of misery, but it 
is not now known that any of them died there. AYith the large num- 
ber of men it had in service, it could not fail to be represented on 
every field of battle, during the eventful struggle in which our inde- 
pendence was gained, and the mother country humbled in the dust. 

At the October session of the General Assembly, 1776, it was rep- 
resented by letters from Col. Ethan Allen, that himself, together with 
about eighteen other natives of Connecticut, among whom was Zech- 
ariah Brinsmade, of Woodbury, had been taken prisoners while in 
the service of the United States, "by a party of British troops, near 
Montreal, in the province of Quebec, September 25th, 1775 ; that 
they had suffered great hardships during their captivity ; and that 
they were then confined in a suifering condition, incarcerated in a 
common goal, in Halifax, " in one room, among felons, thieves and 
ne^-roes." The Assemblj^ voted £120 lawful money, to be sent by 
Levi Allen, who was about to go to see his brother Ethan, that thus 
the prisoners might receive their wages, and be relieved from their 
pressing necessities. The governor was requested to write a letter 
to General Washington, the Continental Congress, or the commander 
in Boston, or all of them, to solicit their seasonable interposition to 
effect an exchange of ])risoners.^ 

At an adjourned session of the General Assembly, held December, 
1776, considering the organization not adequate to the defence re- 
quired, the militia was reorganized into six brigades, and all male 
persons between the ages of sixteen and sixty years, not included in 
the trainband, with certain exceptions, and exempted from ordinary 
training, should constitute an alarm list, fully equip themselves, and 
hold themselves ready to march at a moment's warning, in case of 

1 Hinman's Revolution, p. 121. 2 State Records, (Hmman) p. 242. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 201 

" an alarm." It was, however, jjrovided that all persons ahove sixty 
years of age should not be compelled to march out of this State. In 
accordance with this enactment " alarm companies" were formed 
throughout the ancient territory, and had abundant occasion to " see 
service" before the termination of the war. 

1777. The campaign this year opened on the part of the British, 
by an invasion of Connecticut ; an event which our people had so 
long feared. Troops were called for to defend the coasts, and Col. 
Moseley's regiment marched to Fairfield. After a time, as it did 
not appear that the enemy would make this the point of attack, this 
regiment was dismissed, as appears by tlie following : 

"Fail-field March 23rd: 1777 
" Brigade orders — 

" Pursuant to Orders Received from the Governour tlie Genl. Dismisses 
Coif. ^loseley & the Troops under his Command that were ordered in here, as 
their Service iscaUed for in another place: andEcturns tlie Oflicers & Soldiers 
his thanks for the readiness with which they have inarched 

" G Selleck Silliman Brigi; Gen*." 

On the 2Gth of April, 1777, there was a sudden call for troops to 
go to Danbury, as the British troops had arrived there and were 
burning the houses and destroying the property of the inhabitants. 
The alarm lists and militia of Woodbury were immediately put in 
motion, and as fast as a considerable number convened at their posts, 
they march.ed to the scene of conflict. A considerable number arri- 
ved in time to take part in tlie action of next day, in which Maj. 
Gen. Wooster was mortally Avounded. Several of the "Woodbury 
soldiers Avere wounded. Hon. William Edmond, afterwards a judge 
of the superior court, Avas Avounded in the right thigh, from Avhich 
he experienced much pain and uneasiness for many years after. 
Thomas Torrance Avas also severely wounded, and brought home on 
a litter. Others Avere more or less Avounded, and some taken prison- 
ers and carried to New York. Among the latter Avere Simeon and 
Timothy Minor. 

May 8, 1777, one-fourth of the militia of the 13th and other regi- 
ments, Avere detached, and ordered to Horseneck. About one hun- 
dred and fifty men from Woodbury went on this service. 

At the battle of Bennington, Aug. 16, 1777, under the gallant 
Gen. Stark, Col. Seth Warner, of Woodbury, with a part of his ref^- 
iment, in which was many soldiers who had joined the continental 
army from this tOAvn, did good service. Yet the larger part of the 
troops, that had been raised in Connecticut during this year, and 
14 



202 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKY. 



who were early in the field, were assigned for the defense of the im- 
portant military posts about the Highlands, on the Hudson River. 
This great thoroughfare of communication between the northern, 
southern and middle states, was maintained throughout the war 
mostly by Connecticut forces.^ 

Early in March, 1777, on Gen. Washington's requisition, there 
had been a draft on the militia to march to Peekskill, N. Y., to rein- 
force the army on that station under Gen. Putnam. Two thousand 
men were sent on under Gen. Wadsworth, in ten regiments. The 
quota of the loth regiment, under Col. Moseley, consisting of two and 
a half companies, containing 240 men, was discharged on the 18th 
of August, for reasons stated in the following : 

" Head Quarters Peekes Kill august ISth 1777. 
" The General considering the busy Season with farmers The Importance of 
the Fruits of the Earth being Gathered — That the militia many of them came 
out in the alarm leaving their aftairs in an ill Setuation to tarry long — and the 
dangers that seemed then immedeately threatening, removed further off — upon 
their own Earnest Importunety urging these matters — has seen fit to release 
Col Mosely & the Regiment of militia under his Command and they are hereby 
discharged from any further Service at this Time to return to their respective 
homes — with the Generals Thanks for their alacrity in Turning out on the 
alarm, and the good Services they have rendered to the publick — Trusting that 
they, one-third of them at least, will hold themselves in readiness to march on 
the Shortest notice on any future occasion — & Special Care is to be taken that 
the Camp utensils and all accoutrements & amunition, drawn from the Stores 
here be returned before the Militia go away 

"J Root D Adjut; General." 

On the 12th of September, the Governor and Council of "War re- 
solved, that each town in the state should procure immediately, one 
shirt or more, either linen or flannel ; one hunting shirt or frock ; one 
pair of linen overalls ; one or two pairs of stockings, and a pair of 
good shoes, for each non-commissioned officer and soldier in the con- 
tinental army, belonging to such town. If any wished to send such 
articles directly to their relatives or friends in the army, they were 
permitted to do so by preparing their packages, properly marked and 
directed, and have the same accounted for as a part of the town's 
quota, provided no more was sent in each bundle than the quantity 
prescribed for a single person. Under this resolve the people of 
Woodbury sent, among other [articles, 159 pairs of shoes and 165 
pairs of stockings, showing the number of men in the army from 

1 HLuman, p. 143. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "SV O O D B U R T • 203 

this toAvn at that time. The same rule Avas in force the next year, and 
about the same quantity of articles Avere sent as in the preceding 
year. 

In September, 1777, after the action between Generals Washing- 
ton and Howe at Chadsford, most of the regular army being called 
to reinforce Gen. Washington, there was another draft on the militia, 
which called for one-half of their number. Not fixr from 300 men 
marched from Woodbury on this occasion. Gen. Silliman's order of 
detachment to Col. Moseley, together with a copy of Gen. Putnam's 
letter, follows : 

"Fairfield SeptemMo, 1777 
11 oClock P. M. 

<« Sir 

" I have this Moment by Express rcci-': a Letter from Gen' Putnam in the 
following Words viz. 

" PeekskiU lltl> Sepr 1777 10 oClock P. M. 

" Dear Sir. A large Body of the Enerny have crossed the North River at Fort 
" Lee with a Number of Field Peices. — have advanced above Hackinsack, 
" whether to attack this Post or jienetrate into Jersies is uncertain ; ifc thisMo- 
" ment arrived an Express from Congress informing that a severe Action has 
" licen between Geni Washington and How at Chadsford in wliich the Ibrmer 
" has been obliged to leave the Ground with the Loss of a number of Field 
" Peiees 7 or S and has retired behind Chester ; and Congress has ordered 1500 
" Men to be sent from this Post immediately to reinforce Gen' Washington, 
" which obliges me to require you to send as many of the Militia and other 
" Troops as you possibly can without Loss of Time to the Succour of this Post 
" to be draughted vmtill the first of January next. Genl McDougal with four 
" Regiments crossed the River yesterday to pursue the Enemy at Hackinsack. 
" Genl Parsons is below the White Plains. 
" P. S. Let the Men be furnishtnl } from Your very Hume Scrv' 

with Ammunition as far as they can ^ Israel Putnam" 

" I hope >Sr trust that on this alarming Occasion every Officer & Soldier will 
be fully convinced of the absolute Necessity there is at this Time of turning out 
freely; I have therefore to desire & direct you forthwith to detach the One-half 
of every Company in your Regiment ^ a jjroper Number of Captains & Subal- 
tern Officers to command them & to see that they are directly furnished with 
good Arms Blankets & Knapsacks & Twenty- four Rounds of Cartriges each, 
.and that they be in Readiness to march to PeekskiU at an Hour's Warning 
where they are to continue in Service untiU the first of January next unless 
sooner dismissed. Your Major is directed to march with them, & You Yourself 
are to march & command them and also the One-half of CoU I. Piatt Cook's 
Regiment with his Lieut Colonel who are under the like Orders and are to be 
tinder Your Command. I expect an Express on Wensday from the Governour 
when You will be ordered to march. 

"G. Sellcck Silliman Brigr: Genl. 
" P. S. 20s pr man I shall advance to Your Soldiers as soon as You send me 
An Account of how many are draughted." 



204 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Major Thomas Bull was also ordered to join the troops at Fishkill, 
with his company of " Light Horse." So that at this call a large 
number of soldiers from this town responded, and marched to head- 
quarters. 

During this year, as we have seen, enlistments for three years or 
for the duration of the wai-, were called for, and a quota for each 
town established. The towns, as an encouragement to enlistment, 
were to take care of the families of such soldiers as had them. It is 
not possible now to state the exact number that enlisted into the ser- 
vice for three years. The return made by the town authorities to 
the General Assembly, of the number of families provided for by 
them, is still extant, and shows a list of one hundred and twenty-four. 
This does not show the entire number that enlisted, but only those ■ 
who had families to be supported. A considerable proportion of the 
soldiers were unmarried men, between the ages of sixteen and twenty- 
one. The number stated, therefore, probably includes little more 
than half the actual number enlisted. 

In all the alarms of the several years of the war, when the largest 
part of the militia turned out, Woodbury had from two to three hun- 
dred men. There were eight companies in the town, and from 
twenty-five to thirty men in a company always turned out at each 
call, and sometimes a greater number. Thus in the " Danbury 
Alarm," forty-two went from Capt. Leavenworth's company, and 
twenty-six to Peekskill where they were ordered October, 1777, to 
save that post. 

Towards the close of this year, the soldiers suffered greatly fop the 
want of proper food, in sufficient quantities to sustain life. They 
were driven to great straits, and the purchasing commissaries were 
most urgent in their calls upon the people to furnish supplies for the 
army. An idea of the distress of the times in this respect, may be 
obtained from the following address to the people of "Woodbury, by 
the commissary general of purchases : 

" To the Inhabitants of the Town of Woodbury 

" Gentleman from a Variety of causes, the Public Magazines of Provision 
for the Armies of the United States- — are almost exhausted, and their is the 
greatest Reason to fear the Army will be obliged to be fed on lean Beef, or at 
least on fresh meet intirely, either of which wou'd be injurious to their health 
& might perhaps totally destroy them. 

" You are therefore earnestly requested to part with so much of yojir salted 
meet as you can spare, & you shall Receive a Generous price for it — I flatter 
myself every Friend of the United States will exert themselves in this important 
occation — and that those who have lean Cattle, will fatten them as speedily as 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT W O O D B U K Y . 205 

posfibfl — as the Enemy are now makeing tlieir lastEfforts ; iV it is tlie Oppin- 
ion oftliose, best able to Judge, that their Vengence will be levelled at this State 
ill ])articular. — & unless we can feed the Continental army we cant expect 
their assistance. 

"Jere'i Wadsworth C. G. P." 

In the memorable and glorious acliievement of the victory of Sara- 
toga, Connecticut bad ber full share of men on the ground, and to 
fill the required number, Woodbury, with the other western towns, 
stood a heavy draft. Her soldiers, on this occasion as ever, fully sus- 
tained the high character they had previously earned for skill and 
bravery. At the battle of White Plains, the preceding year, the 
troops from Woodbury had suftered much in killed and wounded, 
being exposed in the " fore front" of the battle. Nathaniel Church 
was wounded by a grai)e shot, and disabled for life. Daniel Downs 
was killed by a cannon ball, and his brains were spattered upon Amos 
Johnson, who stood next to him. Simeon Rood was shot through 
the thigh. Isaac Thomas was wounded by a cannon ball, brought to 
Woodbury by his fiither, and died Dec. 9, 1776. Capt. Nathan Stod- 
dard was killed by a cannon ball, Nov. 15, 1777, at Mud Fort, on the 
Delaware. He raised himself up from the trench to see how the 
battle progressed, and the ball struck his head, cutting it entirely from 
his body. The late Lieutenant John Strong, a veiy worthy man, 
was standing near him at the time, and, in his life-time, frequently 
related, that for a moment after the occurrence, the body of Capt. 
Stoddard stood erect, as in life, without a head, before falling. 

As the militia rallied on the several calls and detachments, at a 
minute, or an hour's warning, in whatever clothes they happened to 
have on, with whatever weapon of war that came first to hand, or had 
descended to them from their fathers, they often presented a very 
grotesque appearance. A venerable octogenarian has given to the 
authors of a recent work,' a descriijtion of a body of soldiers, gath- 
ered as these were, in a neighboring state, during this period, and 
whose appearance was no doubt a fac simile of our own. " To a 
man," he says, " they wore small-clothes, coming down and fastening 
just below the knee, and long stockings with cowhide shoes, orna- 
mented by large buckles, while not a pair of boots graced the com- 
pany. The coats and waistcoats were loose and of huge dimensions, 
with colors as various as the barks of the oak, sumach and otlier 
trees of our hills and swamps could make them, and their shirts were 

1 History of New Ipswich, N. H. 



203 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

all made of flax, and like every other part of the dress were home- 
si^un. On their heads Avas worn a large round top and broad brim- 
med hat. Their arms were as various as their costume ; here and 
there an old soldier carried a heavy queen's arm, with which he had 
done service at the conquest of Canada twenty years previous, while 
by his side w^alked a stripling boy, with a Spanish fuzee not half its 
weight or calibre, which his grandfather may have taken at Havana, 
while not a few had old French pieces, that dated back to the reduc- 
tion of Louisbui'g. Instead of the cartridge-box, a large powder- 
horn was slung under the arm, and occasionally a bayonet might be 
seen bristling in the ranks. Some of the swords of the officers had 
been made by our province blacksmiths, perhaps from some, farming 
utensil ; they looked serviceable, but heavy and uncouth. Such was 
the appearance of the continentals, to whom a well-appointed army 
was soon to lay down their arms."' 

1778. Although so large a number had inlisted in 1777 into the 
continental army, it became necessary to draft thirteen men from 
each company in town, " into the continental army, to fill it up." 
This would make a sum total from the eight companies of the town, 
of one hundred and four. This was done by order of the General 
Assembly, which enacted, that if the quota in any town for the bat- 
talions then raising in the state, sh ould not be filled by voluntary 
enlistment by the 20th of February, that the deficiency should be 
raised by peremptory detachment, to serve till January 1, 1779. 

On account of the prevalence of the small pox at the various mili- 
tary posts, and the fear occasioned by it, the battalions of " three years' 
men" during the preceding year, had filled up slowly, as we have 
seen, and it became necessary to resort to a draft to fill up the defi- 
ciency, and even those who had enlisted, repaired slowly to their 
posts. It took all the vigilance and perseverance of the officers to 
effect this with sufficient promptness for the public service, as will be 
seen by Gen. Silliman's letter, which follows : 

" Fairfield, April .10th, 1778. 

«' Sir, 

"I have this Moment received a Letter from his Excellency the Govornor, 
and 1 give You a Coppy of Two Paragraphs in it which are in the words fol- 
lowing viz''. 

«' This is therefore to Command You in the most positive Terms, to see that 
" all the Recruits as well draughted as inlisted within Your Brigade for the 
" Continental Army be marched to New Haven on or before Tuesday the 4'h Day 



1 Burgoyuc's army. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT %T O O D B U K Y . 207 

" of May noxt. The Nocessit}- of the Men Joining the Army is very great and 
"will not admit the least Excuse for Neglect or Delay in the Execution of this 
" Order. I am Sir Your Hum'e Serv' 

Jon"i Trumbull. 
" You will therefore immediately on the receipt of this loose not a moment 
hut mount Your Horse and Collect every Man in Your Kegancnt that is in- 
listed or draughted for the Continental Army Jc see them every Soul marched to 
New Haven by Tuesday next and You may not fail on any account whatever 
ifc make report to nie on Tuesday Evening that I may know what answer to 
give to his Excellency. 

" G. Selleck Silliman, Brig.r Geu"." 

It w.a^ not strange under the painful circumstances and sad re- 
verses of the close of 1777, when the troop.^ under Washington had 
worn out their shoes and clothing, and could be tracked in their 
marches by the blood of their feet, that new recruits were obtained 
with difficulty. It was emphatically the midnight of the revolution. 
The hearts of men, in some instances, " failed them for fear." It 
was at this time that the members of Congress found it necessary to 
frame a league by which their power might be increased, and their 
determinations enforced. For this purpose " articles of confedera- 
tion" were framed, and accepted by each State. The war was now 
vigorously prosecuted in all directions, aided by the French. In all 
the engagements of this year, Woodljuiy had soldiers, and the blood 
of its sons moistened all the battle fields. There was so large a num- 
ber of " three years' men" in the continental army, that they were 
more or less scattered among the various divisions sent to all parts of 
the United States. Probably no town was more widely represented 
on the various revolutionary battle-grounds than our own. 

1779. The principal operations during this year were carried on 
in the South, but the various garrisons Avere kept up with such forces 
as were judged necessary. In February, there was an " alarm" for 
the defence ofNorwalk, in which the whole militia, under Col. Mose- 
ley, and the regiment of " light horse," under JNIajor Thomas Bull, 
were ordered-to that place by Gen. Silliman, as will appear by his 
order which follows : 

" New Haven Feby 2Gth 1779 6 Clock P. M. 
" Gent Mr. Titus Mead, a man to be depended on, is this moment ariv'd 
Express from Col. Mead, with a Message by word of mouth only, from Col. 
Mead; for their circumstances were Such that Col. Mead could not write. He 
Says that when he left Horse Neck (which was early this Morning) a Body of 
about 600 Men, and a Body of Horse, had pushed up the road into Horse Neck, 
and were on this Side of Knap's Tavern ; and it was reported that a Body ot 
two or three Thousand more were not far behind. You are therefore directed 



208 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

to Muster & march your Regiments, forthwith to Norwallc to oppose the Ene - 
my, & where you will receive further Orders, loose not a Moment neither by 
Night nor day. G. Selleck Silliman, Brigr Genl of Foot 

and Col. Ct of Horse. 
"To CoJ. Moseley & Majr Bull, Woodbury. 

The militia turned out 2)ursuant to the call, but there was no gen- 
ei-al action at that time. In May, a detachment of one hundred Avas 
ordered out of the thirteenth regiment, and ia the action which fol- 
lowed, several of them fell, and a number more were wounded. The 
original order of Col. Whiting on this occasion follows : 

"Sir, Pursuant to orders from his Excellency the Governor directed to 
Genl Silliman, who is now absent, and consequently, as I am the oldest Colonel 
in the 4th Brigade, am Commandant, You are hereby required and Ordered to 
Detach one hundred Men Exclusive of officers from your Regiment: and you 
are to See that they are properly Officer'd & equip'd, and Order them to march 
to Horse-Neck, without loss of time, there to continue for the defence of the 
Sea-Coast in the western part of this State, not exceeding one mouth. 

" Stratford, May 4th, 1779. 

Sam' Whiting, Colol Commie.'' 

" To Colonel Increase Moseley." 

The number that marched from Capt. Leavenwoxih's company, on 
this occasion, was fifty-seven, being more than his quota. It was 
during these occurrences that Gen. Putnam made his famous " escape 
at Horseneck," by spurring his horse, when hotly pursued, down a 
steep precipice, at full gallop. Late in November, 1779, the army 
was again in great need of supplies, being really in a suffering condi- 
tion. In this emergency. Gen. Stark looked to the Woodbury issu- 
ing and purchasing commissary. We learn this from the following 
very urgent letter from Gen. Stark : 

" Danbury, 26"» Nov^, 1779. 
" Sir, Uppon my arrival here, find no flour for my Brigade, the Troops now 
arc entirely out & very little expected except what comes from you — You wil' 
therefore, without loss of time purchase and send forward to this place all the 
flour ifc meal you can possibly collect. Gen. Poor's Brigade is expected in this 
day, which will be stationed here through the winter. If you Imve as much as 
twenty or 10 Barrels let it be sent immediately, give Orders for the Teams to 
Drive night & Day untill they shall arrive here, & in the mean time do emjploy 
all the Mills in your Quarter to Grind for the Army untill a sufficient Quantity 
is procured for the present necessity of this army. 

I am Sir your most 

obedent Humble Ser 
" N. B. You will send me an John Stark, Bg, 

Answer by the bearer what 
supplies I am to expect from you. 
\ym Orsborn, Mp. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 209 

1780. During the winter the troops had siiftered greatly in their 
quarters from the want of food and clothing. They were paid ott" in 
continental money, as it was called, and with it they could huy neither 
food nor clothing. It was with the greatest difficulty that Washing- 
ton, by the most solemn and urgent enli-eaties Avith Congress, and by 
the most patriotic appeals to the people in all parts of the country? 
saved his army from total destruction. 

In February, 1780, Col. Moseley resigned his commission as 
colonel, having fiiled the office for the space of nearly three years. 
He informed the General Assembly that he was " induced to accept 
the a})i)ointment ovit of Aftection to my Country, and an Ardent de- 
sire to render my best services for promoting the Good of the same." 
He resigned the office, as he states, on account of infirm health, which 
unfitted him for long tours of service, and on account of his embar- 
rassed financial matters. The urgency of the public service, pre- 
vented his resignation being jvCcepted at this time. In the latter part 
of October, he resigned again, and this time the Assembly accepted 
liis resignation. 

At this period of the war, the prospects of the country wei'e gloomy 
in the extreme. Only the most hopeful and persevering could see 
relief in the dark aspect of the forbidding future. Successive defeats 
and rampant toryism disheartened the American forces at the South, 
and the uninteiTupted drain of men and money had produced poverty 
and wretchedness at the North. The soldiers in their winter quar- 
ters, had suffered all the tortures of famine and nakedness. 

In this gloomy state of aflTairs, the treachery of the execrable Ar- 
nold came to light. He had previously been a brave and gallant 
officer, and had done his country good service. But luxurious habits 
had induced him to embezzle government funds, and this had brought 
a court-martial, and a repriman^. In revenge he proved traitor to 
his country. He became active, violent and cruel in his new rela- 
tions, and his name was branded with infamy. He has the sad pre- 
eminence of standing alone among all the officers of the Kevolution, 
as a traitor to the country that gave him birth. Quite a number of 
W'oodljury soldiers Avere at West Point at the time Arnold concerted 
with Andre to deliver tliat post to the enemy. Abel Wakelc}', who 
served during the whole war, having entered the service in his six- 
teenth year, was one of them. He died at Greenville, Greene coun- 
ty, New York, April 13th, 1850, in the ninetieth year of his age, and 
used frequently to relate the scene of the traitor's escape from AYest 
Point, of which he was an eye witness. 



210 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

So worn down and exhausted had the jieople become with constant 
service, that the authorities of the town had tlie greatest difRcuUy in 
filling the required quota from this date till the close of the war. 
Large bounties were offered for recruits, and heavy taxes laid to pay 
the expenses thus incurred. This will be seen by the following town 
action : 

" At A Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Woodbnry, Jnne the 26th, 
17S0. 

" Daniel Sherman Esqr was Chosen Moderator for this l^Ieeting. 

"Voated, that Each Able Bodyed Effective Man, Who shall Inlist into the 
Continental Army for three years shall Receive as A Bounty from this Town 
over and above the States' Bounty £15 Lawful Money in silver at 6/S p ounct » 
or Currency Equivileni, to be paid on his Inlistmerit & being Mustered into 
service the sum of £20 : and on the Commencement of the second year £15 : 
more, and on the Commencement of ye 3J year the other £10: provided he 
Continues in the serviss. And such Able Bodyd Men WVio shall Inlist During 
the War shall Receive the same Bounty, and Also £15 : on the Commence- 
ment of the 4th year, Provided they Continue in the service, provided also that 
such Inlisted Soldiers shall be accounted a part of the Quoto of this town ; 
Providil they be not. Inlisted to the 20/ P Month heretofore Granted to Soldiers 
in this Town, the Comition Officers of Each Military Company for the time be- 
ing are Appointed a Committee for the time being." 

To meet the payment of these large bounties, a tax of four pence 
on tlie pound was laid on the property of the inhabitants. In No- 
vember, a tax of two pence on the pound was laid for the same pur- 
pose, and the selectmen were made a committee to "find out the De- 
fitionces in the Continental Army, and make report to the next meet- 
ing." In December, Aaron Ilinman, William Preston, Slieldon 
Clark, Capt. Elijah Hinman, Lieut. Samuel Curtiss, and Capt. David 
Leavenworth were chosen a committee to hire soldiers. On the fif- 
teenth of January following, fifteen others were appointed a commit- 
tee to assist the former committee in*the performance of their duties. 

The ai'my this year were again in the greatest want of the necessa- 
ries of life, clothing in particular. In this emergency, Woodbury 
" Sent to the Connecticut Line by Mr. Hubbard, Nov'^ 7"^ 1780, 1788 
p'^ stockings, 1582 p^ Woolen Overalls, 379 Shirts, 570 vests, 1937 
p"" of Shoes, and 650 Blankets." This vas a pretty liberal amount 
to be sent by one exhausted town. 

In August, 1780, Washington conceived the plan of taking New 
York from the enemy, and consequently desired a force that would 
not be constantly leaving him by the expiration of the time of their 
enlistment. He therefore suggested to his general officers the policy 
of enlisting "volunteers till New York should be taken." General 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "\V O O D B U K Y . 211 

Parsons communicated the plan to the captains under his command, 
in the following letter : 

" Sir 

" His Excelk'ucy (reneral AVashiiigton infbnns me, that in Case the States 
famish their Quota of Money andSu))plies, he designs New York lor ilie oljject 
of his Operations this Canipaii,m, and desires uie to Encourage Volunteer Com- 
panies to Inlist on tlie following Terms, viz. That they sign their Names to A 
written Ingagement to abiile with the Army, subject to the Orders i.\r. llegula- 
tions by whieh they are Govern^ uutiU the City of New York is taken, or the 
seige Raisci, unless they are sooner disehargJ, and that the persons thus Inga- 
ging hold themselves in Readiness to nuirelii whenever the General calls for 
them ; for the express purpose of attacking New York, cV' for no other juirpose. 
Every 50 Rank & File are entitled to have 1 Capt, 1 Lt, & 1 Ensign, ^V- 3 Ser- 
jeants, to bo Elected by themselves, and so in proportion for a less number. 
Under these Circumstances I have to request you to Confer with the Gc-ntlemen 
in your Vicinity, & Endeavour to lu-oenre A Company to be cngagtl ibr this 
purpose. I would thank you to acquaint me as soon as you can of your pros- 
pects in this Matter. Pay and Rations Conunenee from the Time of their 
taking the Field 21st August, 17sO. 

" I am, Sir, y^ obed' Servt 

Saml H. Parsons. 

"To Capt. David Leavenworth and Capt. Jou^ Brown. 

" We whose Names are hereunto Subscribed do Voluntarily Inlist & Engage 
ourselves to serve in A Company of Volunteers to be rais'i in juirsuance of his 
Excellency General Washington's Requisition to General Parsons, anil to abide 
by and Conform ourselves in every respect agreeable to the within I\Iention'l 
plan exhibited for this purpose. 

" Adam Hurlbut, Lovewell Ilurd, John C. Case, Ezra Lacey, Moses Hurd, 
Aaron Ilall, David Leavenworth, Edward Lake, Wm. Torrance, Sam-, 
uel Hurd, Ebenczer Lacey, Abijah Bninson, Issacher Norton, John Mal- 
lory, Eben' Thomas, Curtis Hurd, David Booth, John Baker, Thomas 
Torrance, George Norton, Nathan Runisey, Eldad Baker." 

Scai'cely any thing could show the indomitable spii'it of the people 
better than this inlistment out of a single company, under the circum- 
stances in Avhicli it was made. It was but a few days previous, that 
CoL Moseley had been ordered by Gen. Parsons to make a very 
heavy detachment, as will appear by Col. Moseley's letter to the 
general : 

" Woodbury August 2G'l». 17S0. 
" HonJ Sir— 

" I Received your Orders of the 20tli. Listaut, & have given out Orders ac- 
cordingly ; with directions to the Detaching-OfHcers to deliver their draughted 
Men, to such Officer & Lieu'. Col. Wells should appoint to receive them ; at Col. 
Canfield's in New Milford on the 2St'i. Instant; and have Wrote to Col. Wells, 
Informing him of the time & place. Tliis draught compleats 440 Men that 



212 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

have been c\\]\\\ lor IVoin this Regt. since May last — The last Return of men fit 
for duty under lii'ty years of Age could not exceed 4&0 — There has been a con- 
siderable number who have mov'd away since last Return ; so that some of the 
Officers say that they can not find Enough to compleat their Details witliout 
taking such as liave been out tlie last two Months : but I hope tliey will make 
out some how. Capt. Hine of New Milford inform 'd me to day, that there is a 
diliiculty attends getting the Men in that Town : which is, tliat in Consequence 
of an Order or Recommendation, sent by Gen'. Parsons to the Minister of that 
Town, to raise a Company of Volunteers, a great part of the Men there, have 
Inlisted J'ui- that i)ur])ose; & have ]n'oceeded so far as to Nominate their Cap'. 
&:c. in full expectation of soon compleating a full Company in that Quarter: 
and that the Officers there could not make the last draught without taking the 
Men out of those Inlisted Volunteers; which they apprehend would iVustratc 
the wlioU- plan of raising such a Company ; It being a favourite plan among 
them, which they are Zealously pursuing ; they desired Capt. Hine to come to 
me &: see if they could not be indulged the favour not to make the drauglit. I 
told Capt. Hine, that I was much in favour of having Volunteer Companies; 
but as our Minister had not yet Received any orders on that subject, I was un- 
acquainted witli the General Plan ; therefore could not relinquisli any part of 
the draughting Orders ; but told him I would Represent the matter to your 
Honr. and if any allowance could be made on account of Volunteers, you would 
doubtless grant it. I understand thg,t similar Orders are sent to the Ministers 
of Kent & Litchfield; and that it Originated from a Requisition from his Ex- 
cellJ' Genl. Washington for that purpose : but have seen nothing of the kind in 
this Town and Hardly know what to depend on about it. 

" I am &c. " I. Moseley." 

By tliirf lettei" it can be seen, in a vivid light, how much the regi- 
ment had become reduced in point of numbers, more tlian two yeai'S 
before the close of the war. 

1781. In May of this year, the Assembly, upon the representa- 
tion of Gen. Washington, that there was a pressing necessity of hav- 
ing fifteen liundred men ready to march on the shortest notice, to be 
held in service three montlis after joining the army, and also of rais- 
ing a number of men equal to one-sixth part of this state's quota in 
the continental army, to supj^ly deficiencies which had taken place 
from the various casualties incident to an army, resolved to raise by 
voluntary inlistment, 2,100 men, by the 1st of July following, and if 
the number was not filled by that time, to complete it by peremptory 
detachment from those towns which had not raised their full quota of 
men. The larger part of the men raised in this regiment was sent 
to Horseneck. In the early part of January, a committee of seven- 
teen were appointed to hire soldiers for that post. In July, another 
town meeting was held, in which it was voted, 

" That the IS Men to fill up our Quota of the Continental Army & Likewise 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 213 

the 11 Men for the State Guards at Horse Neck behir'^ by a Committee as here- 
tofore for that Purpose." 

The committee was appointed, and the desired number raised. In 
February, it had been voted, to give the State bounty of £30 given 
to the several towns ibr each recruit furnished, to each soldier who 
should enlist and muster into service. This vote materially lightened 
the labor of procuring enlistments. This will be seen from the fact, 
that twenty-two were obtained from one company, Capt. Tliaddeus 
Kurd's. The quota for this year was one liundred and six. The 
number in service in May was eighty-one, and consequently the defi- 
ciency was twenty-five. These v^'ere hired by the committee ap- 
pointed for tliat purpose. 

During this year, tlie French army under Gen. La Fayette, passed 
through this town on theii* journey south to join Gen. Washington, 
in his operations against Cornwallis. Tliis was a pretty direct route 
from Boston, and it was the general's design to keep at a safe dis- 
tance from tlie coasts. Tliey came through White Deer rocks, where 
they were obliged to cut away trees, and remove stones, in order to 
transport -their heavy baggage through the defile. The army en- 
camped for the night in town, in such companies as suited their con- 
venience, and when they had })itched their tents, they extended all 
the way from Middle Quarter to White Oak, a distance of ned'rly 
three miles. That part which encamped near the house then occu- 
pied by David Slierman, and since by the late Gideon Sherman, eat 
for him, .with his consent, twelve bushels of apples, as is related, and 
drank seven or eight barrels of new cider at his mill. During the 
evening they had a dance in which some of the Woodbury damsels 
joined with the polite French officers, in their gay uniforms, while 
others looked on. Multitudes of the inhabitants pressed about the 
tents of those patriotic foreigners, who had come so far to fight the 
battle of freedom for asuflfering people, and destined to act so distin- 
guished a part in bringing the long and bloody contest to a close. 
La Fayette, with his chief officers, lodged at the house of Hon. Dan 
iel Sherman, and was waited on by all the principal,men of the town. 
The late Mr. Ashbel Moody, and two or three other aged people, 
who recollected the scene, gave the writer a vivid description of the 
incidents of the occasion. Fired anew with martial courage by the 
fine display of the French troops, a considerable number of soldiers 
volunteered on the spot, and marched with them on the following 
morning. Among these were Capt. Joseph Walker, Lieut. Nathan 
Beers, Lieut. John Sherman, Ebenezer Hicock, Wait Hurlbut, and 



214 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Enocli Speriy. After the siilTcnder of Cornwallis at Yorktown, the 
army passed through town again on their return to take ship for their 
homes. The sokliers encamped on Breakneck Hill in Middlebury, 
about a mile north of the meeting-house, it derives its name from 
the circumstance of one of the cattle falling and breaking its neck in 
descending the hill, while employed in transporting the baggage of 
the troops. La Fayette and some of his officers lodged in a tavern, 
in a valley eastward, then kept by Mr. Isaac Bronson. A new house 
has since been erected on its site by a grandson of the former owner. 
1782. The campaign opened early this year, and a meeting of the 
town was held, Feb. 25 th, at which it w^as 

" Voted that the IG Classes that are already fixed hire, each of said Classes 
hire one Man to serve in the State Guard, & three soldiers be raised by the 
Town to Serve in s^ State Guard." 

The burdens of the war fell very heavily on Connecticut, because 
that in addition to furnishing its full quota in the continental army? 
it was obliged to keep many of its soldiers on duty at the several posts 
in the State for its defense. 

On the 18th of December, another town-meeting was' held, at 
which it was 

"Voted to fill up our Quota to the Number of lOG Men. 

" Voted that the Town Raise 12 Men & that the Select Men Divide the Town 
into 12 Classes Each Class to Raise one Man on the List of 1781." 

This proved to be the last time the town was to be called upon to 
show its devotion to the interests of the country during the war of 
independence. It will be seen that the efforts of the town to sub- 
serve the good cause, in common with the whole country, had con- 
gtantly grown weaker and weaker, as the strength of its soldiers 
wasted away before the pestilence, and the deadly struggle on the 
field of battle, and its wealth disappeared under the ever fresh levies 
of supplies for tlie army, and the support of the troops. It would 
seem, that overwhelmed Avith debt as the country then was, it could 
hardly have held out much longer. But, however that may have 
been, it seems that a kind 'Providence had designed, in his wisdom, 
to spare them the trial. To Him, " who tempers the wind to the 
shorn lamb," it seemed good to say to pride, power and oppression, 
" thus far shalt thou go and no farther." 

A part of these last levies were present at the ever memorable 
siege of Yorktown in October, and at the surrender of Cornwallis on 
the I'Jth of that month, which virtually closed the war. Abel ^Vakc- 



niSTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 215 

ley Avas one of these, and others who had inlisted during the war, to- 
gether with the most of those that went south with La Fayette. The 
eyes of these survivors of a ruthless warfare beheld a glad sight on 
the morn of the 19tli of October, when in solemn silence — not amid 
the smoke and carnage of the battle-field — they saw the brave Gen. 
Lincoln receive the sword of Lord Cornwallis — the strength and 
glory of the British army on this side of the water, broken and de- 
stroyed. AVell might tlie news of this auspicious event spread uni- 
versal joy, as it did, throughout the country. Well might all hearts 
unite in praise and thanksgiving to God for this signal blessing, 
which was to terminate our struggle for independence. It was not 
inap[)ropriate that Washington ordered divine service to be perform- 
ed throughout the army ; and that Congress proceeded in solemn 
procession to the house of God, to acknowledge their grateful sense 
of this special favor.^ It was, indeed, the final blow, the immediate 
precursor of peace. The voice of the whole British jjcople called in 
earnest tones for an immediate termination of the war ; so earnest 
indeed, that it penetrated even to an unrelenting throne. Early next 
year, just eight years after the battle of Lexington, Great Britain 
[)roposed peace, and hostilities terminated. John Adams, Benjamin 
Franklin^ John Jay and Henry Laurens, were appointed agents by 
the LTnited States to conclude the tei'ms of peace. Preliminary arti- 
cles were signed at Paris, Nov. 30, 1782, and on the 19th day of 
April, 1783, a formal proclamation of the cessation of hostilities an- 
nounced the glad tidings to a disenthralled nation. 

It Avould be a })leasing occupation to linger for a moment and 
gather up the personal incidents scattered thickly throughout the 
whole of this long and eventful period; but the limits of our work 
will not allow us that gratification. They Avill be found, however, in 
the biographical and genealogical history, which will occupy the* ma- 
jor portion of the remainder of this volume, and also in the list of 
revolutionary soldiers from this town, among the statistics, at its 
close. • 



1 On the west side of the Pomperaug River, three-fourths of a mOe from the main 
street in Sonthbm-y, lived three brotliers, stm-dy young men. Their names were Jus- 
tus, Amos and Moses Asa Johnson. When the news of the surrender of CornwaUis 
readied town, the people assembled at the meeting-house, and the greatest enthusiasm 
prevailed. The bell pealed forth in meny, violent tones, and every heart was full of 
joy. The Johnsons supposed the bell was ringing for an alarm, as it scarcely rung for 
any tiling else except on Sundays. In an hour or two, two of them appeared at the 
alarm post, fully amied and equipped, their knapsacks filled with provisions for an 
immediate march. Such was a specimen of the patriotism of those days. 



216 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

" Tlie colonies must be taxed !" What a world of interests was 
affected by that stern and unjust decision. Little dreamed he who 
spake it, that it would inflame a continent, and rend from Old Eng- 
land her fairest possession, her gem of greatest value. But the word 
was spoken — the decree gone forth ! " "Whom the gods wish to de- 
stroy they first make mad." With a fated madness, an unaccounta- 
ble folly, the mother country took lier furious course. Her children, 
di*iven by her cruelty into the savage wilds of a distant continent, 
were pursued with ruthless bai'barity. She little knev/ and little 
cared, if far away over the mighty Atlantic, her arbitrary acts was 
creating the " land of "the free and the home of the brave." Then 
came the war of the Revolution to blast the dearest hopes of the 
people of the new world, yet from its gloomy shades gleamed forth 
the light of liberty, which now shines with such dazzling splendor. 
But it was to be obtained by blood and toil and miseries with scarce- 
ly an equal in the annals of mankind. The blood of the dwellers in 
these fair vales, and in each town and hamlet of our land, was shed 
like water on every glorious battle field of our country, from the 
skirmish at Lexington to the ever memorable seige of Yorktown — 
from the sad massacre of the fair and poetic vale of Wyoming to the 
field of honor on the heights of Saratoga ! Their hardly earned 
worldly goods were freely offered on the altar of their country's good. 
Hunger, cold and privation of every sort were cheerfully endured. 
Every tie which nature holds dear, and which binds the hearts of 
men in conjugal, paternal, or fraternal bands to the well-known 
hearthstone, were sundered at the call of our suffering country in her 
hour of need and of peril. They went forth with bounding hearts, 
and athletic, manly forms. Many of them found honored graves in 
various parts of our land, and many more returned with dire diseases, 
mutilated frames and shattered health — the merest wreck of what 
they were — to the firesides which had missed their presence for 
months and years. 

But the result of their labors was glorious beyond the expecfation, 
or even the dreams of the most hopeful. They wrought well — a re- 
deemed and widely extended people now rejoices in the results of 
their toils and sufferings. If there be a " recompense of reward" for 
those that do well, surely our patriot sires have long since entered on 
a bright fruition. Great indeed have been the results of the Revo- 
lution, not only to our own favored land, but to the world. Since 
that hour of " deadly peril was overpast," our nation has gone pros- 
perously on, and avc are almost miraculously increased from three to 
more than twenty millions of freemen. Liberty and equality are in- 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 217 

terwoven with every fibre of our institutions. Freedom of thought 
and of conscience is the pole-star of our existence. Knowledge infi- 
nitely more varied and extended than was ever befoi'e known, has 
embraced all classes, and it will have its " perfect work," till the 
humblest operative shall become a man of science. Literature, art, 
science, a brilliant triad, is the proud possession of our country, and 
she will continue to enjoy it till the " last of earth" shall have been 
experienced by the last of the race. The universal diffusion of 
knowledge is the grand characteristic of our country. By means of 
this the most distant member of our population, which surges to and 
fro like the waves of the ocean, is visited in his home on the broad 
prairie, or among the everlasting hills, and prepared to act his part in 
the great system of republican institutions. The active and enter- 
prising spirit of the age has given us a vigorous and original litera- 
ture. The useful, the practical, in science, in art, in every thing, is 
the grand desideratum. Improvements are made in every thing. 
Even news, which has in all ages been noted for its agility, no longer 
takes its slow course by stage, or by railroad ; nor yet, in the poeti- 
cal language of Seri})ture, does it " take the wings of the morning, 
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea ;" but it seizes on the 
" firey bolt of Jove," and outstrips the '' swift wind." The time is 
not far distant, when the far dweller in Oregon sliall whisper words 
of affection '' by telegraph" to an Atlantic lady-love, all too impatient 
to wait the slow delay of the " lumbering mail." 

"A destiny for us may be predicted far more glorious than ever the 
most illustrious days of Greece or Rome, or even the bright British 
Isles have gloried in. The day may not be distant, w^hen America, 
compared with England, shall be as a fair and blooming daughter 
beside an old and decrepid mother." In the spirit of liberty lies the 
secret of the present aspect of mankind. Exalted indeed is the posi- 
tion of the men of the nineteenth century. They stand amid the 
mighty ruins of the past, Avhile the clear light of liberty has just 
dawned in fall effulgence upon the world. Every thing proceeds 
with the utmost velocity, and one must cast himself upon the rolling 
flood, and rule and direct the storm, or be overwhelmed by it. " For 
them has been reserved the glorious yet perilous task of remodelling 
society — for them a vital share in the final regeneration of mankind.". 
Their trust is in the lofty patriotism and intelligence of the people, 
and they are cheered on by the hope that the perfection of humanity, 
having sought in vain throughout the wliole world for a permanent 
resting place, may here, in this western land, take up its final abode. 
15 



CHAPTER XI. 

HISTORY OF SOUTHBDRT AND SOUTH BRITAIN ECCLESIASTICAL 
SOCIETIES, AND THE TOWN OF SOUTHBURT. 

1731 TO 1853; Petition for a Society, 1730; Incorporated in May, 1731; 
63 remonstrate at the next session ; First Meeting House in White 
Oak, 1735; Rev. John Graham settled, 1732; List of First Church 
Members ; Character of Mr. Graham ; Method of Singing ; Rev. Ben- 
jamin WiLDMAN settled IN 1765; Second Church finished, 1772; Church 
Bell obtained in 1775; Mr. Wildman's Character and Death; Rev. 
Elijah Wood settled, 1813; Rev. Daniel A. Clark settled, 1816; Rev. 
Thomas L. Shipman, 1826 ; Rev. Williams II. Whixtemore settled, 
1836 ; Pulpit now supplied by Rev. George P. Prudden ; List of Dea- 
cons; South Britain petitions for winter privileges, 1761, which are 
granted; Incorporated as a Society, May, 1766; First Meeting Hou?e, 
1770 ; Rev. .Iehu Minor settled and Church gathered, 1769; Settle- 
ment OF Ministers — Remarks ; List of First Church Members ; Rev 
Matthias Cazier settled, 1799; Rev. Dr. Tyler settled, ISOS, and 
dismissed, 1822; Rev. Noah Smith settled, 1S22; Rev. Oliver B. But- 

TERFlELD SETTLED, 1837; Rev. AmOS E. LaWRENCE SETTLED, 1S51 ; LiST 

OF Deacons; Town of Southbury Incorporated, 1787; Present state of 
THE Town ; Census. 

For a period of more than fifty-seven years after the first settle- 
ment of Pomperaiig, the inhabitants had formed but one ecclesiastical 
society. On the day of sacred rest and on other occasions, our 
fathers, the hardy pioneers in this forest town, had assembled at the 
old meeting-house of the " ancient society" in this lovely valley, and 
offered up their devotions to the ever-living God as an " undivided 
whole." For six or eight miles in all directions, these men of God 
descended from the breezy, life-invigorating hills, and emerged from 
their rural homes in the sweet vallies, hastening " to the temple" to 
worship the benign Ruler of the universe. In storm and in sunshine, 
in summer's heat and winter's cold, they paid this " debt of duty," 
and forgot not the " assembling of themselves together." Amidst the 
wilds they sung the high praises of the Great Ci-eator, and the stai-s 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 210 

heard and the lea! Tlieir affections daring this long period had en- 
twined themselves around the " old sanctiiaiy." The}' loved their 
aged jmstor, and scarcely the great inconveniences of the remote 
parts of their town could induce them to think of forming new socie- 
ties, and new church relations. 

But the time at length came, when it seemed necessary to many to 
separate from the " ancient society," and attempt the formation of a 
new one, so that a place of worship might be obtained in a location 
which would better accommodate them. By a petition sent to the 
May session of the General Assembly, 1730, Ave learn that early in 
1718, upon the question arising whether the first meeting-house 
"should be added to, or a new one built," it was agreed after consid- 
erable discussion, that all should unite in repairing the old house, and 
that at the end of twelve years, the inhabitants of the south part of 
the town should have liberty with the consent of the legislature, to 
become a distinct ecclesiastical society, and the inhabitants of the 
north part by a previous agreement, were to have a like liberty in 
twelve years from 171G. They therefore say that having complied 
with the terms of the agreement on their side, and the time having 
expired they wish to be incorporated into a society accordingly, es- 
pecially " the old meeting-house being gone to decay and now not 
big enough to accommodate the inhabitants of s"^* Town." They also 
desire " that the line to divide them may be the same that divides 
their Train Bands." This petition was signed by " Titus Hinman, 
Sen, Benjamin Ilicock, and Andrew Hinman in behalf of the 
Rest."^ A coijimittee was appointed to "view the circumstances and 
report," This committee having attended to the duties of their ap- 
pointment, reported favorably, and the second ecclesiastical society 
in Woodbury was incorporated and called Southbury, May, 1731. 

This act was displeasing to many in both societies. Accordingly a 
petition signed by thirty-three persons in the north, or " ancient soci- 
ety," and thirty in Southbury society, was preferred to the October 
session of the Assembly, in 1731, asking for a reconsideration of the 
vote incorporating the new society. They assign as reasons, 

1. The north society is left very narrow. 

2. Mr. Toucey, one of the committee, is interested, "having a 
large farm near the center of the new society." 

3. They allege, among other things, that those of the south society 
who must bear half of the bui-den and expenses, are averse to the 



1 State Arcliivesj Ecclesiastical, vol. 5, p. 193, et seq. 



220 HISTORY OF AN C lENT 'WO OD B URT. 

sejiaration, and live as near the old house as the proposed new one. 
Besides they " have Lived inider y"^ Ministry of the present Minister 
(Mr. Stoddard) with very Great Delight for nearly 30 years whom 
they chose and Stipulated with, and are of opinion they ought not to 
be forced to break off from and forsake their Minister." 

4. The south society will not harmonize. 

5. It would be a great " hardship to the ancient minister to pluck 
up stakes and move, or travel far." 

6. The town, in the vote alluded to, did not contemplate a forcible 
separation. 

The signers of this petition, who lived in the new society were 
William Preston, Peter Minor, Hezekiah Culver, Samuel Sherman, 
Adino Strong, Sen., Andrew "Ward, Thomas Squire, Josiah Minor, 
David Squire, Isaac Knowles, Richard Peet, Ephraim Tuttle, Na- 
than Curtiss, Nathaniel Ilurlbut, Samuel Wallei', Lemuel Wheeler, 
John Curtiss, Jr., Caleb Wheeler, Thomas Knowles, John Crissy, 
Matthew Mitchell, Adino Strong, Jr., John Curtiss, Jr., Benjamin 
Wheeler, John Squire, Ezra Sherman, Joseph Tuttle, Sarah Wheel- 
er, Sarah Curtiss, (widow,) David Carman. 

The Woodbuiy signers were Joseph Minor, Zechariah Walker, 
Joseph Judson, Samuel Bull, Jonathan Atwood, Stephen Terrill, 
Valentine Prentice, Nathan Hurd, Sainuel Galpin, Alexander Ale- 
horn, Jonathan Mitchell, David Hurd, John Nichols, Caleb Martin, 
Robert Warner, Isaac Peet, Samuel Martin, Eliakim Stoddard, John 
Mitchell, Jr., Knell Mitchell, Roger Terrill, Timothy Minor, David 
Mitchell, Zadock Hurd, Ephraim Minor, Widow Sarah Judson, Pe- 
ter Walker, Joseph Roots, John Roots,- Elizabeth Squire, Samuel 
Minor, Thomas Minor, Joseph Martin. 

The Assembly took the petition into consideration, but negatived 
its prayer. During the same session, however, it was proposed and ' 
passed in the " Upper House," that the dissatisfied members of the 
south society might return to the old society again, but the " Lower 
House" dissented. At the May session of next year, twenty-three 
persons in the south, and twenty-seven in the north renewed their 
petition for a reconsideration of the act of incorporation. Taking into 
consideration " the unhappy differences," the Assembly appointed 
James Wadsworth, Esq., Capt. Thomas Wells and Capt. Isaac Dike- 
man a committee to " view the circumstances," hear grievances, ex- 
amine location, and report. This committee reported at the October 
session, 1732, that there was no hope of healing the differences in the 
south society. " On the whole" they say, " we are forced to look 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AV O O D B U R Y . 221 

upon "U'oodbiiry in two societies ; and as to the northers society, we 
suppose them well agreed and at unity among themselves, but very 
much to the contrary in the southern society." Though there Avas 
more than one-half, there was nothing like two-thirds of them, who 
can agree to settle a minister, build a meeting-house, and carry on the 
other necessary business pertaining to a society. But they could not 
persuade them to go back to the old society. For these reasons they 
proposed a new division-line farther south, and that the first society 
should pay the south £200, and if the south society did not then 
agree to &aid proposals within five months, and " go forward as a 
society," then they should be united again and "meet in y® old Meet- 
ing House as formerly." The Assembly, on this report being made, 
raised the amount to be paid to £300, including £55, 10s. subscribed 
by individuals, and then passed the proposition into a law. At the 
same session, the two houses were informed that Southbury society 
had voted to build a meeting-house, and asked a committee to locate 
the same according to law. For some reason the houses disagreed 
as to the men to be appointed, and nothing was done in the premises. 

On the 29th of November, 1732, the society voted unanimously 
" except one man" to build a meeting-house, and asked a committee 
of location, upon which WiUiam Ilicock, Joseph Lewis and Thomas 
Clark were appointed to perform tliat duty. Having examined the 
premises, the committee located the house May, 1733, "at a stake 
picht Down on a hill Between Lieut. Andrew Hinman's Heirs, and 
the house that was Elnathan Strong's," and reported the same. May. 
1733, to the Assembly, which accepted the report and established the 
location. The place thus established was the point of land between 
the two highways, nearly in front of the White Oak school-house. 

Th€ society voted to build a house forty-six feet in length by thir- 
ty-five in width, with twenty-three feet posts. Deacon Benjamin 
Hicock, Richard Brownson, iMoses' Johnson, Solomon Johnson and 
Noah Hinman were appointed a committee " for carrying on the 
building of the Meeting House." The committee represented to the 
General Assembly that the new line established by it, in accordance 
with the report of the committee appointed to determine the bounda- 
ries, cut off half of the grand list of the society, as at first established 
leaving it a list of but £2,000, and that they had laid tAvo taxes of Is* 
and 2 s., which were inadequate to defray the expenses. Besides, the 
north society claimed the " Parsonage Lands" lying in Southljury, 
and had leased them. They therefore asked a " comteu mid liberty to 
lay a land tax," but the motion was denied. October I'Jth, 1733, the 



222 HISTORY or ancient woodbuky. 

clerk of the society reported to the Assembly that the house was raised, 
and the materials procured for completing the same. The committee, 
at the same session, jietitioned for a land tax of one penny on the 
acre, which was granted. In October, 1735, the clerk reported that 
the house was covered, some of the glass and two doors put in, and 
'' most of the under floors" had been laid, " So that it is in some 
measure comfortable to attend y® worship of God in." Three years 
later, October 1738, he again reports that little progress had been 
made in completing the house, which he said was to be attributed 
" not to the want of a willing mind, but to the smallness of numbers 
and other burdens." T]ie committee stated, that by the last line 
established for their society, they were left Avith only twenty-eight 
families, and they were unable to finish their meeting-house, which 
had no pulpit, or proper seats, and that their minister's rate was very 
heavy. They asked the " benefit of the County rate," but it was de- 
nied them. At what precise time the house was entirely finished is 
not now known — probably not till several years after this date. It was 
used as a church more than forty years. It will be noted that the 
clerk reported the house to the Assembly as " comfortable" when it 
had only been covered, and had a part of the ground floor laid. A 
very good idea of what our fathers denominated " comfortable," may 
be gained, when we consider that the idea of warming a meeting- 
house had at that day never entered the minds of men. It would 
have been a difficult task, as stoves were then unknown. In the 
'state it was then in, it could not have been as comfortable as an 
ordinary barn. It is difficult for us of the j^resent day to obtain a 
just conception of the extreme trials, difficulties and privations of 
those early times. 

Notwithstanding these difficult circumstances, as soon as remon- 
sti'ances to the establishment of the society ceased, they proceeded 
at once, November 29th, 1732, to call and settle a ministei*. They 
voted him a respectable salary for the times, and made other provis- 
ions for his comfortable maintenance, as will be seen by the follow- 
ing votes : 

" Nov. 29, 1732. Votes Respecting the calling and settling a Minister in 
Southbiny. 

" 1. Voted to give the Reverend M^ John Graham now present amongst us 
a call to the work of the ministry amongst us, and to take the ])astorall charge 
of the church in Southbury, with the apjorobation of the Reverend association 
in Farelield County. 

" 21y. Voted that we will give the Reverend Mr Graham for his incourage- 
ment to settle amongst us that orchard of capt titus Hinman's wliich was for- 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 223 

merly the orchard of Samuel Hinman of Woodbury Dect with one acre of that 
land of Wait Hinnian's next adjoining to it, also a building on sil land, a 
dwelling house two stories high forty foots long and twenty foots wide, and to 
finish ye out side complete, and to finish the inclosing fences with the chimneys. 

" 3.1y. Voted to give the Reverend Mr Graham as a yearly salary one hundred 
Pounds, pr year to be ])ayed in money or provissions at the markitt jirice. 

"4;ly. Voted that the ReuJ Mr Graham shall have the use of the parsonage 
lands within this parish during his life, or ministry amongst us." 

On being informed of these votes, while the society meeting was 
still in session, Mr. Graham suggested some verbal alterations in the 
second and fourth votes, which were adopted by the meeting, and Mi*. 
Graham's answer to their call was immediately sent in, a copy of 
which follows : 

" To the inhabitants of Southbury in their present meeting by adjournment 
December lOtli, 1732 : Grace and peace be multiplied : Dearly beloved foras- 
much as your Com" have in your name and no doubt by your order, called 
and invited me to settle with you hi the sacred work of the gospel minstry : I : 
must .«ay that as our first coming together was wholly providential and your 
vote of the call clear and unanimous : and hoping ye sincerity of your aim alt 
the glory of God and the spiritual and eternal good of yourselues and children: 
I : have Reason in these Regards to look upon it : as a call from the great Lord 
of the haruest and therefore : tho : I : must acknowledge myself weak and in- 
sufiicient for ye great work whereunto : I : am called yet through Christ 
strengthening me: (I know) : I: can do all things and therefore pray that his 
grace may be sufficient for me and his Divine strength be perfect in my weak- 
ness ; (I hope) : your continual fervent prayer to the God of all grace for 
me := : I : return you humble and hearty thanks for the generous offers you 
have made me of the severall good things for the support of me and my family, 
and do hereby accept the votes of your meeting November : 29''^ last past with 
ye limitation and alteration, vi^hich in your present adjourned meeting you have 
made of the second and fourth votes : upon my own request, and do hereby 
declare against accepting them otherwise than with such alterations : Now that 
ye God of all peace may be with you and succeed all your lawful! and lauda- 
ble endeauers for the establishment of his gospel ministry and ordinances 
amongst you, that he may graciously fit you for and bountfuUy bestow upon 
you all those great and inestimable blessings and privileges which render you 
capable of gloryfying his name here and fitt you for the enjoyment of himsell" 
as your everlasting portion hereafter, is the hearty desire and shall be (I hope) : 
the constant prayer of your most aflectionate friend and seru' in the Lord : 

"Southbury: December : 19th ^ 1732." 



^o£». ^^iyajec. 



The house thus furnished Mr. Graham stood on the site now oc- 
cupied by the residence of Mrs. Whitlock. The salary given to 



224 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

him by the preceding vote was £100 per annum. Next year it was 
raised to £130, and it was gradually increased afterward, as the cur- 
rency varied in value till 1747, when it was £400. In 1748, it was 
again reduced to £100. At a meeting of the society held January 
22d, 1753, it was voted 

" That they would give the Re^Mr Graham, as a yearly salary for preaching 
the gospel among us so long as he shall remain our minister the full sum of one 
hundred and ten pounds to be paid in the following manner, viz: in good 
wheat at six shillings per bushel, in rie at four shillings per bushel, in Indian 
corn at three shillings per bushel, or in Money Equivalent to the aforesaid spe- 
cies at the aforesaid prices; and a sufficiency of firewood delivered at the said 
Mr Graham's Door." 

On being informed of the vote of the society, Mr. Graham replied 
as follows : 

" I thankfully accept the above agreement and vote, and take satisfaction 
therewith as witness my hand. 

" John Graham." 

On the 31st of December, 17G4, it was by the society 

"Voted, that whereas the Reverend Mr. Graham, by reason of age and In- 
firmity of body at present is incapable of supplying the pulpit, and likely never 
will be able for the future to supply the same," that certa^ persons named be 
a " Committee in behalf of this Society to confer with Mr. Graham, and see if 
they can agree with him upon a sutable sup2)ort for him during his life." 

The committee effected an arrangement with him, and immedi- 
ately proceeded to settle a colleague, as will presently be seen. 

Immediately after the settlement of Mr. Graham, measures were 
taken to " embody into church estate," and take their proper position 
among sister churches. This was accomplished Jan. 17th, 173|, 
and the following is a list of the first members : — Rev. John Graham, 
Capt. Titus Hinman, Deac. Benjamin Hicock, John Pierce, Nathan- 
iel Sanford, Sen., Ephraim Hinman, Ebenezer Squire, Joseph Hin- 
manj Richard Brownson, Deac. Noah Hinman, Lieut. Andrew Hin- 
man, Titus Hinman, Jr., Solomon Johnson, Stephen Hicock, Timo- 
thy Brownson, Thomas Drakely, Roger Karby, Ebenezer Down, 
Nathaniel Sanford, Jr., Abigail Brownson, Hannah Hicock, Eliza- 
beth Hinman, Abigail Graham, Mary Hinman, Maney Hinman, 
Eleanor Squire, Mary Brownson, Hester Hinman, Bethia Sanford, 
Prudence Johnson, Comfort Pierce, Sarah Hinman, Dinah Down, 
Bethiah Hicock, Maney Johnson, Sarah Hinman, Eunice Drakely, 
Sarah Porter, Abigail Brownson, Ann Hinman, Lois Hicock. 



HISTORY OF A X C I E N T WOODBURY. 225' 

" The abovosaiil Porsons were the lirst inenibers of the Church of Christ in 
Southbnry. The males were embodied into Church estate on Wednesday ye 
17'h of Janiy, 1735, being also ye Day ^hereon the Gospel ministry was settled 
in Southbury, and the females admitted on ye ■25tliof said month." 

From what has preceded and will follow, we perceive that Mr. 
Graham had preached to the people of Southbury from his ordina- 
tion early in 1733, to the month of August, 17GG, or thirty-three 
years. ITe had previously preached some twenty-one years at other 
places before removing to Southbury. At the latter date, being 
borne down by severe bodily disease, it had become necessary to set- 
tle a colleague with him, which was accordingly done. He came to 
this field of labor ere it was fully a phice for the laborer, but strength 
grew out of weakness. The new church prospered under his care. 
During his ministry, 300 members were received into its folds, and 
827 persons were by him baptized. At its organization, Benjamin 
Hicock and Noah Ilinman were appointed deacons. Whether there 
Avere changes in this office during the period of his labors, does not 
now appear, on account of the defectiveness of the church records. 
He ever maintained the aiiection of his parishioners, even after bod- 
ily infirmity rendered his further ministrations to them impossible. 
He lived with his people till 1774, when he was "gathered to his 
fathers," and slept in peace, after bearing the "glad tidings of the 
gospel" for the space of 54 years. 

Mr. Graham was settled in Stafford, before his removal to South- 
bury, as we learn from an entry in his own hand-writing, the first 
passage of which is here inserted : 

"On Tuesday, December ye I'^th 1722, Mr. .Tohn Graham, a candidate for 
ye ministry (from Ireland) in his travels from ye eastern parts of N. England 
(where he had preached some years) into this Colony of Connecticut, was prov- 
identially cast into this town of Stalford, where he tarried that night, and next 
morning being Invited by Mr. Josiah Standish (one of the committee) he 
preached there the next Sabbath."' 

His settlement over the church immediately followed. By the 
same minutes we learn, that lie had preached at Exeter, N. H., 
" some years" before removing to Stafford. By his tombstone we 
are informed that he died in the eighty-first year of his age, and the 
fifty -fourth of his ministry.' He preached in Stafibrd and Southbury 



1 The whole inscription read.? — "In truth at best — here lies the Rev. John Graham, 
■who departed this life, December 11th, A. D. 1774 iu the 81st year of his age and 54th 
of his muiistrv." 



226 HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY, 

forty-five years, and by Iiis own entry it appears, that he had preach- 
ed " some years" before coming to the former place. For more than 
eight years before liis death, he was unable to perform pastoral la- 
bors. Before entering the ministry he had been educated in Scot- 
land, as a physician, and entered on the practice of that profession, 
but was induced to relinquish it and become a clergyman. It is not 
known whether this change occurred before, or after he came to this 
country. Mr. Graham was a descendant of the Duke of Montrose, 
as appears by the grave-stone erected to the memory of his son, 
Doct. Andrew Graham, one of the first physicians in Southbury 
society, by John A. Graham, LL. D., a lawyer in the city of New 
York. Hon. John Lorimer Graham, a lawyer of the same city, is 
a son of Doctor John A. Graham, here mentioned, and conse- 
quently great-grandson of the minister. He was a man of medium 
size, an intelligent and earnest preacher, an affectionate pastor, and 
an excellent man, exemplary and faithful in all the relations and du- 
ties of life. He was learned in the various branches of knowledge, 
and frequently engaged with great prudence and power in the po- 
lemic discussions of the day. in 1737, Yale College conferred on 
him the honorary degree of Master of Arts. 

In these early days prevailed a custom, which has long since be- 
come obsolete in the Congregational churches, though it is still prac- 
ticed in the congregations of some bodies of professing Christians at 
the present day. The custom alluded to is the mode of singing, 
which was done in this manner. A person was appointed to act as 
chorister, or " to set the psalm," who selected and " pitched" the 
tunes ; then a line or two was read off, when the whole congregation 
joined in singing them, and thus proceeding alternately to read and 
sing the lines, in this manner, till the whole psalm had been sung. 
It seems, that soon after the formation of this society, it had been dis- 
cussed whether the church would adopt the new mode of having the 
singing conducted by a choir for that purpose, or carry it on by the 
congregation as before. The action taken' by the society on this oc- 
casion is somewhat interesting, and is here introduced : 

" At a genl Church meeting December ID'h 1734, appointed in order to agree 
upon the mode of Singing the praises of God in publick — and ye appointment 
of a Chorister, Voted and agreed, that we will continue to Sing the praises of 
God in the public worship on the Sabbath, in the common way wherein we 
have hitherto gone on, Leaving every one to tlieir liberty of learning or not 
learning to Sing the Regular way, and that when persons have generally 
Learned to sing by Rule, yet that way of Singing shall not be introduced into 
the Congregation here, but upon farther agreement and in an orderly way. 



H I S T O II Y OF ANCIENT "W O O D B U K Y . 227 

"2 Voted anil agreed that Capl" Andrew Hinman (Ti" he will accejit it) lie 
the person to set the psalm, and Lead lis in the publick praises iif God, and 
that, if Cajjt'i Hinnian do not aecept, tlien Joseph Ilinman shall be the man. 

" 3 \'oted and agreed that he who Setts the psalm shall be at his Liberty 
what tunes to Sing on Leetiire days." 

On the 1st of July, 17G5, and again on the 18tli of August, 17GG, 
the society voted to give Rev. Benjamin Wildman a call to settle 
over the church as " Colleague with the EeV' M''. Graham," with a 
settlement of £350, to be paid in four equal yearly payments, and an 
annual salary of £50, together with his firewood ; and after the fourth 
year this salary was to be raised to £75 per annum. The firewood 
judged necessary for his fixmily was thirty cords, which might strike 
one, at first glance, as a libei*;il allowance for a single family, but a 
little reflection will show, that it was quite a different matter to pro- 
vide a year's fuel for a house in those days, not well finished, with its 
huge stone chimney, and all-devouring fire-place. Mr. Wildman's 
letter of acceptance of this call, is a model, brief, to the point, and 
covering the whole ground : 

" To the Society of Southbury in Woodbnry in Litchfield County, grace, 
peace, i\:c. 

'• Whereas s^' .Society in Their Meeting on the IStli of August 177(3, by their 
vote calK'd and invited me to Settle with them in the work of the gospel minis- 
try, 1 having Weigh'' the Call and Votes of the Society for my Support Do agree 
to accept their offers, and hereby do accept and engage Thro' Divine Assist- 
ance to serve them in the great work unto which they have called nie so far as 
my abilities admit. 

" 13enj. Wildman." 

Although the first meeting-house had been so long " in building," 
yet in about twenty years after it was fully completed, another was 
thought necessary. Accordingly, the society voted to build a new 
one, Nov. 30th, 17 GO, during the latter part of Mr. Graham's active 
ministerial labors. But the great bane of religious and school socie- 
ties, the question of location, intervened at this point, and a vigorous 
and somewhat bitter contest was carried on for many years, so that 
it was more than twelve years before the house was completed. In 
November, 1760, the county court, which now had jurisdiction over 
this mattei", appointed a committee to locate the new house, which 
duty they performed in April, 1761, and placed a stake " on Benja- 
min Ilinman's lot." A remonstrance followed, and another commit- 
tee was appointed, which located it three-fourths of a mile further 
north, at Avhich place they could not get a vote of the society to 



228 HISTOKY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

build. The Assembly was asked by the society's agent, May, 1762, 
for a new committee to locate, but the request was denied. The 
same request was renewed at the next May session, stating that the 
house was located within one mile and a fourth of the northern 
boundary of the society. The doings of the county court were set 
aside, and a committee appointed, who reported at the October ses- 
sion, the same year, that they had located it in the " Main Street, 
40 rods South of the last location," The northern part of the soci- 
ety remonstrated, but the location Avas confirmed. In May, 1764, 
fifty-five of the southern inhabitants of the society represented to the 
General Assembly, that they " cannot get a vote to build in the last 
place fixed upon, and mountains separate the western inhabitants, 
some of whom go round South, and some go round North ;" and 
therefore jiray that there may be a division into north and south so- 
cieties ; but this petition was not granted. Finding that no more 
committees would be appointed, the society, in some measure, acqui- 
esced in the stern necessity, as they thought it, and laid a land tax of 
one shilling in the pound to build the edifice. In 1770, a further tax 
of sixpence in the pound was laid to complete it. In December, 
1767, a vote was passed to " get all ready to frame the meeting-house 
by the 1st of April next," and in December, 1770, another vote was 
passed, " to proceed to finish the meeting-house by the 1st of January, 
1772." The church Avas finally finished, and a bell procured for its 
use in 1775. This was one of the largest, and most expensive 
churches in this region, and was an imitation, in its architecture, of 
one previously built in Litchfield. It was located, as will be seen, in 
the street near the lane that leads down to the new burying-ground, 
and was used as a church seventy-two years, till the dedication of 
the present church edifice in 1844. 

Mr. "Wildman became pastor in the midst of these troubles, but 
soon after his accession, a better feeling began to prevail, and the re- 
sult was a fine church edifice, as we have seen. His ministry com- 
menced October 22d, 1766, and closed, with his death, in 1812. Dur- 
ing his ministry, the prosperity of his church was at first impeded by 
the meeting-house controversy, and immediately after by the events 
of the Revolutionary War ; yet one hundred and one persons were 
added to its members, and two hundred and twenty-one were bapti- 
zed by him. Under his ministry, Stephen Curtiss, Samuel Strong 
and Jonathan ]\ritchell, acted as deacons — perhaps others ; the rec- 
ords are very imperfect. 

Mr. Wildman was a native of Danbury, and was a man of noble 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 229 

bearing, botli in stature, manners and mind. He Avas easy of aeeess, 
pleasing and insti'uctive in his conversation, and warm in his friend- 
ship. He graduated at Yale College in 1753. It is not known how 
he spent the eight years lietwecn his graduation and his entrance on 
his ministerial duties. Perhaps he had not the moral qualities deem- 
ed necessary to fit liim for that high calling, for in playful allusion to 
.the name he bore, in former years, he frequently remarked, that when 
in college, he was a wild-man ! Even after he had become a minister, 
an humble, pious man, his forte was wit and humor. Not even se- 
vere and long protracted trials and afflictions, were sufficient to drive 
from his temperament this constitutional tendency to wit. In this 
department, he was always the equal of his Bethlehem neighbor. Dr. 
Bellamy, although the Dr. was his superior in some other things. 
He once consulted Dr. Bellamy as t« the best means to be used to 
get his people to meeting. The specific recommended by the learned 
Doctor, was to ])lace a barrel of rum under the pulpit. " Ah," said 
Mr. Wildman, "I am afraid to do this, for I should have the attend- 
ance of half of the church in Bethlehem every Sabbath." As a case 
of discipline for intemperance was then pending in the Doctor's 
church, the witticism cut close home. The people of his parish were 
accustomed to have, every year, what was termed a " wood bee," to 
furnish the pastor with the quantity of wood stipulated in their arti- 
cles of settlement. It was also in accordance with the customs of the 
times, for the pastor to invite his parishioners to " take something to 
drink," on arriving at his wood-yard, before unloading their wood. 
A certain poor, but jocose man, who had no team, but who liked well 
the customary " treat," on one occasion, took a large log on his shoul- 
dei', and bore it with much difficulty into the yard. His pastor was 
ready to welcome him, and said, " come, come, good friend, come in 
and drink before you unload!" Some one once spoke to Mr. Wild- 
man about his pleasant relations with Mr. Benedict of Woodbury, 
and the remarkable coincidences in their lives. They were origin- 
ally townsmen ; settled unusually near together ; had lived long and 
harmoniously in the ministry ; had acted much in concert, and for 
their mutual accommodation and gratitication. '.' Yes," said he, " it 
has been remarkable and j)leasant ; but there has been one great con- 
trast ; brother Benedict was born a minister, but I was born a wild- 
ass' colt;" On all occasions, whenever wit was possible, he was ever 
ready with his joke. 

His afflictions were numerous, of great severity, and of long con- 
tinuance. The unfortunate habits of a son-in-law, made it necessary 



230 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

for liim to support a daughter with her large family of children. 
His wife was an invalid, and suffered great pain, which for many- 
years she could only endure under the constant influence of opiates. 
None of these things bowed him down, for he had a constitution, and 
a grace to be buoyant to the last. " He was fitted not only to endure, 
but to be a submissive and exemplary Christian ; an active and fjxithful 
pastor ; a preacher orthodox, instructive, animated, able and popu-, 
lar." His death, August 2, 1812, at the age of seventy-six, termina- 
ted a ministry of more than forty-five years. Rev. Dr. Backus, of 
Bethlehem, preached his funeral sermon, in which occurs an account 
of what Mr. Wildman said to one of his ministerial brethren a short 
time before the close of his life. It was on an occasion of a public 
meeting of ministers. " I feel," said he, " that this is the last time I 
shall ever meet you. I shall soon go the way of all the earth. I 
wish for no parade at ray funeral. If, as usual, many good things 
are said of my chai-acter, they will not be truth. I was a gay, and 
alas a thoughtless youth — a Wildman by name, and a wild-man by 
nature ! If the Lord has ever made me to differ from others, it has 
been wholly an effort of divine power, and by a series of merciful 
and fatherly chastisements. I bless God for them, for I needed more 
chastisements than any two men I ever saw. Of all saved sinners, 
it will be most proper for me to cast my crown at my Saviour's 
feet."^ 

In 1813, the year succeeding the death of Mr. "Wildman, Rev. 
Elijali Wood was ordained pastor over the church and people of 
Southbury. During the year of his ordination a revival took place 
which added twenty members to the church. He was a good man 
and devoted Christian, but his ministry was short. He died in June, 
1815. 

In January, 1816, Rev. Daniel A. Clark was called and ordained 
over the church, and dismissed September, 1819, after a ministry of 
a little less than four years. As a vigorous writer and an eloquent 
preacher, Mr. Clark was considei'cd by good judges as having few 
equals in the county. Yet he was regarded by some as unfortunately 
deficient in some important qualifications for usefulness in the sacred 
office. After leaving Southbury, he was successively settled in Am- 
herst, Mass., Bennington, Vt., and in a town in the state of New 
York. He was the author of a premium tract, " The Rich Believer 



1 For the principal part of this sketch of Mr. WOdman, the autlior is indebted to 
Dr. McEwen's Discourse at Litchfield in 1852, and to,the minutes of Rev. Williams H. 
Whittemore. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 231 

Bountiful ;" also a liiglily popular sermon, " The Chnrcli Safe," be- 
sides three volumes of sermons, and some posthumous works. He 
departed this life about 1812, and his remains were carried to New 
Haven for interment. 

After Mr. Clark's dismissal, there was no settled pastor over the 
church till June, 1826. Among the ministers who preached there for 
a longer or shorter time, during these years, the names of three occur 
to the writer, Rev. Levi Smith, the elocpient Carlos Wilcox, and a 
brother of the Rev. Dr. Payson. 

In June, 182G, Rev. Thomas L. Shipman became pastor, and con- 
tinued in that relation till June, 1836. He graduated at Yale Col- 
lege in 1818. While here he proved an intelligent, faithful and suc- 
cessful minister. In 1821, during the great revival of that year 
throughout the country, twenty-five were added to this church, and 
in 1827, was another in which eight were received as members. On 
occasions like these, he was ardent and successful in his labors. 

On the IGth of November, 1836, Rev. Williams H. Whittemore 
was installed into the pastoral office over the church, and remained 
till his dismissal in 1850. He graduated at Yale College in 1825, 
and preached three years each at Rye, N. Y. and Charlestown, Mass., 
before his settlement in Southbury. He is now Principal of a Young 
Ladies Seminary at New Haven. Since his removal, there has been 
no settled preacher over this church. Tlie pulpit is at present sup- 
plied by the Rev. George P. Prudden, a graduate of Yale, who gives 
good satisfaction to the people. The state of his health does not 
allow him to make a permanent engagement anywhere. 

Among those who have held the oihce of deacon in this church 
since the days of Rev. Mr. Wildman, are Timothy Osborn, Adam 
Wheeler, Marcus D. Mallory, and Noah Kelscy. There have been 
others, but their names are unknown to the writer for reasons here- 
tofore given. 

Thirty years after the incorporation of Southbury society, and a 
few years after the purchase of lands made of the Indians, called the 
South Purchase, had been settled, there was a desire to have reli- 
gious meetings during the winter months, in a place beyond the 
" mountains," now called South Britain. The high hills between the 
eastern and western parts of the present town of Southbury had very 
soon after the settlement beyond them, made differences among the 
members of that society. Accordingly, we find twenty-nine persons, 
who lived in " Southbury new purchase," petitioning the Assembly in 
October, 17G1, for four months' "winter preaching" each year, on 



232 HISTORY OF AKCIENT WOODBURY. 

the ground of their "living far from the place of worship," and the 
bad state of the roads. The prayer of their petition was granted at 
the same session, and they were allowed to " choose the necessary 
officers." Three years later, thirty-eight petitioners said the society 
was nine miles in extent east and west, and seven miles north and 
south, and had a list of £12,000. On account of the mountains, no 
spot for a meeting-house could accommodate all the society, and they 
therefore prayed for another ecclesiastical society, the line to be run 
by the course of the mountains. Sixty-nine persons signed a remon- 
strance, alleging that this would leave the society in a bad shape, that 
it was a time of heavy public taxes, that Mr. Graham was old, and 
they must proceed to settle another minister, that the memorialists 
are not able to pay the expenses of a new society, that those within 
the proposed limits were not united, and that those limits did not fol- 
low the natural boundary. Fourteen other persons, living within the 
proposed new society, remonstrated, asserting that the lines Avere not 
sych as would accommodate a society, that the " winter parish" is 
now divided, and that the application was got up by a few, who 
wished to live in the center of a society. The application, in conse- 
quence of these objections, and somewhat numerous reasons, failed. 
At the May session of the Assembly, 17 Go, the petition for a new 
society was renewed by forty-five individuals. They urged that it 
would save them more than one-half of their travel to a place of pub- 
lic worship. "No one place can accommodate the whole society." 
A tax of " 12'' in the pound" had been laid to build a meeting-house. 
They therefore prayed for a new society, or a release from tj^xes. 
The petition was signed by the following persons : Wait Ilinman, 
Ebenezer Down, James Edmonds, Samuel Wheeler, Ebenezer Hin- 
man, John Pearce, Samuel Hinman, Eleazer Mitchell, Ebenezer 
Squire, Benjamin Allen, John Garrit, Aaron Down, Zebulon Nor- 
ton, David Pearce, Robert Edmonds, John Mallory, Moses Johnson, 
Abraham Pearce, Gideon Curtiss, Michael Han, Samuel Curtiss, 
Joseph Darling, Ichabod Tuttle, John Park, Timothy Allen, Gideon 
Booth, Matthew Hubbell, Amos Brownson, Comfort Hubbell, Samuel 
Hicock, Thomas Tousey, Moses Down, John Hobart, John Johnson, 
Solomon Johnson, James Edmonds, Jr., Silas Hubbell, llussell 
FrankUn, James Stanclift, Joseph Baldwin, Joseph Baldwin, Jr., 
Elijah Hinman, Ebenezer Downs, Bethel Hinman, Samuel Peax'ce. 
The petition was continued to the October session of the Assembly, 
when a committee was appointed to inquire into the matter and re- 
port. The committee repoi-ted at the May session, 17G6, that the 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AVOODBURT. 2o-'> 

" mountain renders the meeting in one society impracticable," and 
recommended the incorporation of a new society. The report was 
accepted, the society incorporated, called South Britain, and released 
from the 12'' tax, notwithstanding^ twenty-one persons remonstrated, 
preferring to remain with the old society, as they had joined with 
them in a contract for a new meeting-house. In October, 1770, they 
report to the General Assembly that they have settled a minister, 
have begun to build a meeting-house, that the list of the society was 
only £4,379, 4s. Gd., that a large land interest was owned by persons 
living in other parishes, which was increased in value by the incor- 
poration of the new society, and that they therefore asked a land tax. 
The request w^as granted, and a tax of 2'' per acre allowed for three 
years. The society had previously voted a tax of # in the pound of 
the grand list for each of the two preceding years, toward buildinir 
the house. In December, 1770, the building committee report it - 
enclosed, and the society in debt £80 or £90 in consequence. 

From the foi'egoing, it will be perceived, that the people c# 
South Britain had " winter privileges" for five years before tlieir in- 
corporation into a distinct society. The particulars of the organiza- 
tion of the church can not now be ascertained, on account of the 
almost entire want of church records. A few entries, on loose sheets 
of paper, are all that remain to cast a glimpse of information on the 
benighted world. No minister was settled over the church till three 
years after the incorporation of the society. Rev. Jehu Minor, the 
first pastor, was settled early in 1709. The society gave him a set- 
tlement of £'200, and a salary of £70 per annum. The settlement 
granted the ministers on their being installed over a church, in those 
early days, was a very convenient thing for a young man, who per- 
haps had spent his last penny in fitting himself to assume the respon- 
sible duties of his high calling. It enabled him to sustain himself 
with dignity and independence among his parishioners, and to dis- 
pense charities among the needy of his congregation, instead of being 
as now — in some sense a beggar — dependent upon niggardly salaries 
for a livelihood. Under the old regime, the ministers held a respect- 
able position among the wealthy families of their parishes, and their 
descendants could remain in the town of their birth, and become 
prominent in the various relations of life. For instance, we have to- 
day, in the ancient town, the descendants of a Bellamy, a Brinsmade, 
a Stoddard, and a Graham. One or two hundred years have not 
been able to scatter their descendants from the territories tlieir an- 
cestors did so much to improve and bless. Heaven knows where the 
16 



234 nisTOKT OF ancient ■woodbury. 

children of later ministers are, or wliere those of the present will be 
after the lapse of a few years. Under the present system, the de- 
scendants of the ministers are doomed to be poor, and to be scattered 
from the place of their birth to seek a better fortune elsewhere. 
Change is the order of the day — nothing is stable. However much 
men may regard the " higher calls of duty" to enter this holy em- 
ployment, yet many will feel themselves imperatively called to other 
fields of usefulness, when they behold in this, only a moderate sus- 
tenance for themselves, and pauperism for their children. Much of 
the best order of intellect is and will be engaged in other profes- 
sions and employments, which would be found in this, but for this 
ever-present spectacle of sadness. " The laborer is Avorthy of his 
hire," saith the '* Book of Books." There is no reason why he who 
labors in " things spiritual," should be reduced to starvation in per- 
son, or in postex'ity, any more than he who labors in " things temporal." 
This is a matter which needs reformation. 

At the organization of the church in 1769, John Pearce and Eben- 
ezer Down were chosen deacons, and the church consisted of forty- 
two members. Their names were John Minor, Ebenezer Down, 
James Edmonds, John Pearce, Ebenezer Hinman, Ebenezer Squire, 
Silas Ilubbell, John Parks, Timothy Allen, Justice Hicock, John 
Garret, Samuel Pearce, Nathan Pearce, David Pearce, Aai-on Down, 
Matthew Hubbell, Eleazer Mitchell, Joseph Pearce, Stephen Brown- 
son, John Skcel, William Youngs, Gideon Booth, Abraham Pearce, 
Prudence Johnson, Dinah Down, Mary Edmonds, Hannah Pearce, 
Elizabeth Hinman, Ann Squire, Ann Hinman, Rebecca Wheeler, 
vSarah Allen, Lois Hicock, Mary Edmonds, Jr., Eunice Pearce, Pru- 
dence Johnson, Jr., Olive Mitchell, Mary Pearce, Mary Brownson, 
Mary Youngs, Sarah Booth, Elizabeth Pearce. The church, during 
Mr. Minor's ministrations, was prosperous. Twenty-two were added 
to his church in 1785, and 109 during the twenty-one years he resided 
with his people ; and five were added during the five years' ministry 
of his successor. One hundred and thirty-eight persons were baptiz- 
ed by him. He was dismissed by the mutual consent of himself 
and his church, June, 1790. He was a native of Woodbuxy, gradu- 
ated at Yale College, and was settled in the ministry over the church 
in South Britain, two years later. He was a good man, and served 
his people acceptably for many years. Toward the close of his min- 
istry he became much engrossed in fai-ming, to the neglect of his pa- 
rochial duties, which was the ultimate cause of his asking a dismission 
from ministerial labor. His successor in the pastoral office was Mat- 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 235 

thias Cazier, who was settled in 1799, and dismissed in 1804. On 
his dismission, the church voted, " that they very cordially esteem 
their pastor, the EevJ Matthias Cazier, as of good moral character* 
and as an able and conscientious Minister of the New Testament, and 
sound in the faith." He was of French extraction. His father and 
mother were born in France, but he was born in New Jersey, and 
married a Miss Crane, of Newark. Previous to his settlement in 
this place, he had preached in Vermont, and Pelham, Mass. After 
his dismission here, he removed to the State of New York. Previous 
to his settlement, there had been an interregnum of nine years, 
after Mr. Minor's dismissal, during which time, the pulpit was sup- 
plied by various ministers, and in which had occurred one revival, 
and eleven admissions to the church. The church was again with- 
out a settled pastor for four years, when Rev. Bennett Tyler, D. D.^ 
was ordained, June 1, 1808. He remained in this pastoral charge 
fourteen years, when he was dismissed at his own request, March 
26th, 1822, having been elected President of Dartmouth College. 
Under the ministration of Dr. Tyler, the church enjoyed great peace 
and prosperity. A hundred and eight persons were added to the 
number of its members. 

Dr. Tyler was born in that part of "SYoodbury which now belongs 
to Middlebury, near Quassapaug Lake, July 6th, 1783. He gradua- 
ted at Yale College in 1804, and after graduation was for one year 
preceptor of the academy in "Weston, now Easton, in Fairfield 
county. He studied theology with the Rev. Asahel Hooker, of Go- 
shen, and was licensed to preach in the fall of 1806. He was or- 
dained pastor of this church two years later, and after a pleasant 
ministry of fourteen years, he was, in 1822, appointed President of 
Dartmouth College, as stated, soon after which the degree of doctor 
in divinity was confen-ed upon him by Middlebury College. He 
filled this office six years, during which time he had the satisfac- 
tion to witness the constantly increasing prosperity of the institution. 
In June, 1828, he unexpectedly received a call to take the pastoral 
charge of the second church in Portland, Maine, as successor of the 
Rev. Dr. Payson," in " the great congregation where he had long 
preached, and prayed so like an angel." After much serious de- 
liberation he was induced to accept this call. Here he enjoyed the 
confidence and afiection of a large and united church and society, till 
he was appointed President and Professor of Christian Theology in 
the Theological Institute of Connecticut. He entered on the dis- 
charge of the duties of these offices in 1834, and contuiues to dis- 



236 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

charge them still. Dr. Tyler " still lives," " his praise is In all the 
churches," and comment on his life and character is unnecessary. 

Immediately after the dismission of Dr. Tyler, Kev. Noah Smith 
was invited to settle over the church and society, which call he ac- 
cepted, and his pastoral labors immediately commenced. His ministry 
was of considerable length, useful and happy. He died in the midst 
of his labors, among his people, October 10th, 1830, at an early age. 
During his ministi'y,eighteen members were added to the church. In 
the following seven years the church was without a settled pastor, but 
was supplied by various ministers. During this vacancy in the pas- 
torship, the church enjoyed unusual prosperity. No less than six 
revivals took place, and 162 j)ersons were added to the church. Mr. 
Smith was born in Hanover, N. H., March 8th, 1794, made a profes- 
sion of religion at Albany, N. Y., March 6th, 1813, began to pi'epare 
for college, March, 1813, graduated at Dartmouth College, August, 
1818, studied theology at Andover Seminary, was licensed to preach 
June 6th, 1821, ordained "Evangelist," October, 1821, and installed 
pastor over this church, October 9th, 1822. On the 28th of June, 
1837, Rev. Oliver B. Butterfield was ordained, and continued to dis- 
charge the duties of his pastoral relation to his church, with pleasure 
to himself, and profit to his people, till his death in 1849. Forty-five 
were admitted to the church during his administration. Mr. Butter- 
field was born in Montrose, Penn., June 18th, 1804. He entered 
Tale College, and pursued his studies there for three years, until ill 
health compelled him to desist. He traveled about two years for his 
health, when he returned, and entered the Yale College Theological 
School, where he graduated in 1836. He received the honorary de- 
gree of Master of Arts from Yale in 1845. In 1851, the present pas- 
tor, Rev. Amos E. Lawrence, was settled. 

As far as can be collected from records, the following persons have 
borne the office of deacon in the church : 

John Pearce, 1769 ; Solomon Seward, Simeon Piatt, 1827 ; 
Ebenezer Down, " Joseph Bassett, Anson Bradley, 1835 ; 

Eleazer Mitchell, Isaac Curtiss, 1798; Elliot Beardsley, " 

Stephen Piatt, Warren Mitchell, 1801. 

In April, 1786, a petition was served on the town of "Woodbury, 
preliminary to sending it to the General Assembly, praying that the 
" societies of Southbury, South Britain, and that part of Oxford,' 



1 Seven families from the town, of Woodbury were included in the Society of Ox- 
ford at its incorporation in 1741 ; but how many families there were at tliis date, thn 
author has no means of detcrminmg. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 237 

which belongs to the town of Woodbarj, may be incorporated into 
one town, and have all the privileges, which by Law the other towns 
in this State have." It stated its list at £1 1,000 or £15,000, and the 
number of its families at 400. Col. Benjamin Hinman was appointed 
an agent to attend the Assembly, to urge the petition at the May ses- 
sion, but the project failed. In October, 1786, the petitionei's ob- 
tained the consent of Woodbury to their application for a new town, 
as will appear by the following vote : 

" Oct. 17th, 17SG. 
" Voted not to oppose the grant of a petition from the Inhabitants of South- 
bury, South Britain, and that part of the parish of Oxford v/hich belongs to the 
town of Woodbury. 

" Voted to request the Gen' Assembly that in case they should incorporate the 
parish of South Britain, Southbury, and part of Oxford parish into a sepirate 
town, or the parish of Bethlehem, or the parish of Roxbury, that they would 
order and decree that each inhabitant, that has land lying in the bounds of 
Woodbury, as the boutids now are, shall put all his lands into the list in that 
town where the owner shall reside after such Incorporation." 

This petition was granted at the May session of the General As- 
sembly, 1787; and the town incorporated by the name of South- 
bury. It is believed, though the proof is not now at hand, that the 
stipulation contained in the foregoing vote of the town, was inserted 
into this charter. The town now had all the rights and privileges, 
and has followed on, in the staid, beaten track of other Connecticut 
towns. The history of any town, since the Revolution, must be brief 
indeed. The actors in the various important events, are, for the most 
part, now alive, and it might seem the part of flattery to attempt to 
characterize them justly. Besides, in tracing the leading historical 
events, the towns composing the " ancient town," have been treated 
as a unit. Such, it was deemed, was the more appropriate and satis- 
factory manner in which to treat the subjects coming under \iew. 

Southbury now constitutes a beautiful, fertile farming town, well 
watered by the Pomperaug River, its branches and other streams. 
Its average length from east to west is about eight miles, and its 
breadth about four. Like the parent town, it formerly bolonged to 
Litchfield county, but was many yeai's since annexed to New Haven 
county. Thei'e are two Congregational societies and two Methodist, 
each of which is furnished with a commodious house for public wor- 
ship. There are in the town three taverns, four blacksmith shops, 
several shoe shops, one saddler's shop, four grist mills, ten saw mills, 
one paper mill, one manufactory for edge tools, &c., several wool- 



238 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

hat manufactories, one sattinet manufactory, one shear do., one 
tin ware do., and seven stores. Some eighty to one hundred thou- 
sand dollars are invested in these various mercantile and manufac- 
turino- operations. There is also at South Britain a water-power 
company, which has laid out a large amount of money in bringing to 
a single point, the united water-power of the Pomperaug River and 
Transylvania stream. By this means they obtain a most excellent 
power, sufficient for an indefinite number of manufactories of the va- 
rious kinds. The population of the town, by the census of 1850, is 
1484. There reside in the town one lawyer, three ministers, and 
three physicians. 



, CHAPTER XII. 

HISTORY OF BETHLEHEM SOCIETY, AND THE TOWN OF 
BETHLEM. 

173S TO 1S53 ; First Settlers ; " Winter Privileges" granted 1738 ; Society 
Incorporated Oct., 1739; First Meeting House, 1744; Dr. Joseph Bella- 
my Begins to Preach, 1738 — Ordained in 1740 ; Church Gathered, 1740 ; 
Mr. Bellamy's Church History; Great Sickness of 1750; Halfway 
Covenant abolished in 1750; Mr. Bella*my Itinerates ; Seperates ; Old 
• and New Lights ; Church and P.astor invite all Orthodox Ministers to 
THE Pulpit in Bethlehem, 1742; Early Times; First Currant Bushes ; 
Second Church Edifice, 17(38; Singers allowed to sit in the Gallery, 
1774; People of South Farms apply' for Admission into the Society; 
Death and Character op Mr. Bellamy ; First Sabbath School ; Dr. Azel 
Backus Settled in 1791 ; Revivals ; Life and Character of Dr. Backus ; 
Rev. John Langdon Settled in ISIG ; Rev. Benjamin F. Stanton in 1825 ; 
Rev. Paul Couch, 1829 ; Rev. Fosdick Harrison, 1S35; Rev. Aretus G. 
LooMis, 1850; List of Deacons; Various Applications for a new town ; 
Bethlem made a Town, 1787 ; Third Church 1S36 ; Present State of the 
Town. 

For more than sixty years after the settlement of Woodbury, that 
part of the town, known as the east part of the North Purchase, had 
remained an unbroken forest, visited only by the Indians, wild beasts 
of the thick woods, and now and then a pioneer of the white race. 
The North Purchase had been granted to the town in 1703, pur- 
chased of the Indians in 1710, and surveyed in 1723 ; but it was not 
divided among the proprietoi-s of the town till 1734. As soon as this 
was done, and each proprietor had " drawn his lot," it was open for 
sale, and accordingly a few settlers moved there that year. Previous 
to this, the settled part of Woodbury had extended northward but 
little farther than the north end of " East Meadow." The name of 
the first settler, and the place whence he came, is now lost ; but the 
first house built in the society, was located in a lot now owned by 
Joseph Hannah, where traces of the cellar still exist. The principal 



-40 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

location of the first few families was on the road running east and 
west, about lialf a mile north of the present center of the town. 
Among the first settlers were Capt. Hezekiah Hooker, of Kensing- 
ton, a parish of Farmington, now Berlin, a descendant of the celebra- 
ted Rev. Thomas Hooker, of Hartford ; and Jonathan Kelsey, of 
Waterbury, who afterward became deacons in the church in this so- 
ciety. With Dea. Hooker, came two of his sons, Hezekiah, Jr. and 
James. From the first society came Reuben and Josiah Avered, 
Francis and Joshua Guiteau, Caleb and Ebenezer Lewis, Isaac Hill, 
Jr., Isaac Hotchkiss, Nathaniel Porter, and Samuel Steele, formerly 
of Farmington. From Farmington came John Steele ; from Litch- 
field, Thomas and Ebenezer Thompson, and Ephraim Tyler from 
New Cheshire. 

Four years after the first settlement, the number of families 
amounted to only fourteen ; yet this handful of people felt able 
to support a minister a part of the time, and accordingly peti- 
tioned the Genei-al Assembly at its October session, 1738, for Hberty 
to have " winter privileges," for five months, " in the most difficult 
season of the year, viz., November, December, January, February 
and March," as they lived so far from church, it was impossible to 
attend. They also asked to be exempted from taxes for repairing the 
old meeting-house in the first society. This was to be done till they 
could hire a minister all the time. These privileges were granted 
them on condition that they hired an " orthodox minister," and re- 
frained from voting in the first society, in relation to the meeting- 
house. In JMay, 1739, they petitioned to be released from parish 
taxes as long as they should hire a minister, and from school taxes, 
on establishing a school of their own, " the school in the first society 
being so fur off" it was of no use to them." The request was granted, 
and they wex-e permitted to hire a "minister and set up a school." 
At the October session of the same year, they petitioned that the 
'■' east half of the North Purchase" might be set off as a distinct ec- 
clesiastical society. The petitioners alleged, that they are " near ten 
miles distant from the first society," that it is difficult to attend 
church there, and that » 

" If we were set off in a Distinct Society we should be under better advan- 
tage to obtain the Preaching of the Gospel among us, and also the Ancient So- 
ciety, as we apprehend, are rather for encouraging than hindering of us in our 
Proceeding." 

The signers to these several petitions were Hezekiah Hooker, John 
Steel, Nathaniel Porter, Francis Guiteau, Caleb Lewis, Joseph 



niSTORT OF ANCIENT ■SYOODBURT. 241 

Clark, Jo^iali Avered, Ebenezer Lewis, C. Gibbs, Jonathan Sele)^, 
Edmond Tompkins, Isaac Hill, John Parkis, Heuben Avered, Ephraim 
Tyler, Caleb "Wheeler, Ebenezer Thompson, Beriah Dudley, Seth 
Avered.' 

The prayer of the petition was granted,*the society was incorpo- 
rated and named Bethlehem. 

Having now become a society, they voted, May 1st, 1740, to build 
a meeting-house, and petitioned the Assembly that a part of Litchfield, 
running the length of the society, and one mile in width, might be 
annexed to the society. On the 14th of the same month, an agent 
was appointed to advocate the measure, and ask for a committee to 
locate the house on a spot they themselves " had fixed," " if s'^' part of 
Litciifield is annexed, and as lands will be benefitted," he was in- 
structed further to ask a land tax. Benjamin Hall, John Southmayd 
and Stephen Hopkins, were a})pointed a committee of location, who 
for some reason did not report till the May session of 1742, when 
they informed the Assembly, that they had " marked a black oak 
bush on y*^ High Land of y*^ Run, that Runs on y^ East side of y® South 
End of y® Bear Hill so called." This location is the spot, a few feet 
south of the dwelling-house erected some years since by Dr. North. 
A petition was preferred to the General Assembly, October, 1741, 
for a land tax, representing that " they are few in number, and there 
are 83 rights or allotments of land, which G years ago sold for £80 ; 
DOW since they have a settled minister, these are worth £500." They 
asked for a tax of forty shillings on each right. A tax of thirty shil- 
lings on each right was granted them at the next session. May, 1742, 
and Joseph Clark was appointed collector. This tax made non-i'esi- 
dent proprietors, who at this time held much the largest part of the 
land in the society, bear their equal proportion of its burdens. The 
clerk of the society in 1743, reported the house covered, and in May, 
1744, that materials were provided for finishing the inside of the 
house. Such, in brief, is the history of the establishment of the so- 
ciety, and the preparation of a house of worship, which was a small 
structure, and was used for the purpose of its erection about twenty- 
five years. 

On the 2d of November, 1738, immediately after " winter privile" 
ges" were obtained. Rev. Joseph Bellamy, then about twenty-two 
years of age, was called by the people, and commenced his labors 
among them. He i)reaclied, as is believed, the first sermon ever 

1 State Archives, Ecclesiastical, vol. vi. 



/ 



242 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

delivered in this society. He held his first meeting in a barn, which 
stood near the north-east corner of the meadow immediately south 
of the present school-house, in the second school district. After la- 
boring with the people for fifteen months, he received a regular call 
to preach to them, who were now formed into a regular church. But 
there exists a little book of records of this church, in which is found 
an account of these transactions in Dr. Bellamy's hand-writing, which 
follows, and more vividly presents the transactions to the mind, than 
any language the author might invent : 

"A. D. 1738, Nov. 2, Came Josejoh Bellamy A. M., upon the Desire of the 
people of the Eastern part of the North Purchase of Woodbury (afterwards 
called Bethlem,') to preach the gospel among them (they having obtained a tem- 
porary license to hold a meeting among themselves.)" 

" A. D. 1739, Oct. They obtain society privileges from the Gen^ Assembly, 
and are called Bethlem." 

"A. D. 1740 Feb. 20. The Society of Bethlem being thereto advised by the 
Eastern Association of Fairfield County, Do unanimously give to said J. Bella- 
my, who had been preaching the gospel among them for about one year and 
three months, a call to settle among them in the work of the Ministry. 

"March 12. He accepts the call. Mar. 27. A day of fasting and prayer 
previous to the ordination is attended, and the chh. is gathered. 

" April 2. The said J. B. was ordained to the work of the ministry and had 
the chh. and people of Bethlem committed to his care." 

The church, at its organization, contained forty-four members, 
twenty males and twenty-four females, and in the list is probably 
found nearly or quite all the names of the fourteen families, which 
Dr. Bellamy found there in 1738. 

There is also a brief history of the church for the first fifteen years, 
by Dr. Bellamy, in the ministerial records to which allusion has al- 
ready been made, which for the great interest attached to it is deemed 
worthy of a place in this volume. It explains itself. 

"A brief and faithful account of the success of the Gospel in Bethlem from 
the year 1738, and on — 

"In the year 1738, in the Beginning of November, the publick Worship of 
God was set up in (yt part of the North Purchase afterwards called) Bethlem ; 
&" the first fruits of the gos])el very soon appeared ; The place was new and 
small, of but four years standing, and consisting of but fourteen families, & yet 
within about half a year, there were nineteen added to the chh. and these 



1 Dr. Bellamy always spelled this word, Bethlem, though in the aot of incorpora- 
tiou it is Betlilehem. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT TVOODBURY. 243 

chiefly yonng persons, a number of whom to this day continue to give good 
evidence tliat they were savingly converted. Some of the first sermons preach- 
ed in this ])lace had a visible effect uyion many of y^ people, especially npou 
youth — they soon became serious, left oil spending their leisure hours in vanity, 
& gave themselves to reading, meditation *fc secret prayer — and not long after, 
some appeared to be under deep anil thorough conviction of sin, eV the concern 
was so great & general, that some weeks, altho' the people were so few, the 
place so small, yet almost every day, there were some going to their spiritual 
guide for direction & some time after were enlightened and comforted. But the 
religious impressions began to wane off in the Spring and Summer following, 
A. D. 1739, and some fell away to their former carelessness, and by a conten- 
tion that fell out in the Winter of 1G39, 40, serious Godliness was almost ban- 
ished and hid in obscurity. It was confined to the closet & maintained but by 
a very few there, and the preacht gospel seemed wholly unsuccessful — the gen- 
erality of people in a deep sleep of security. 

" In the fall of 1740, a little after Mr. AVhitefield preacht through the country 
& in the Winter & Sjiring & Summer following, religion was again greatly re- 
vived & llourisht wonderfully. Every man, woman, and child, about 5 or 6 
years old lV upwards were under religious concern, more or less. Quarrels 
were ended, and frolicks flung up. Praying meetings began & matters of re- 
ligion were all the talk. The tiniversal concern about religion in its height, 
many were seemingly converted, but there were false comfort & experiences 
among the rest which laid a foundation, 

(1) For false religion to rise & prevail (2) Many that were beat down, some 
fell into a melancholy, sour Irame of spirit, bordering on desjiair, & others into 
carnal security ; and the truly Godly seemed to be but a very few! And now 
very trying times follow, for (l)a number of the more elderly people being am- 
bitious & having a grudge at each other are continually fomenting contention, 
strife and division about society affairs, (2) A number of the middle aged stand 
up for false religion & plead for the sei^eratists, (3) A number of the younger 
sort set themselves so set up frolicking & serving the flesh — true piety & serious 
Godlines, are almost banished — this is a summary view of things from 1740 to 
1750, i\: much so has it been in other places." 

" 1750. In the spring the anger of the Lord began to burn hot against this 
people for all their abominations l\; he sent a destroying Angel among them, 
who slew about thirty of tliem & filled the place with great distress — The ner- 
vous fever, very malignant, spread & prevailed, 4 or 5 months. The well were 
not suiOcient to tend the sick. Some died stupid, some in dreadful despair, 
some comfortably, vS^ one in special dyed as she had lived like a shining Chris- 
tian. But for all this, the residue turned not to the Lord. 1753. However, in 
some things, a reformation followed ; for after the sickness, the contentious dis- 
positions, the seperate sj)irit &; the rude frolicking temper did not appear as be- 
fore, & they became in a good measure a peaceable, orderly people." 

In October, 1750, a petition from the committee of the society in- 
formed the General Assembly that a " mortal distemper has carried off 
30 persons, generally in the prime of life, to the grave, and people 
have been called off from their common business" to attend the sick. 



244 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

They therefore asked to be released from paying " County rates," 
which Avas granted. 

In a former chapter, the baptismal, or half-way covenant was ex- 
plained. It was not universally received in Connecticut. And in 
those places where it had prevailed, soon after the " Great Awaken- 
ing," it began to fall into general disuse. Dr. Bellamy was one of 
the first to set his face against it. Accordingly, Ave find upon the 
records of his church the following : 

" Upon the publishing of Mr. Edward's Book on tlie Sacrament (1750), this 
Practice was laid aside, as not warranted by the holy scriptures — there being 
•no other scriptural owning of the covenant, but what implies a profession of 
Godliness." 

Thus Avas this practice removed from his OAvn church, and he con- 
tinued to use his influence against it elscAvhere, whenever occasion 
offered. He also published a pamphlet against it. 

The " Seperatists," referred to by Dr. Bellamy, in the preceding 
sketch, were a body of religionists that sprung out of the several 
established societies, in consequence of Avhat is called by some the 
" Great Awakening," and by others the " Old and New Light" time, 
between the years 1740 and 1750. The " New Lights" were active 
and zealous in the discharge of every thing which they conceived to 
be their religious duty, and were in favor of Mr. "Whitefield and 
others, who were itinerating through the country, preaching and stir- 
ring up the people* to repentance and reform. The " Old Lights" 
considered much of their zeal as Avild-fire, and endeavored to suppress 
it. The contention betAveen these tAvo parties grew so bitter, that 
those Avho were of the " New Light" party, withdrcAV and fbrmed 
separate churches from those of the standing order. Hence they 
were called " Separates," or " Separatists." 

In 1740 and 1741, was witnessed the greatest revival of religion 
that has ever been known in this country. Its influence Avas all- 
absorbing, and an earnest concern about the things of religion and the 
eternal Avorld Avas prevalent throughout Ncav England. All conver- 
sation, in all kinds of company, and on all occasions, except about 
religious matters, and the future AA'elfare of the soul in another world, 
was throAvn by. All hearts seemed to be actuated by one feeling, and 
no more attention Avas paid to their Avorldly affairs than Avas absolute- 
ly necessary. They croAvded the houses of their ministers. They 
wished to have meetings held a large portion of the time. Scarcely 
a person in the tOAvns affected by this revival, young or old, Avas left 
unconcerned about this religious interests, and those who had been 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 245 

previously scoffers at religion, were the first to become " believers." 
"In many places, people would cry out in time of public worship un- 
der a sense of the overbearing guilt and misery, and the all-consum- 
ing wrath of God, due to them for their iniquities ; others would 
faint and swoon under the affecting views which they had of Christ ; 
some w^ould weep and sob, and there would sometimes be so much 
noise among the people in particular places, that it was with difficulty 
that the pi'eacher could be heard." In some few instances, it seems. 
^hat the minister was not allowed to finish his discourse, there was so 
much crjTug out and disturbance. 

There is no doubt that this revival was of great importance to the 
cause of true religion, and on the whole greatly advanced its interests. 
The state of society was very much benefited by its infiuence. But 
there were very great excesses and improprieties committed by heat- 
ed and over-zealous persons during its continuance, which were pro- 
ductive of very unhappy effects. Bodily agitations and outcries 
were encouraged by Davenport and others, and pronounced unmis- 
takeable signs of conversion. These men pretended to know by 
some divine perception communicated to them from above, who were 
true Christians and who were not ; and not unfrequently w^ould pub- 
licly declare other ministers of the gospel unconverted, who to all ap- 
pearance, were men of as much grace and piety, at least, as them- 
selves. These proceedings gave rise to many errors, which sprang 
up in the churches. They did not seem to follow truth, or reason, or 
indeed any fixed rules of conduct, but were wholly governed by in- 
ward impulses, pretending, as before mentioned, to know the state of 
men's hearts by some spiritual instinct, quicker and surer than the 
old common sense, Bible process of learning the state of the heart 
from a man's character and conduct in life. " Another phenomenon 
of the times," says Dr. Bacon in his " Historical Discourses," was the 
class of itinerating ministers, who either having no charge of their 
own, or without call, forsaking their proper fields of labor, went up and 
down in the land making their own arrangements and appointments, 
and operating in ways which tended more to disorganize than to build 
up the churches. I do not mean such men as Wheelock, Pomeroy. 
Bellamy and Edwards himself, who went where they were invited, and 
calculated to demean themselves everywhere with Christian courtesy 
and propriety, and whose preaching wherever they went — certainly 
the two latter — was much better than the preaching of Whitefield, for 
every purpose but popular excitement. I mean those men of far infe- 
rior qualifications, who, moved by an unbalanced excitement, or by 



246 HISTORY OF ANCIENT ■WOODBURY. 

the ambition of making a noise, or by the irksomeness of regular and 
steady toil, " shot madly" from their appropriate spheres, if they had 
any, and went wherever they could find or force a way among the 
churches, sjH'eading as they went, denunciation, calumny, contention, 
spiritual pride and confusion." 

Mr. Bellamy, and Mr. Graham, of Southbury society, favored the 
work then going on, and spent much time in preaching in all parts of 
the colony. They were very popular, and their labors were gener- 
ally acceptable to their brethren, and useful to the people. They 
were not noisy preachers, but grave, sentimental, searching and pun- 
gent.^ 

In 1741, a council of ministers from all parts of the colony met at 
Guilford, and jjassed A'arious resolutions relating to the existing state 
of affairs, one of which pronounced it disorderly "for a minister to 
enter into another ministei^'s parish and preach, or administer the 
seals of the covenant, without the consent of, or in opposition to the 
settled minister of the parish." This was followed by an act on the 
part of the General Assembly, in May, 1742, prohibiting any ordained 
or licensed minister to preach or exhort, in any society not under his 
care, without the invitation of the settled minister, and a major part 
of the church and society, on pain of being excluded from the benefit 
of the law for the support of the ministry; also to prohibit any one, 
not a settled or ordained minister, from going into any parish to teach 
and exhort the people, without like permission, on penalty of being 
bound to good behavior ; and there was a further clause, that if any 
foreigner, whether licensed to preach or not, should offend in this par- 
ticular, he should be sent as a vagrant, by warrant, from constable to 
constable, out of the colony. This was entitled " an act for regula- 
ting abuses and coi'recting disorders in ecclesiastical affairs." 

This law was aimed at the whole movement, in order to discoun- 
tenance and overthrow it. Notwithstanding this, two associations 
bore witness to the " Awakening" as a glorious work of God. These 
were the association of Windham county, and the association of the 
eastern district of Fairfield country. In the latter district, were the 
four ministers from the four societies of Woodbury, viz : Anthony 
Stoddard, of the first, John Graham, of the second, Joseph Bellamy, 
of the third, and Reuben Judd, of the fourth, who were present, and 
bore affirmative testimony. 

1 Dr. Trumbull. 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 247 

Dr. Bellamy's church also, in reference to this law, had a meeting, 
and passed the following vote : 

"June IS, 1742. At a church meeting unanimously voted and agreed, that 
whereas an act prohibiting the ministers of Christ preaching in another minis- 
ters parish without the consent of the major part of the church there, as well 
as of the minister has been passed by our GenI Assembly : 

" Voted by the Ch of Christ in Bethlehem A general and universal invitation 
to all approved, orthodox preachers and ministers of the gospel, that manifestly 
appear friends to the present religious concern in the land, tliat they would, as 
they have opportunity, come in to the help of the Lord among us. The same 
publicly concurred with by tlie pastor." 

We can gain a slight conception of the difficulties which surround- 
ed the first settlei's of this society, by the prices paid for provisions, 
and other articles necessary for sustaining life, and later from the ex- 
treme difficulty which attended the building of a second meeting- 
house. In 1747, Mr. Bellamy's salary was £190, payable in wheat , 
at 12s. per bushel, rye at 95. and Indian corn at 7s. per bushel. In i 
1754, we learn by a vote of the society that " 27 shillings were paid / 
for a Lock & Kee for the Meeting House." The settlers here, as in 
the " ancient society" were hardy, enterprising, self-denying men, and 
nearly all of them were of large stature, and athletic frames. Their 
traits of character are indicated by tlieir readiness to encounter the 
labors, perils and privations to which they were subjected in the set- 
tlement of the wilderness. The men of the present day may smile at 
the idea of our fathers thinking so much of a journey from the sea- 
coast, or even from "Woodbury to Betlilem, as we are told they did. 
But they forget the obstacles and dangers they had to encounter. 
They forget that there were then no public roads ; no vehicles which 
could be employed for the transportation of their goods. Tliere were 
no steamboats, nor railroads, running with the swiftness of the wind 
in all directions. The first females, as well as the males, went on 
foot, or on horseback, througlt a trackless wilderness, guided by marks 
upon the trees, or feeling their way wherever they could find room 
to pass. In the midst of the first drear winter, their provisions gave 
out, and the inhabitants had to take their way througli tlie pathless 
forests to the older settlements for food to sustain themselves during 
the remaining Avinter months. Samuel and John Steele went to 
Farmington with a hand-sled, and returned loaded with ears of corn 
for their pressing necessities. The men of the present day can not 
imagine the dangers and difficulties that surrounded those early 
pioneers, exposed to all the perils and privations of the interior for- 
ests. But they were men fearing God, and putting their trust in His 



248 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

promises. That fourteen families in the wilderness, before they had 
had time to provide for their own pressing wants, should undertake 
to support a preacher of the gospel, shows the enduring confidence, 
the lofty trust of those men of iron nerve. 

It is related that the first currant bushes ever planted in this society 
were brought from Guilford, by a Mrs. Parks, on horseback. So in 
the first society, the first elm tree ever set out was used as a whip to 
drive a horse from Stratford to Woodbui'y. It was employed by an 
ancestor of the late Reuben Walker, for the purpose indicated, and 
then stuck down in a wet place north of John Bacon's house. It be- 
came in time the enormous tree so well knov.'n to the inhabitants of 
the town, which was struck by lightning about two years ago, and so 
much injured that it has since fallen down. That tree had watched 
over the town as a sentinel through all its varying interests — through 
prosperity and adversity — and it is a pity it could not have been pre- 
served as a matter of historical interest. 

The first house in the society after a time was deemed too small 
for its accommodation. Accordingly on the 4th of January, 1764, 
when there were about one hundred within its limits that paid taxes, 
they voted to build a second church. On the 28th of the next month, 
they voted again to build the house, " and to begin and go on moder- 
ately and Little by Little." At the same time it was voted that no 
tax higher than four pence on the pound should be paid at one time, 
till the house was completed. But this was soon violated, and more 
than once they laid a tax of more than Is. on the pound. They then 
adjourned for the purpose of viewing a place of Jocation, and set their 
stake " at the north-east corner of Mr. Daniel Thompson's lot, next to 
the Rev. Mr. Joseph Bellamy's House." This location was on the 
common in front of the residence of the late Hon. Joseph H. Bellamy, 
grandson of the pastor. On the 24th of May following, Samuel Jack- 
son, Ai'chibald Kasson and Lieut. John Steele, were chosen building 
committee, to take charge of building the house, on the spot thus 
selected, and approved by the county court ; the house to be " 60 by 
43 feet, and just as high as ye Meeting House in ye old Society." 
Three years later, the society voted to "hire the Meeting House 
raised, and to give each man 4s. per day, that shall raise ye Meeting 
House, they find themselves all but Rhuji, and their wages shall go 
towards their Meeting house Rates." By a vote of the society, Octo- 
ber 20th, 17G8, directing the society's committee to "seat the new 
Meeting House," " and dignify the Pues" therein, we learn when it 
was finished and ready for worship. In December, 1793, a tax of 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 249 

sixpence on the pound was laid to build a steeple, provided money 
enough to purchase a " good decent bell and a Lightning rod" for the 
same should be raised by subscription. Eighty pounds were soon 
subscribed, and the bell was obtained. In September, 1774, the 
society 

" Voted that the singers may sit up Gallery all day, if they please, but to keep 
to their own seat, the men not to inlriiige on the women pues." 

From this it appears, that at this date the old method of performing 
this i)art of divine service by the congregation was not yet dispensed 
with in this society, but for what reason it was necessary to pass a 
solemn vote to keep the males from infringing on the ladies' rights, 
does not appear. 

On the 28th of February, 1764, " the people of Woodbury Farms' 
by their representatives, Barzillai Ilendee, Oliver Atwood and Chris- 
topher Prentiss, petitioned to be admitted into Bethlehem society, and 
were admitted on condition that they would help build a Meeting 
House in Bethlehem center." This request was made as this society 
was the most convenient place at which to attend church. Perhaps 
the fame of the pastor had not a little to do in inducing them to make 
this application to their Bethlehem neighbors. 

As will have been seen by what has preceded, the church in Beth- 
lehem, under the ministrations of Mr. Bellamy, was generally pros- 
perous. There were several occasions of revival of religion, and a 
considerable number of members were added to his church. It is 
not possible now to relate the particulars concerning them, as the 
records of the church throw no light on the subject, and no accounts 
of them have ever been published. 

Rev. Dr. Bellamy, who became so celebrated as a divine, and who 
was in very many respects extraordinary, not only as a minister but 
as a man, was a native of Cheshire, in this state. lie was educated 
at Yale College, and graduated at that institution in 1735, at the age 
of sixteen years. Soon after this he became a religious youth, and 
at the age of eighteen, a minister of the gospel. It was a spectacle 
not often to be met with, at the present day, to see a youth of eight- 
een years, traveling from j)lace to place, and preaching to the ac- 
ceptance of his hearers, in the various Congregational pulpits of this 
state. In this manner he itinerated for about four years, as he was 
not settled in Bethlehem till he was about twenty-two years of age. 



1 Litchfield South Farms probably. 

17 



250 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

For two of these years, however, he spent the hirger part of the time 
in this society, as he was engaged to supply the pulpit during the 
season of the " winter privilege." In 1740, he was regularly settled 
over the church ; but at that time, the " Great Awakening" having 
attained its height, and Mr. Bellamy's heart and mental powers being 
, enlisted in it, having procui'ed a suoply for his own pulpit, he went 
\ everywhere he was invited, preaching especially in places where 
there was a "revival." His labors were much blessed, wherever he 
went, especially to the people of the new and small parish of his 
usual abode. " When that revival began to be marred by wildness 
and disoi'der, the prudent young minister retired to his little church, 
and here, with few books, and with small opportunity for improve- 
ment by association with men, he bent himself to a course of study, 
which resulted in attainments in the science of theology, which gave 
him rank among the great divines of every country and every age. 
He never displayed, nor tried to display himself, as a general scholar. 
In theology, he read deeply, but more deeply thought. Vigilant to 
defeat error, he was sagacious and powerful to refute it. His two 
great companions in this country ..-ere Edwards and Burr. His 
principal foreign correspondent was Rev. John Erskine, D. D., of 
Edinburgh. Human nature — men in their varieties — he knew re- 
markably well. But the action of his mighty intellect in retirement, 
contributed mainly to his greatness." At the age of thirty, he pub- 
lished his gi-eatest work, " True Religion Delineated." At forty- 
eight, in 1768, he was made doctor in divinity by the University of 
Aberdeen. In May, 1762, he preached the " P^lection Sermon" to the 
Assembly. When he was about twenty years of age, the Rev. Jon- 
athan Edwards, Jr., of Northampton, published an able and interest- 
ing work on the qualifications for church membership. The object 
of the book was to overthrow the practice of the half-way covenant 
in the churches, and to abolish the use of baptism and the Lord's 
Supper, as converting ordinances. Before the book appeared, Mr. 
Bellamy, though living in a region where the practice was prevalent, 
dissented from it, and had prepared and preached to his peo[)le a 
sermon agreeing in sentiment with the Northampton publication. 
As soon as the book came to hand, he was so much interested in it, 
that he immediately set out to find its author. Arriving at Mr, Ed- 
wards' house on Saturday, and acquainting Iiim with the fact of his 
being a licentiate, he was invited to stay, and preacli a part of the 
next day. In the forenoon he preached that sermon. During its 
delivery, Mr. Edwards was seen to be much interested and excited, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AVOODBURY. 251 

and constantly bending forward to get a full view of the young man's 
face. When the service closed, and the " great congregation" were 
retiring, the two ministers were seen in the midst of them, engaged 
and lost in earnest conversation. Indeed they had gone some dis- 
tance from the door, before either discovered that Mr. Edwards had 
forgotten to take his hat. 

Dr. Bellamy was a large and well built man, of a commanding ap- 
pearance, lie had a voice of great power and compass. lie could 
fill the largest house with the utmost ease, and without any forced 
elevation. He possessed a truly great mind, generally i)reached 
without notes, and having some great point of doctrine or practice to 
establish, would keep close to his point, till he had clearly and fully 
illustrated it, in the most clear, ingenious and pungent manner, care- 
fully making some striking application. So well was he acquainted 
with the various matters, things, and business of common life, that 
he had a vast storehouse o-' imagery to draw from, suitable to his 
hearers of every class. " ^ reaching once to farmers, the docti-ine 
that, in man, sin is indigenous, but holiness is the product of grace, 
he said, ' Hin is bent-grass, holiness, herds-grass.'" " AVhen he felt 
well, and was animated by a large and attentive audience, he preached 
incomparably ; though he paid little attention to language, yet when 
he became warm with the subject, he would, from the native vigor 
of his soul, produce the most commanding strokes of eloquence, mak- 
ing his audience alive. There is nothing to be found in his writings, 
though a great and able divine, to be compared with what was seen 
and heard in his pi'eaching." His pulpit talents exceeded all his 
other gifts. It is difficult for us of the present day, who have never 
heard him, or perhaps any like him, by the description we have from 
those who did hear him, to form any just idea of the power and 
beauty of his preaching. 

The following extract from Dr. McEwen's Centennial Discourse 
at the Litchfield County Consociation anniversary, will illustrate a 
trait in Mr. Ikdlamy's character : 

" He became early in his ministerial life, a teacher in theology ; and at Beth- 
lem, for years, he kept the principal school in the United States, to jirepare 
young men for the ministry. The great body of the living fathers in this pro- 
fession, who adorned the closing part of the eighteenth century, were his pu- 
pils. A volume of anecdotes, related by them concerning his teaching, and 
discipline, and his domestic habits, might be collected. He reigned as a sove- 
reign in his school : still the members of it venerated and loved him. His crit- 
icisms were characterized by sarcasm and severity. Dr. Levi Hart — who ul- 
timately married his daughter — said that he observed that Dr. Bellamy allowed 



252 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUHY. 

himself great latitude in expressing the faults of the first sermon preached by a 
candidate. When Hart's turn came, he said, that he determined that his ser- 
mon should be faultless. A lecture was appointed for him, at a small ho\Jse in 
a remote part of the parish, and the procession started on horseback ; the 
preacher at the doctor's right hand, and the sirs, two and two, in due order, 
following. The sermon, on delivery, seemed to Hart better than he expected, 
and raised him above fear from remarks of his teacher. The troop remounted 
for their return. The whole body of rear riders pressed as closely as possible 
to the two leaders, to hear what might be said by the chief in wisdom and au- 
thority. The doctor talked on ditferent subjects, and the orator of the day said 
that his fears of criticism diminished at every step, until he triumphed in the 
conviction that he had silenced the wily remarker. When near home, they 
passed a field of buckwheat! The stem was large, reaching to the toj) of the 
fence, but there was no seed. ' Hart,' the doctor exclaimed loudly, ' you see 
that buckwheat ? There is your sermon.' One student in the school, had the 
tact to ask crotchical questions. In the midst of a favorite discussion of the 
teacher, he was brought up by one of these annoying interrogatories. ' Nat 
Niles,' said the speaker, ' I wish you was dead.' These pupils, long after they 
iiad entered the pastoral life, said that some of Mr. Bellamy's playful reproofs 
Ar*d commendations were true prophecy. In the presence of his family and 
school, on one occasion, he said. Some years hence I shall take a journey. 
Coming into a parish, where I shall be a stranger, I shall stop at a tavern. 
When the landlady is pouring the tea, I shall inquire, ' Who is your minister .'' 
'Mr. Benedict,' her reply will be. 'Mr Benedict! What Benedict .'' 'Mr. 
Joel Benedict,' she will answer. ' What sort of a man is he.'' I shall ask. 'Oh, 
he is a prudent, good minister; he gives great satisl'action to this people.' I 
shall, the doctor remarked, be glad to hear this, and shall journey home. 

" Some time after this, as we are sitting here by the fire, a man will come 
in, and say, ' Does Mr. Bellamy live here.'' 'Yes, sir, lam the man.' The 
stranger will proceed, ' I live away up the country — was coming down to Con- 
•necticut, and the committeeof our parish told me, that I must get a candidate ; 
if I did not hear of one, I must call on Dr. Bellamy, for information.' I, said 
ahe doctor, shall inquire, 'Who, sir, was your last minister?' 'Mr. Niles.' 
■^ What Mr. Niles?' 'Mr. Nathaniel Niles.' I, said the doctor to his wife, 
•shall turn to you and say, ' Nat Niles is dead.' ' Oh no,' the man will rei)ly, 
' he has turned infidel.'"' 

He was married twice. The name of his first wife was Frances 
Sherman, of New Haven, whom he married about the year 1744, 
and who died in 1785, aged sixty-two years. In 1786, he married 
Mrs. Storrs, widow of Rev. Andrew Storrs, of Watertown. One 
year after this, he was prostrated by j)aralysis, and after hinguishing 
three years, he died March Gth, 1790, in the seventy-second year of 



1 This sketch of Dr. Bellamy is taken principally from Dr. Trumbull's History of 
Connecticut, and Dr. McE wen's discourse at the Centennial Anniversary of the North 
4Xid South Consociations, at Litchfield, 1852. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 253 

' his age, and the fiftieth of his ministry, after liis regular settlement 
in Bethlehem.' Two of his children died before him — Jonathan, a 
young lawyer, who was a soldier of the revolution, and Rebecca, the 
wife of Rev. Levi Hart, of Preston. David, his son, lived to a good 
old age in his native place. The late lamented Hon. Joseph H. Bel- 
lamy, was the son of the latter, and named after his distinguished 
grandfather. After Dr. Bellamy's death, his library was advertised 
for sale, and there was a large attendance of the clergy in the neigh- 
borhood at the auction, in order to secure some of his valuable books. 
But their disappointment may be imagined, when on examination, it 
was found to be made up, principally, of the publications of infidels 
and heretics. The good man sleeps among his people, and the cem- 
etery of Bethlem is honored with his sacred dust. 

After the death of Mi\ Bellamy, a Rev. Mr. Collins supplied the 
pulpit for a time, and received a call from the church and society to 
settle among them ; but although they offered him a settlement, of 
$900, and an annual salary of !$t)00 more, yet he did not, for some 
reason, think proper to accept it. 

In 1791, Rev. Azel Backus received a call from this church, which 
he accepted, and was installed on the 6th of April in that year. He 
■was dismissed in October, 1812, that he might accept the presidency 
of Hamilton College. He remained in this situation till December 
9th, 1817, when he was removed from his useful labors, by the hand 
of death, aged fifty-three years. During his residence in Bethlem, 
in addition to his pastoral labors, he established and instructed a 
school, and acquired a distinguished reputation as a man of science, 
and an instructor of youth. This undoubtedly procured for him his 
appointment as pi*esident of the college. He was distinguished for 
remarkable vigor of mind. He was both respected and beloved by 
his pupils. He was not only an able divine, but also eminent for his 
social virtues, the mildness of his disposition and the complacency of 
his temper. 

The church under Dr. Backus' care was highly prosperous. In 



1 The origin of Sabbatli Schools, and the name of their founder, has always been a 
matter of interesting inquiry to the friends of those nurseries of morality and religion. 
It is deemed proper to state a fact here, which there is no reason to doubt, that Dr. 
Bellamy had a Sabbath school in his church from the beginning. The school was 
composed of two classes, the eldest instructed by Dr. Bellamy himself in the Bible, 
from which they learned portions, and were questioned upon them, and the second 
class studied the " Assembly's Catechism," under the instruction of a deacon, or some 
other prominent member of the church. — Dr. Hooker'' s Discourse at Litchfield, 1852. 



254: HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

1792, the second year of his ministry, eighteen were added to it ; in 
1800, eighteen more, and in 1808, twenty. In 1815, while the 
church was without a pastor, seventeen were added. During the la- 
bors of Mr. Langdon, the third minister, in the years 1821 and 1822, 
forty-two members were received, and twenty-three in 1824. Dur- 
ing the last year of Mr. Couch's ministry, in 1834, thirty-eight mem" 
bers were added to the church, and numbers more in other years. 

Perhaps the sketch of Dr. Backus could be closed in no better 
way, than by an extract from Dr. McEwen's Discourse, so frequently 
quoted in these pages. After having given a sketch of Dr. Bellamy, 
he goes on to say : 

" Tliis unique pastor of the church in Bethlem was succeeded in office by a 
man quite as extraordinary, and oflittle less celebrity. The Rev. Azel Backus 
was ordained pastor in the year 1791. Comparisons are said to be odious ; but 
odious or not, these two men, occupying in succession the same station, chal- 
lenging attention and admiration — and as unlike as two good and mighty men 
could be — have inevitably been compared with each other. A pious and aged 
negro in the church, was asked how he liked Mr. Backus, the pastor, and 
whether he thought him equal to Mr. Bellamy. His reply immortalized him- 
self, and his two ministers. 'Like Master Backus very much — great man, 
good minister, but not equal to Master Bellamy. Master Backus make God 
big ; but Master Bellamy make God bigger.' " 

" Soon after his settlement, Mr. Backus preached one of his poignant, 
awful sermons in a neighboring parish. A hearer, alarmed for the 
young preacher, asked him, ' Mr. Backus, dare you preach such 
sermons as this at home in Bethlem ?' ' Yes,' he replied, ' I am 
obliged to preach there in this style ; the people have been so long 
kicked and spurred by Dr. Bellamy, that they will not feel gentle 
preaching at all ; this sermon which you have heard is a mere hazel 
switch ; when I am at home I use a sled-stake.' Neither his wit, nor 
even his drollery, could he keep out of the pulpit. His preaching was 
of the most popular kind. The effect, however, of some of the most 
touching sermons which were ever delivered, was diminished by this 
contraband article, which he perhaps unconsciously smuggled in. He 
could weep whenever he pleased — in the pulpit or out of it — and 
make others weep more frequently than any man whom I ever 
saw. He could not refrain from tears ; his quickest and most profuse 
sensibility was religious. Almost every occurrence reminded him of 
human depravity, and the peril of the soul — of divine grace — its 
mercy and richness ; and lo, his head was waters, and his eyes a 
fountain of tears. He could laugh himself — a passion and power he 
had for making others laugh. lie could take a joke, but woe to the 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 255 

man who gave it. If in any particulars he excelled Dr. Bellamy, he 
did in repartee, and in the delineation of character. When he 
preached his unrivaled election sermon, in which he portrayed the 
demagogue from the words of Absalom, ' Oh, that I were made judge 
in the land,' &c., his classmate, Gideon Granger, said to him, as he 
came from the pulpit, ' Backus, had I known what was coming, I 
should have stood up.' Down to this day, the parish of Bethlem 
continued to be of moderate size ; his salary was not large, and was 
quite insufficient to meet the wants of a man of his generosity and 
hospitality. lie instructed a few individual candidates for the minis- 
try in theology ; but his great expedient for eking out a livelihood, 
and for serving elficiently his generation, was that of iitting youth for 
college. In teaching Latin and Greek, and in disciplining boys of 
every grade and constitution, he had unborrowed tact, and unrivaled 
success. In this employment, of so little pretension for a great man, 
he became renowned. From the north and the south, young candi- 
dates for public education flocked to his house; and there many a twig 
was so bent that it is now a tree, stately and prolific. With whom 
the instructor was the most i)opular, it were ditficult to say, the pu- 
pils, the parents, or the faculty of college. Gen. Wade Hampton, of 
South Carolina, placed his sons there, visited them and saw the scanty / 
resources, and the devices and labors of the great man for a living ; 
and the general inquired of the doctor why he did not avail himself 
of owning and cultivating land. The reply was, ' Land can not be 
procured.' ' Whose lot is that ?' said Hampton, pointing to a fine 
mowing-field adjacent to the clergyman's garden. ' Mr. Bellamy's,' 
was the answer. ' Is Mr. Bellamy fond of land ?' the inquirer 
added. ' Not very,' said Backus ; ' he only wants that which joins 
him.' After the visitor had left and gone homeward, a letter came 
back, inclosing a deed of the mowing-field. Tfiough David Bellamy 
was reluctant to let Backus have his land, even for money, still as 
neighbors, and as minister and parishioner, they lived on excellent 
terms. Bellamy took the large newspapers — did not read them — but 
on their arrival, sent them over to Backus. His duty, delight and 
glory it was, to keep his patron well posted up in the news." 

" The personal appearance of Dr. Backus was impressive and win- 
ning. Not tall, but of rotund and well-proportioned figure, a massive 
head, a face expressive of sensibility, benignity and intelligence. 
After Dr. John Mason had made his first circuit about New Eng- 
land, he was asked what he thought of the clergy of that section of 
country. His answer was, ' I did not see any men of great learning, 



256 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

but I saw one man, who had half a bushel of brains.' That was Azel 
B.iekus. He was a native of Franklin, in this state ; the son of a 
widow, who married a man distinguished neither for industry, pru- 
dence nor probity. After Azel had become a man of note, some new 
acquaintances inquired of him, ' You are the son of Dr. Backus, of 
Somers ?' ' No,' he replied ; ' he was my uncle. I was the son of 

Bill ,' mentioning the name of his stepfather — 'he married my 

mother and lived on her farm.' ' How did he educate you ?' 
' Took me with him to steal hoop-poles,' was the remainder of the 
colloquy. He was educated at Yale College — graduated 1737 — re- 
ceived the degree of D. D. from Nassau Hall — was removed from 
his charge in Bethlem to become President of Hamilton College, in 
1813, where, three years afterward, of acute disease he died, not an 
old man. The warmth and humility of his piety appeared, as it pre- 
viously did, at the last moment of life. When told that he was dying, 
he could not be prevented from throwing himself from his bed upon 
his knees, that with his last breath he might commit to God his de- 
parting spirit." 

After the dismission of Dr. Backus in 1812, the church gave invi- 
tations successively to Rev. Messrs. Zephaniah Swift, Cyrus Yale 
and Caleb J. Tenney, who did not accept the call made. In Janua- 
ry, 1816, a call was tendered to Rev. John Langdon, who accepted 
it and was ordained June IGth, 1816. He was dismissed in June, 
1825, at his own request, on account of ill health, and died February 
28th, 1830, aged forty years. He graduated at Yale College, in 
1809, and was a tutor in that institution from 1811 to 1815. He 
was characterized by a sound, well-disciplined and well-furnished 
mind — by love of study, great decision, and pious devotion to his 
work, amid many infirmities. A residence of five years with his 
former church, after he had ceased to be their pastor, was marked 
with many substantial tokens of their love and confidence. " Few 
churches, if any, ever received from Zion's King, three pastors in 
succession, so distinguished as Drs. Bellamy and Backus, and Mr. 
Langdon.'" 

Rev. Benjamin F. Stanton, the fourth pastor, was installed De- 
cember, 1825, and dismissed, at his own request, March 4th, 1829. 
Rev. Paul Couch, a graduate of Dartmouth College, in 1823, the fifth 
pastor, was installed October, 1829, and dismissed, at his own request, 
November, 1834. Rev. Fosdick Harrison was ordained sixth pas- 

1 Rev. Mr. Yale's Discourse. 



\ 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 257 

tor, July 22d, 1835 ; closed his labors with the church March 1st, 
1849, and was dismissed, June 4th, 1850. He is now preaching at 
North Guilford, in this state. In 1815, Yale College conferred on 
him the honorary degree of master of arts. 

In 1850, the i)resent pastor, Aretus G. Loomis, was installed over 
the church and people. 

The following is as correct a list of those who have held the office 
of deacon in this church, as the records show: 

Jabez Whittlesey, 1740. Ebeiiezer Perkins, 25th April, 1799. 

Jonathan Kelsey, " Myar H. Bronson, 1S15. 

Hezekiah Hooker, Jonathan Smith, 

Ens. Samuel Strong, 2.5th Dec, 175.'3. Nehemiah Lambert, 10th July, 1S2I. >, 

David Hawley, 4th November, 1750. Phineas Crane, 20th February, 1S25. 

Archibald Kasson, 3Ist March, 1775. Adam C. Kasson, 14th February, IbVA. 

Oliver Parmelee, 1st March, 1784. Joshua Bird, 26th December, lb3'J. 

Richard Ganisey, 10th January, 17'J2. John N. Crane, 2tjth December, 1S39. 

Benjamin Frisbie, 

As early as September, 1781, the society voted their desire to be 
set oft' as a separate town, and appointed Daniel Everit, Esq., to pre- 
fer a memorial to the General Assembly for that purpose. At a 
town meeting, held April 18th, 1782, Woodbury voted to oppose 
this application, and appointed Col. Increase Moseley and Hezekiah 
Thompson, Esq., agents to attend the session of the Assembly, for 
the purpose of opposition. The application fjiiled, and no further 
movement was made till the May session, 178G, when the society 
appointed Robert Crane and David Bird, agents for the purpose of 
pressing an application for a new town on the attention ofthe Assem- 
bly. The apj)lication, which stated the list to be £11,000, and the 
number of families 250, was continued to the October session, pre- 
vious to which, they obtained a vote in town meeting, 173 to 153, 
that the town should not oppose the ap])lication, on condition the 
petitioners should pay their proportion of the debts of the town. 
The application did not, however, for some reason, succeed at that 
session, but next year. May, 1787, the society at Bethlehem was 
duly incorporated into a town of the same name, but by an error in 
the transcriber, it was written Bethlem, and has been so wi'itten ever 
since. 

In 183G, the present Congregational church, the third since the 
organization ofthe society, was built, and the church met for the last 
time in the old edifice, April 10th, 1836, which had now reached the 
advanced age of sixty-eight years. 



258 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

The other incidents connected with the new town having been con- 
sidered in connection with the history of the " ancient town" as a 
whole, will not be repeated here. 

Bethlem is a small town, its average length being four and a half 
miles, and its breadth four miles. Its population by the census of 
1850, was 815. It is almost wholly an agricultural town, its soil be- 
ing fertile, with little waste land. It has, however, one woolen man- 
ufactory, two wagon shops, three saw-mills, one grist-mill, three cider 
distilleries, one blacksmith's shop, one shoemaker's shop, and three 
mercantile stores. It also has two churches, a town hall, a flourish- 
ing lyceum, two ministers and one* physician. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

HISTORY OF JUDEA AND NEW PRESTON ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIE- 
TIES, AND TOWN OF WASHINGTON. 

1739 TO 1S53; Society settled, 17.'I1; Winter Privileges granted, 17.39; 
SociiiTY incorporated, 1741 ; Hev. Kkuben Judd settled, and the church 
gathered, 17'12; List of First Church Members; Rev. Daniel Brins- 
made ordained, 171U ; Kev. Noah Merwin installed, 17'>5; Kev. Dr. 
Ebenezer Porter ordained, 1796; His Character; First Church, 1742; 
Second Church, 1751 — burned in ISOO; Third Church, ISOl ; Admis- 
sions to the Church; Putrid Fever, 1753; Murders and Casualties; 
Rev. Cyrus W, Gray settled, Ibl'S; Kev. Stephen Mason installed, 
1S18 ; Rev. Gordon Hayes settled, 1629; Rev. Ephraim Lyman installed, 
1S52; Revivals; List of Deacons; Winter Privileges granted to New 
Preston, 174S; Society incorporated, 1753; First Church built, 1756; 
Second Church, 1709; Third Church, 1825; Raumaug Church, 1853; 
Church gathered and Rev. Noah Wadhams settled, 1757 ; Rev. Jeremiah 
Day SETTLED, 1770; Rev. Samuel Whittlesey settled, 1^07; Hev. Charles 
A. Boardman settled, 1S18 ; Rev. Robert B. Campfield, lb21 ; Rev. Ben- 
jamin B. Parsons settled, 1S39; Rev. Hollis Read, 1845; Revivals; 
Deacons; Town of Washington incorporated, 1779; Casualties; Pres- 
ent State of the Town. 

The present town of "Washington is made np of territory taken 
from the towns of Woodbury, New Milford, Kent, and Litchfield, and 
is about six miles square. It contains two ecclesiastical societies, 
Judea and New Preston, though not the whole of the latter is in- 
cluded wilhin the town. Judea society embraces all the territory 
taken from Woodbury and Litchfield, and constitutes about two-thirds 
of the extent of the town. But a small portion of this is contributed 
by Litchfield. New Preston embraces all the territory taken from 
Kent and New Milford. In both of these societies are Episcopal 
churches, having houses for religious worship. The first settlement 
in the town was made in Judea society, in 1734, the year this society 
and Bethlehem were divided among the proprietors of Woodbury. 
Joseph Hurlbut was the first settler, and the first framed house was 
built in 1736. The next settlers after Hurlbut were Increase Mose- 



260 HISTORY OF AXCIENT WOODBURY. 

ley, Nathaniel Durkee, John Baker, Friend "Weeks, Joseph Gillett 
and Samuel Pitcher. The first sermon preached in the society was 
by Isaac Baldwin, of Litchfield, who afterward relinquished his pro- 
fession, and became the first clerk of the county court for Litchfield 
county. 

Five years later, the inhabitants had become more numerous, and 
twenty persons preferred a memorial to the General Assembly, at its 
May session, 1739, representing that they lived " full eight miles 
from the Meeting House," and that their wives and children had " to 
tarry at home from the worship of God about half of the year," and 
therefore they pray for " liberty to have preaching six months in the 
winter," and to be released from paying taxes for a new school-house 
just built in the first society, and also from parish taxes, that they 
may build a school-house of their own. The privilege asked for was 
granted, to continue two years, and they were released from one-half 
of the parish taxes, and from taxes to build a new meeting-house, 
provided they were " in no ways Active in the Affair of Building a 
new Meeting House in said first Society."' At the October session, 
1741, twenty-six individuals petitioned to be incorporated into an ec- 
clesiastical society, and appointed " Our Trusty and well-beloved 
friend. Friend Weeks, agent and attorney to prosecute our Petition." 
The petition was signed by Nathaniel Durkee, Jolui Baker, Joseph 
Gillett, Joseph Chittenden, Elisha Stone, Samuel Pitcher, Jr., James 
Pitcher, Increase Moseley, Lemuel Baker, Daniel Castle, Samuel 
Branton, Ezra Terrill, Jr., Ebenezer Allen, Zadock Clark, Elijah 
Hurd, Joseph Ilurd, Joseph Ilurlbut, Benjamin Ingraham, Jr., Rob- 
ert Durkee, Samuel Bell, Jonah Titus, Benjamin Ingraham, John 
Royce, John Hurd, Jr., Jedediah Hurd, Benjamin Hinman. 

Col. Benjamin Hull, John Southmayd, Esq., and Mr. Stephen 
Hopkins, were at once appointed a committee, to inquire into the 
reasonableness of the request, who reported at the same session in 
favor of a new society, with the following boundaries: 

"Beginning att Col" Johnson's line at New Milforcl bounds, and from thence 
Running Eastward in sd ij„e untill it Comes to the line Dividing Between Beth- 
lehem, and the West part of the North Purchase, and thence to Extend North 
to the north line of sd purchase, and thence Westward to New Milford line, and 
thence Southward to the first mentioned place, at the End of Coll. Johnson's 
line at New Milford bounds." 



1 State Archives, Ecclesiastical, vol. 6, index, et seq. 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 261 

The territory thus bounded was immediately, October, 1741, incor- 
porated into an ecclesiastical society, and named "Judcah."' At 
the same session, twenty-four persons petitioned for a land tax of -30s. 
per lot, on the ground that the " inhabitants are fcAV in number, most 
of the territory is uninhabited, and the non-resident owners will not 
sell to settlers." Thirteen non-resident owners also sent in a written 
assent to such a measure, and it was granted for the space of four 
years. 

At the May session, 1742, twenty-six petitioners stated, that they 
had " Unanymously and Lovingly Agreed upon A Place for to Set 
a Meeting House," near the center of the parish, and wished to have 
it confirmed. It was accordingly confirmed without opposition, and 
the house built that year by eight proprietors. 

At the first meeting held in this society, all the inhabitants were 
present, and were accommodated in a small room of Mr. llurlbut's 
dwelling-house. After the organization of the society, Rev. Reuben 
Judd, a graduate of Y:Je College in 1741, was the first minister set- 
tled in it, and was ordained September 1, 1742. The ordination cer- 
emonies took place in a grove, near Mr. Samuel Pitcher's, who then 
resided about half a mile south of the dwelling-house of the late Hon. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. The church was gathered in the same place 
on the same day, and consisted of twelve members whose names 
follow : — Rev. Reuben Judd, Joseph Gillett, Benjamin Ilurd, Dea. 
Increase Moseley, Allen Curtiss, Timothy Hurd, Dea. Josejih Ilurd, 
Joseph Chittenden, John Royce, John Baker, Elijah Hurd, Samuel 
Bell. On the 5th of November succeeding, the following females 
were also received into tlie new church : Deborah Moseley, Ann 
Hurd, Rachel Weeks, Jerusha Baker, Abigail Hurd, Mary Hurd, 
Tabitha Ilurd, Dorcas Royce, Mary Durkee and Esther Durkee. 
From this time to May, 174(5, forty-seven other persons were added 
to the church, making in the whole the number of seventy received 
during Mi\ Judd's ministry. Eighty-one baptisms are recorded in 
the same period. Mr. Judd did not remain in the pastoral ofiice over 
this church quite five years. He was dismissed, May 6, 1747, and 
from writings that remain, his character and the occasion of his dis- 
mission do not distinctly apj)ear. The tradition is, that he was not of 
that good report, that became one in his sacred office. 

It would be a matter of interest to point out the exact location of 
the homesteads of the first settlers, did time and space permit. A 

1 This is the spelHng in the original charter, though it is now always written Judea. 



262 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

few must suffice. Joseph Hurlbut, the first settler, lived a little east 
of where Samuel Frisbie now lives. Increase Moseley, Esq., lived 
near Jolm Smith's dwelling-house ; Nathaniel Durkee, near Samuel 

Clark's ; John Baker, near the new house of Benjamin ; Capt. 

Friend Weeks, near Capt. Smith's ; Joseph Gillett, near Sherman 
Brinsmade's, and Samuel Pitcher about half a mile from Judge Brins- 
made's. Before the ordination of Mr. Judd, besides Mr. Baldwin, 
Rev. Mr. Cowles, of Farmington, Rev. Ebenezer Mills, of Wethers- 
field, Rev. Mr. Meade, of Horse Neck, and Rev. Mr. Case, of New- 
town, who afterward settled at New Fairfield, preached in this so- 
ciety more or less, as they had opportunity. 

In September, 1748, Mr. Daniel Brinsmade was invited to preach 
in this society, as a candidate, and was ordained, March 9, 1749. 
The ministers officiating at the ordination, were Mr. Beebee, Mr. 
John Graham, Dr. Bellamy and Mr. Thomas Canfield. He died 
here, forty-four years and nearly two months after his ordination, 
of pneumonia, April 23, 1793, aged seventy-four years. He gradua- 
ted at Yale College in 1745. He had a clear and comprehensive 
mind, and was a pious and able instructor, but was not distinguished 
for pulpit eloquence, or for laborious preparation for the Sabbath. He 
had a casuistical turn, and was ratlier argumentative in his sermons. 
The want of firm union, so common to new societies, and Mr. Brins- 
made's conscientious and inflexible attachment to the doctrines of 
pure Christianity, occasioned him some difficulties, early in his min- 
istry, which increased and abated, by turns, according to circumstan- 
ces, till the troubles arose which involved the country in the war of 
the Revolution. The unhappy divisions in this society then arose to 
a hi<''h pitch. Almost the entire people became dissatisfied with their 
minister, though no heresy nor scandal was alleged against him. 
This contention finally ceased, after which Mr. Brinsmade was much 
respected till his death, and is still spoken of as a faithful, pious min- 
ister. In the year 1784, the Rev. Noah Merwin, who had been dis- 
missed from Torrington, for want of su])port, was invited to preach. 
With a remarkable unanimity he was installed colleague with Mr. 
Brinsmade, in March, 1785. He died of scirrhous disease in the 
stomach, two years after Mr. Brinsmade, April 12, 1795. Though 
not accustonnMl to diligent study, and close investigation of subjects, 
he was Calvinistic in sentimeat, hud an easy flow of thought, an en- 
gaging address, and treated subjects in a manner so familiar, as to 
please and instruct his hearers. His knowledge of mankind, his af- 
fable and wiiming maimers, gave him more than an ordinary share 



HISTOKY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 263 

of the confidence and affection of liis people. He graduated at Yale 
College in 1773. 

For about seven months after the death of Mr. Merwin, the church 
were supplied by the neighboring ministers, and by Mr. Piatt Bas- 
sett and Aniasa Porter, candidates for settlement. In December, 
1795, Rev. Ebenezer Porter came here and preached the greater 
part of the time till his ordination Sept. 7, 179G. At the ceremony 
of his installation, Rev. Benjamin Wildman offered the introductory 
prayer, Rev. John Smalley, D. D., preached the ordination sermon, 
Rev. Noah Benedict made the consecrating prayer, Rev. Judah Cham- 
pion gave the charge, Rev. Simon Waterman gave the right hand of 
fellowship, and Rev. Jeremiah Day offered the concluding prayer. In 
relation to this*, interesting occasion, and another equally interesting, 
we find on the ministerial records of the church the following entry, 
in Dr. Porter's handwriting : 

" The assembly was large and serious, the day was pleasant, and was to me 
the most solemn ilay of my life. O that the light, and warmth of Divine grace 
IVom the infinite Fountain juay shine into my heart, and influence all my con- 
duct, that I may fulfil this ministry faithfully, find this great work a pleasant 
woik, and be ready, when called to my last account. 

" On the 14th of May, 1797, I was married to Lucy Pierce Merwin, eldest 
daughter of my predecessor, niy age being twenty-four years on the 5th of Oc- 
tober, and hers seventeen years the 31 st Dec. 1796. The marriage covenant 
was administered by Rev. Nathaniel Taylor of New Milford, at the close of 
public exercises on the Sabbath." 

Dr. Porter was dismissed from his pastoral charge, Dec. 18, 1811, 
having been elected Professor of Andover Theological Seminary. 
But the sketch of his life and labors can in no way be better closed, 
than by an extract from the Rev. Cyrus Yale's Discourse at the Con- 
sociation Anniversary at Litchfield in 1852: 

" My instiuetor at Washington — a choice man to head the list of deceased 
[)astors, LOW rapidly to pass before us — was a native of Cornwall, a graduate 
;it Darrnioutli, a student in theology with Dr. Smalley. He was ordained pastor 
ol' ilie eliiiieh in Washington, 179G. Here, for fifteen years, he labored with 
much ardor, ability and success, 'in the glorious Gospel of the blessed God,' 
until invited to a new and broader field of usefulness. At this time of intense 
interest with Dr. Porter, his ill health seemed to give him more prospect of early 
rest in heaven, than of longer toil on earth. Pale and feeble, from recent hem- 
orrhage of lungs, and from low diet by order of anxious physicians, I well re- 
member his cadaverous look, his tremulous, tall form, his slow and careful 
step, his hoarse voice, his irritation of throat, liis avoidance of excitement and 
of company. Yet, he calmly commits his way to the Lord, and the consocia- 
tion is called with the concurrence of his people, to indicate what the mind of 



264 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

the Lord is. That body votes unanimously in favor of his removal to Andover. 
And now, with characteristic courage and resolution, and in firm reliance on 
his pa^t great Helper, the pale invalid ventures to assume the responsibilities 
of a professorship, so high in its demands, that recently, some of our theological 
seminaries have dropped its imposing name, lest it should raise an expectation 
beyond the ability of any mortal to meet. Nor was the solicitude of the new 
professor lessened at all, by a frank and friendly visitor about this time. ' Broth- 
er Porter,' said this honest friend, ' will you step here to the window ?' Point- 
ing to the top of the church steeple on the adjacent green, ' Do you see that 
painter ? He can go up no higher, and is in some danger of falling. In that 
man, brother, I see yourself. You are at the top of the ladder, and may fall.' 
But as the late John Q. Adams, after reaching the dizziest official elevation in 
the gift of his country, or of the world even, actually went up still higher, and 
higher, in true fame and solid worth, so this professor, this ultimate president 
of the Andover Seminary, in the estimate of an admiring J3hristlan public, 
went up far above the height reached, at the time of his tremulous consent to 
succeed the splendid Griffin in the chair of Sacred Rhetoric, in the pioneer in- 
stitution of the kind, not far from the so-called ' Athens of America ' And this 
proud name of New England's metropolis, at the date of Dr. Porter's inaugura- 
tion, reminds us alike of the learning of ancient Athens, and the inscription on 
one of its altars — ' To the Unknown God.' 

'' But the highly useful course of the Bartlett professor, for more than twenty 
years, amid crippling infirmities at every step, shows how much a well-furnish- 
ed, active, resolute mind, seconded by a large and glowing heart, even in a fee- 
ble body, may do for God and his church, with Christ to strengthen and give 
success. 

"I might mention Dr. Porter's love of intense study — fatally intense — his 
strong common sense, his gre<it graphic power : also the entire consecration of 
himself — first to the Christian ministry as a pastor — afterward, to the more dif- 
ficult labor, under God, of training pious young men for the pastoral office at 
home, or for missionary toil and usefulness in heathen lands. But the Chris- 
tian world' has his memoir by a competent hand — a full length portrait — true 
to the original : there is now time to give only the epitome of tlitit memoir — the 
miniature of that picture on the last page of the book. It is taken from the 
monument to his memory in the cemetery of his beloved institution. 

SACRED 

To THE Memory of 

EBENEZER PORTER, D. D., 

Who died 1S34, ageii sixty-two years, 

Was graduated at Dartmouth College, 179-2, 

Ordained as Pastor at Washington, Conn , 171)0, 

Inaugurated as Professor of Sacred Rhetoric in the 

Theological Seaiinary at Andover, 1812, 

Appointed President of the Same, 1S27. 

Of Citltivatkd Understanding, Refined Taste, Solid 

Judgment, Sound Faith, and Ardent Piety ; 

Distinguished for Strict Integrity and Uprightness, Kind 

And Gentle Deportment, Simplicity and Godly Sincerity. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. "265 

A Father to the Institution with which He was 

Connected, 

A Highly Useful Instructor, 

A Zealous Patron of the Benevolent Societies of 

The Times in which he Lived, 

A True Friend to the Temporal and Eternal 

Interests of His Fellow-Beings. 

Living He was Peculiarly Loved and Revered; 

Dying, He was Universally Lamented." 

The first settlers of the society usually met tor public worship in a 
barn. The first church, built in 1742, was a small edifice ; a second 
was raised in 1751, and about 1786, a steeple was added to it, and a 
bell procured. In July, 1800, it was set on fire, by a crazy man, 
named David Titus, but by an early discovery of the fire, and the 
exertions of the people in the neighborhood, the night being calm, 
the flames were extinguished in an hour. On the night of April 30, 
1801, the church was again set on fire by this man, previous to which 
time it had not been disf^-overed that he was guilty of the former mis- 
chief. The fire was put in the steeple, in the middle of the night, 
and the flames had made such progress before it was discovered, that 
no human aid could save it. The witnesses to this sad .scene were 
scarcely able to save the surrounding buildings from the devouring 
element. As no alarm could be given by the bell, that being the 
place of the fire, many of the inhabitants, and some within the dis- 
tance of half a mile, were ignorant of the calamity, until the next 
morning. The following week, at a meeting of the society, it was 
unanimously voted to build another church, and with like unanimity 
they soon agreed on the place of location. With heart and hand, they 
vigorously commenced the work JMay, 1801, and within six months 
from tlie beginning, the building was so far advanced, that the people 
assembled in it on Thanksgiving day, in November following ; and 
within about a year and a half from the first stroke, it was completely 
finished. Although the expense was about six thousand dollars, and 
immediate payment was necessary, yet no person was called on by 
legal process to pay his rate. 

During the first seventy years after the establishment of the church, 
the people of Judea were uniformly prosperous and happy. They 
were never divided — never split into sects — but deservedly acquired 
the reputation of being industrious, orderly and harmonious, with but 
\ one exception. The exception alluded to, was during the last ten 
years of Mr. Brinsmade's ministrations, from 1774 to 1784. This 
was a contention concerning the half-way covenant system, and it is 
18 



266 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 



worthy of notice, that during this whole period of ten years, but three 
members were added to the church. Thus do contentions, even for 
just causes, ever diminish the prosperity of the church. 

With regard to the numbers admitted into the church, and those 
who received baptism, the following entries are given : 

By Mr. Judd, C9 admissions and 81 baptisms. 

By Mr. Brinsmade, 130 " " 306 " 

By Mr. Merwin, 35 " "78 " 

By Dr. Porter, 135 « « 225 " 

During the same time, Mr. Brinsmade celebrated 128 marria- 
ges ; Mr. Merwin, 37 ; Dr. Porter, 86, and the magistrates of the 
society and town, 44; making a total of 295. 

In 1753, a putrid fever prevailed in this society, of which twenty 
or thirty died in six months. In 1776, the dysentery prevailed with 
great mortality. About thirty persons were swept away by it to the 
grave. During the preceding year, not a single death occurred, and 
for the last twenty years preceding 1812, the average mortality in 
the society was but about one per cent, of the population per 
annum. 

Twenty-one persons have died in this society, either by violent or 
untimely deaths : of which number, six were drowned ; three were 
killed with fire-arms ; four were found abroad, dying or dead ; one 
was killed with a penknife ; two children were burnt to death in a 
coal-pit ; and five were murdered. 

The following account of the murders is taken from Morris' Sta- 
tistical Account of Litchfield County : 

" The murder was committed by Barnett Davenport; and, taken with all the 
attending circumstances, it was one of the most inliuuian, atrocious, and horri- 
Ijle deeds, ever perpetrated in New England. From the criminal's own confes- 
sion, it appears, that his parentage and early education were exactly fitted to 
I)roduce his wicked life and tragical end. Untutored and unrestrained by pa- 
rental government, he was left to grow up at random. In the morning of life, 
no morality was inculcated in him, and no sense of religion, either by precept 
or exarniile. On the contrary, he was, from early years, unprincipled, profane, 
and impious. Before he was nine years old, he was expert in cursing and 
swearing, and an adept in mischief. At eleven years, he began to pilfer. At 
thirteen, he stole money. At fifteen, he entertained thoughts of murder, and 
rapidly waxed harder and bolder in wickechiess. At nineteen, he actually mur- 
dered a family in cold blood. As a friendless, wandering stranger, he was taken 
into the house of Mr. Cah^b Mallory, and treated with the utmost kindness, in 
the month of December, 1770. Scarcely had two months elapsed, before the 
murder was determined upon. The night of the 3d of February, 1780, was 
fixed on, to execute the horrid purpose. With a heart hard as adamant, he 
lighted a candle, went into the lodging-room of his benefactors, and beat them 



niSTOKT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 267 

to dentil with a club. A little s^vaiulchild, beins:; with its graiid]iarents, shared 
the same fate ; and two others were left, in sound sleep, to perish in the llames. 
Having kindled a fire in three of the rooms, he fled from the murdered family 
and burning house, after robbing the house of its most valuable articles. But 
from an accusing conscience, and the hand of justice, which followed hard upon 
his steps, he was unable to flee. He was taken and executed, by sentence of 
court, the May ensuing, at Litchfield. What a lesson is this, to parents, who 
neglect the religious education of their families ! When children are trained 
up without the worship and fear of God, let it be not thought strange, if their 
mouths are full of cursing, and their feet swift to shed blood.' " 

A fact has been related, which occurred after Mr. Judd's dismis- 
sion, during the time the pulpit was supplied by Rev. John vSearle, 
who was afterwai'd settled in the ministry at Sliaron. A number of 
young persons met one evening at a tavern, about a quarter of a mile 
south of the pr^esent meeting-house, and indulged in noisy and riotous 
mirth. On the next Sabbath, Mr. Searle, like a faithful pastor, took 
occasion to reprove their conduct in a sermon against vain recrea- 
tions. "While he was speaking, one of the young men rose from his 
seat with expressions of the greatest contempt, and went out of the 
church. After a moment's pause, and while the young man was yet 
in the house, the preacher addressed him to this effect : " Perhaps 
you may never have another opportunity to come to this place ; but 
I leave it witli the great God." The young man went home, was 
taken sick, languished a few days, and died without any bodily 
pain. 

After the dismissal of Dr. Porter, the cliurch v/as without a settled 
preacher nearly two years, when Rev. Cyrus W. Gray accepted a 
call to settle with the people of this parish, and was installed over the 
church, on the third Wednesday of April, 1813. He remained here 
about two years, when he was dismissed, August 18, 1815. The 
church was again without a pastor for nearly three years, when Rev^ 
Stephen Mason was settled, on the tliird Wednesday of February,, 
1818. lie remained, witli pleasure to himself, and usefulness to his 
charge, for the space of about ten years, and was dismissed, Decem- 
ber 17, 1823. Rev. Gordon Hayes was installed over the churchy 
Oct. 28, 1829, and dismissed June 1, 1852. He is a graduate of 
Yale — class of 1828. He is now principal of a flourishing academy 
in Vermont. The present pastor, Rev. Ephraim Lyman, was in- 
stalled June 30, 1852. 

There have been several revivals, by which considerable numbers 
were added to the church, as follows: fifly-four in 1804; twenty in 



268 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

1816; fifty-eight in 1821; twenty -nine in 1825; twenty-two in 
1827 ; and one hundred and thirty-one in 1831. 

The following persons have borne the office of deacon in this 
church: Increase Moseley, appointed in 1742; Joseph Hurd, in 
1742 ; Ebenezer Clark, John Powell, William Gibson, Joseph Fer- 
ry — dates not noted ; Preston S. Hollister and Sherman P. HoUister 
in 1805; David Punderson in 1821, and Daniel B. Brinsmade in 
1832. 

In October, 1748, eleven persons dwelling in the south-eastern part 
of Kent, and nine living in the north-eastern part of New Milford, 
petitioned the General Assembly for liberty to hire a minister six 
months in the year, on the ground of their living " from seven to ten 
miles from their places of worship in New Milford and Kent." This 
request was granted, to continue four years, with exemption from 
parish rates. Before the end of the four years, in May, 1752, forty- 
one individuals petitioned for a new ecclesiastical society. Their 
names were Samuel Averill, Caleb Rude, Samuel Lake, Moses Aver- 
ill, Henry Davis, Jehiel Murray, Isaac Averill, Joseph Carey, John 
Guthrie, Daniel Averill, Zebulon Palmer, Jacob Kinne, Samuel Cogs- 
well, Thomas Hodgship, Thos. Morris, Benj. Darling, Samuel Wal- 
ler, Nathaniel Deuine, Enoch Whittlesey, Joseph Jons, Stephen Bos- 
worth, Thomas Beeman, John Benedict, Stephen Noble, Gilead 
Sperry, Elnathan Curtis, John Bostwick, Benajah Bostwick, Mat- 
thew Beale, John Cogswell, Zephaniah Branch, Edward Cogswell, 
Emerson Cogswell, Josiah Cogswell, James Terrill, Joseph Miles, 
Nathan Hawley, Samuel Cogswell, John Cobb, Benjamin Capuen. 

At the same session, sixteen persons of East Greenwich, (now 
Warren,) remonstrated against the incorporation of a new society, 
stating that their society had lost " thirty-five rateable persons, and 
£1467 on their list," and that they therefore protest against having 
any part of their society cut off, as no families can be spared. Kent, 
at the same time, passed a vote, that this statement was true. New 
Milford also sent a committee to oppose the application, and it failed. 
In October, 1753, thirty-nine persons "in the Northern part of New 
Milford, and the South and South East part of Kent, and a place 
Called Merry -all," renewed the application for an ecclesiastical soci- 
ety, wliich was granted, and the society called New Preston, with the 
following boundaries : 

"Beginning at tliu South east cornrr of New Milford North Pnrcliasc, then 
running Southwardly joining u])on Woodbury line one mile, from tiience run- 
ning a West line to yc part of the Long Mountain, South We.<t of Capt. Bost- 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 269 

wick's farm, then a North line to the j)lace called the Rockhorse Cobble, and so 
that course to Merryall line, and then across Merryall to Kent line, and then 
Running East to the South West corner of James Lake's farm North Easterly 
to the North West corner of John Henderson's farm, that he now lives on, then 
running East to East Greenwich line, then running South to ye South West 
corner of East Greenwich line to Sheppaufze river, then running Southwardly 
ujion sd river to Woodbury line, then running Westwardly on Woodbury line 
to ye (irst mentioned bounds," lVc. 

The first meeting of the society was held at the house of Jacob 
Kinne, Nov. 23, 1753. The officers chosen were Benajah Bostwick, 
Clerk, and Samuel Waller, Stephen Noble and Joseph Carj, Socie- 
ty's Committee. A vote was then passed to " meet at Jacob Kinne's 
house for 3 months for public Worship in the winter season," provi- 
ded they could obtain a minister. John Bostwick, Samuel W Her 
and Samuel Averill, were appointed a committee to hire a minister 
for three months. On the first Monday in December following, the 
society laid a tax of 12c?. on the pound, to hire a minister " for a sea- 
son." They also voted to build by subscription, " two school-houses 
for the use of the society, one to be located between Nathaniel Bost- 
wick's house and Steep Brook, in y*^ Highway, and the other near 
Joseph Cary's in the Highway." The following vote also passed : 

" Whereas Jacob Kinne hath Freely Given the use of his Little old house to 
ye Society of New Preston for to Keep School in When Neaded — Voted yt sd 
house shall be a Lawful School house for &d Society." 

On the 14tli of November, 1754, the society voted to build a meet- 
ing-house. They represented to the Assembly, that they had voted 
to build a meeting-house, and that there was much unimproved 
land owned by non-residents, and they therefore prayed for a land- 
tax of IcL an acre for four years, and also an exemption from the 
land-tax in New Milford. The tax was granted for two years, and 
the exemption was allowed. This house was thirty-six feet long, 
twenty-six wide, ten high, and stood about one hundred rods westerly 
from the present meeting-house. January 30, 1755, a call was ex- 
tended to Rev. Benjamin Chapman to preach on probation. At this 
meeting, also, a vote passed to have " 3 months preaching in the sum- 
mer season," and to join with East Greenwich in procuring a minis- 
ter for " 6 months, being 3 each." March 4, 1756, it was determin- 
ed that the church should be thirty-six feet by twenty-six, with posts 
ten feet high. There were to be " 5 windows with 12 panes of glass 
in each." At a meeting of the society, held September 16, 1756, a 
vote passed to invite Rev. Noah Wadharas to preach on probation, 



270 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

and another appointing Matthew Beal as " Quorister to set the Psalm 
in this Society."* On the 29th of December, 1766, it was voted to 
build " another Meeting House, 50 by 40, and 22 high." Tliis house 
was inclosed three years later, but not entirely finished till 1798. 
January 19, 1825, the third meeting-house, a convenient edifice of 
stone, was dedicated. This house is fifty -four feet by forty-four, 
twenty-four feet high, and stands entirely on solid rock. Besides 
this, the society is now building a new church at the " Upper City," 
or Raumaug. 

The church was fully organized in 1757, and Rev. Noah "Wad- 
hams, as we have seen, was its first minister. At its organization, it 
was constituted of thirty-nine members, and fifty-four more were ad- 
ded during the ministry of Mr. Wadhams. He was a graduate of 
Nassau Hall College, of the class of 1754, and Yale College confer- 
red the degree of Master of Arts on him in 1764. 

The second minister was Rev. Jeremiah Day, who was ordained 
over the church, January 31, 1770, and died September 12, 1806, in 
the seventieth year of his age. During the long period of his minis- 
trations, one hundred and twenty-three persons were admitted to the 
church, and three hundred were baptized. The church enjoyed dur- 
ing this time, much peace and prosperity. Mr. Day graduated at 
Yale College in 1756. He was the father of Rev. Jeremiah Day, 
D. D., LL. D., ex-president of Yale College, and of Hon. Thomas 
Day, LL. D., reporter of judicial decisions for the State of Con- 
necticut. 

Rev. Samuel Whittlesey was the third minister, and was installed 
over the church and society December 30, 1807, and dismissed Api-il 
30, 1817. A hundred and forty -two were added to the church dur- 
ing the time of his ministry, and one hundred and sixty-seven were 
by him baptized. After a successful ministry of ten years in this 
parish, he was connected with the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb 
in Hartford, and subsequently, for several years, acted as editor of the 
Mother's Magazine in New York. He was a pleasant, gentlemanly 
man, of a versatility of talent to meet the variety of his employ- 
ments. 

Rev. Charles A. Boardman was installed June 24, 1818, and dis- 
missed March 9, 1830. During his ministry, one hundred and thirty- 
four were admitted to the church, and two hundred baptized. In 
1819, he received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Yale 

1 State Ai-chives — Ecclesiastical, II., vol. 1. 



HISTOUT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 271 

College. The whole numl)or of members admitted to the church be- 
tween the yeai'S 1757 and 1825, was three hundred and nineteen. 

Rev. Robert B. Campfield was ordained over the church Novem- 
ber 16, 1831. Eighty-eight persons were added to the church dur- 
ing his continuance over it, and there were seventy-nine baptisms. 

Rev. Benjamin B. Parsons was ordained, in 1839, to the work of 
the ministry in this society, and was dismissed on his resignation of 
the ministerial office, 1842. Rev. Mollis Read was settled in 1845, 
and dismissed in 1851. The church is now without a settled pastor. 

There have been several revivals, which added considerable num- 
bers to the church : thirty in 1780 ; twenty-five in 1804 ; thirteen in 
1812 ; eighty in 1816 ; forty-one in 1821 ; thirteen in 1826 ; thirty- 
eight in 1827 ; and thirteen in 1829. 

The following persons have borne the ofRceof deacon in this church. 
Eliphalet Whittlesey, date not given ; Moses Averill and Isaac Day- 
ton, in 1783 ; Jonah Camp, 1784; Joseph Bassett, 1803; Daniel 
Whittlesey, 1807; Samuel B. Buck, 1812; Clark Hatch, 1822; 
Charles Whittlesey and Benjamin B. Knapp, 1826. 

Washington, composed of the two societies of Judea and New 
Preston, was the first town incorporated in the state, after the decla- 
ration of independence. It was incorporated at a special session of 
the General Assembly, January 7, 1779. The petitioners, who num- 
bered forty-seven in Kent, one hundred and seventy-six in Woodbury, 
twenty in Litchfield, and twenty in New Milford, desired the Assem- 
bly to call their town by the name of Hampden, but their agents were 
persuaded to consent to have it called Washington, in honor of the 
commander-in-chief of the American armies. Its first meeting was 
held February 11, 1779, and William Cogswell was the first mod- 
erator. 

Its boundaries are as follows : 

" Beginning at the south-west corner of Judea parish; thence running a 
straight line easterly, to the south-west corner of Bethlehem, five miles and 
about one quarter of a mile ; thence North by Bethlehem to Litchfield line, it 
being the north-west corner of Bethlehem ; thence continuing north in a straight 
line, to the north-east corner of the tract annexed from Litchfield; (the east 
line of Washington, so far as it is straight, is between five and six miles;) 
thence in a north-westerly direction, across the western part of Mount Tom, to 
Mount Tom bridge, crossing the western branch of Sheppauge river : thence in 
a line westerly, between Washington and Warren, to the West Pond ; thence 
across said pond ninety rods to Fairweather's Grant. The diagonal line from 
the northeast corner of Washington to Mount Tom bridge, is about two miles 
and an half: the north line is about five miles in length. From the northwest 
corner of Washington the line runs about South, between Washington and 



272 HISTORY OF ANCIENT -WOODBURY. 

Kent, one mile and a half to New Milford line; thence still South to the South 
line of New Milford, north purchase ; thence Southerly to the South-east bounds 
of the parish of New Preston, about one mile and an naif; thence by New Mil- 
ford, about three miles and an half to the first mentioned bounds." 

The only incident in the possession of the author, not before no- 
ticed in these pages, is here introduced. Rhoda Logan, daughter of 
John Logan, during the Revolution, was shot by her brother while 
standing in the front door of her father's house, under the following 
circumstances. A few persons opposed to the Revolution, then going 
on, were assembled in Davis' Hollow, a mile or two north of Lo- 
gan's. The whigs in his neighborhood wished to dislodge them, and 
had assembled at his house to devise the best method of doing it. 
While they were in council, young Logan went to a neighbor's, and 
returned with a musket, when his sister, seeing him in warlike mood, 
asked him what he was going to do with the gun. He replied, 
" Shoot tories." She rejoined, " You kill tories ; you have not cour- 
age enough to fire the gun." He said he had. " Then shoot me," 
she said playfully. Upon which he fired, and she fell dead at his 
feet. 

This is a good agricultural town, and has a considerable man- 
ufacturing interest. There are within its limits, six mercantile stores, 
employing a capital of from $12,000 to $15,000 ; one woolen manu- 
factory, employing a capital of some $10,000, and making from 
70,000 to 80,000 yards of cloth annually. There are two forges, not 
now in operation, and one cotton manufactory. There are two pocket 
furnaces with machine shops attached, employing from twelve to 
twenty men each, four wagon shops, one saddler's shop, one tannery, 
one chair and cabinet shop, one manufactory for making carpet yarn 
and seine twine, and fourteen saw-mills. From 600 to 1,000 casks 
of lime are annually burned, and from 25,000 to 30,000 feet of mar- 
ble per annum, are quarried and sawed. There are three Congrega- 
tional churches, and two Episcopal ; a celebrated female seminary, 
under the care of Miss Brinsmade, and a select school for boys, un- 
der the care of Frederick W. Gunn, A. B. There is also a good 
circulating library. The population of the town, by the census of 
1850, is 1,802. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

HISTORY OF ROXBURY ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY, AND THE TOWN 

OF ROXBURY. 

1731 TO 1S53; Shei-auo first settled, 1713; First Settleks; Four Months' 
Winter Preaching Granted, 1731 ; Nine years spent in efforts to obtain 
A New Society; Roxbury Society incorporated, 1743; First Church 
BUILT about 1732 ; Second Church built, 1746; Church gathered, and 
K.EV. Thomas Canfield settled, 1741; Mr. Canfield's Church History; 
Rev. Zephaniah Swift Installed, 17'J.3 ; Rev. Fosdick Harrison ordained, 
June, 1S13; Rev. Austin Isham Installed, 1839; Third Church built, 
1795 ; Revivals ; Deacons ; Ten years spent in efforts to obtain a Town 
Charter; Roxbury Incorporated into a Town, 179G ; Casualties; Pres- 
ent State of the Town. 

The first settlement in Sliepaug was made about the year 1713, 
by a man of the name of Ilurlbut, who was soon joined by some of 
his relations. He located on the spot a few rods north of the house 
now occupied by Mr. Treat Davidson, a little south-east of the house 
once occupied by Peace Minor. This section was afterward called 
the " Upper Farms." Here they built a small fort for security 
against the Indians, to which they resorted at niglit. Sometimes 
when war existed with the Indians, in any direction, Woodbury sent 
a small number of soldiers to garrison this fort. One of the liurl- 
buts soon married a Baker, and a number of her relations were in- 
duced to join the new settlement. Hence originated the Bakers, 
who were afterward of some notoriety in the society. Some repre- 
sentatives of this blood, in the female line, afterward became famous 
throughout the country. One of these was Col. Ethan Allen, the 
hero of Ticonderoga, and Col. Seth Warner, his intimate friend 
and military associate. Capt. Remember Baker, also, a cousin of 
these, of the Baker name, was intimately associated with them in 
all their undertakings of moment, before and during the early part of 
the Revolutionary War. 

It is said by some, that a family of Ilurds built the first house in 



274 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

the present town of Eoxbiuy, on the top of Good Hill, east of the 
house now occupied by Mr. Botsford. There, too, they built a small 
fort. The two settlements probably commenced about the same 
time. In about two years, Henry Castle settled on the spot where 
William Pierce, Esq., formerly lived. This location, to distinguish 
it from the other settlement, was called the " Lower Farms." Dr. 
Ebenezer Warner next removed here from the old society, having 
bought Promiseck, heretofore mentioned, of the Indians. Numbers 
of his descendants, in each generation, down to the fifth, were phy- 
sicians, some of whom gained a commendable notoriety. After these 
came a number of Castle families, and settled on what is called the 
" Lower Road." For some twenty years, the inhabitants attended 
divine worship in the " ancient Society." This was done both sum- 
mer and winter, by male and female, often on foot, the males carry- 
ing their fire-arms to protect themselves from the assaults of savage 
foes. 

This state of affairs continued till October, 1731, when "21 West- 
ern inhabitants at Shippaug in Woodbvry," constituted Henry Castle 
their attorney, to petition the General Assembly for liberty to hire a 
preacher in the " difficult parts of the year," on the ground of their 
living " from 4 to 7 miles from the Meeting House," and the bad state 
of the roads. The petition Avas granted, and they were allowed to 
hire a minister four months in the winter. They sent a petition to 
the October session of tlie Assembly next year, to have the time in- 
creased to six months each year, but the request was denied. Things 
remained in this state till the May session, 1736, when thirty-one 
persons petitioned the Assembly to be constituted into a distinct ec- 
clesiastical society. They urged that they lived six miles from the 
place of worship, and the roads were rough ; that they had a list of 
£2,200, which was increasing. They asked an extension of privile- 
ges to advance both their " temporal and spiritual interests." They 
prayed to be made a society with a portion of the territory of the 
North Purchase and New Milford, to be called Westbury. They 
wished the east line of the society drawn two and a half miles west 
from " Woodbury Meeting House," or have a committee appointed 
to establish it. A committee was appointed, who reported at the 
October session tlie same year, that it was difficult for them to attend 
" worship at ^V^oodbury, but at present they are unable to bear the 
expenses of a parish, but may be able in two years." Their appli- 
cation was accordingly dismissed. In May, 1739, they renewed, and 
then withdrew their application for a new society. At the October 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 275 

session, 1740, the application for incorporation was again renewed. 
Among other things they urged, that liaving '' experienced }'-' comfort 
and benefit of preaching amongst ourselves by the fatherly indulgence 
of this assembly and thereby learning how much more beneficial it 
would in all regards be, both to us and our children, to have the Gos- 
pel ministry fully settled among us," they the more ardently desired 
to be set off into a distinct society. This petition was sighed by 
Jonathan Hurlbut, Tilley Blakslee, Samuel Castle, David Foot, Mo- 
ses Hurlbut, Daniel Castle, Consider Hurlbut, Gideon Hurlbut, John 
Baker, Sen., Ebenezer Warner, Sen., William Harris, Wm. Harris, 
Jr., Henry Castle, vSolomon Squire, Samuel Blakslee, Jehamali Castle, 
Aaron Hurlbut, Elijah Baker, John Burritt, John Hunt. 

At the same session, David and Adam Hurd, John and Zebulon 
Leavenworth, and Jonathan Sanford, sent a remonstrance, wishing 
to remain with the " Prime Society." Elijah Hurd, Joseph Hurd 
and Salmon Hurlbut, sent a ^^etition, wishing to " belong to the North 
Purchase." The " Prime Society" appointed Ephraim Minor as 
agent, to oppose the application for a new society. Later in the ses- 
sion, the following sent on a petition in aid of the application, saying 
that they had not had an ojtportunity to sign that first sent : John 
Baker, Nathan Hurlbut, Cornelius Hurlbut, Jesse Baker, Alexander 
Alehouse, Abraham Hurd, Allin Curtis, Gamaliel Hurlbut, Benja- 
min Warner, and Jeremiah Thomas. 

The ))etition again failed, and was again renewed, May, 1741, stat- 
ing, among other things, that having repeatedly applied to the Gen- 
eral Assembly, and the " Prime Society," and been denied their 
wish, and being still in " distressing circumstances, now again Be- 
seech and intreat this Honorable Assembly in the bowels of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, and in tender pitty and compassion to our Souls and the 
Souls of our Children, that they would in their Wonted Goodness es- 
tablish us a Distinct Society, with Liberty to settle an Orthodox Gos- 
pell Ministry, and Imbody in Church ordei-." They further urged, 
that " Many were crying what shall we do to be saved, and were una- 
ble to attend on Rev. Mr. Stoddard, their pastor." Notwithstanding 
all this, the Assembly was still deaf to their " cries," and refused to 
grant their request. Nothing further was done in the premises till 
October, 1742, when they again renewed their application, for which 
they gave the following reasons : 

" 1. The distance is great, and t'.ie roads bad, the distance from Woodbury 
Meeting House to the bounds they ask being three miles, and G miles 100 rods 
to New Milford bounds. 



276 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

"2. i of tlio people can o' attend at Woodbury. 
" 3. The old society would still be large." 

A committee was appointed to " view the circumstances," who re- 
ported at the same session, that two more societies are needed in the 
west part of the town, when able to support the gospel, " bounded by 
aline 2.^ miles west from Woodbury Ancient Meeting House, 1 north 
& 1 south of Col. Johnson's line." This report was accepted ; and 
the north part having been set off and called Judea, in 1731, on the 
application of the Shepaug agent, the south part was incorporated, 
May, 1743, and called Roxbury.' 

During the time the people of this society had had " winter preach- 
ing," they had built for their accommodation, a small church, near 
the " ancient burial-ground, probably about 1732 or 1733." This 
became too small, in process of time, to accommodate them, and May 
15, 1744, the society voted to build another. They applied to the 
Assembly for a committee to locate the same, who reported the place 
where the " old Meeting House Stands," which was confirmed. At 
the May session, 1745, twenty-seven memorialists inform the Assem- 
bly that the location is too far east, that it occasions a great deal of 
uneasiness, and hinders them from going forward with the building 
and that they therefore ask another committee to locate. A new 
committee was appointed, who reported the same location, October, 
1745, and it was again confirmed. The agent of the society, at the 
next session, represented that they were settling a minister, and build- 
ing their church ; that the value of the land was increased by the 
new society, and he therefore asked a land tax. The request was 
complied with, and a land tax of Gd., old tenor, was granted, to con- 
tinue four years. 

While the people of this society were only allowed " winter privi- 
leges," a Mr. Chase was sometimes employed to preach. Others 
were in turn employed, till after the incorporation of the society. 
On the 20th of November, 1743, Rev. Thomas Canfield, a young li- 
centiate, a native of Durham, in this state, was employed to preach 
in the parish, and continued to do so, till August 22, 1744, when the 
church was gathered, and he was installed over it as its first pastor. 
The persons most active in his settlement were Henry Castle, Ben- 
jamin Warner, Esq., Thomas Castle and Daniel Castle. How many 
communicants the church contained, for many years, it is impossible 

1 State Archives — Ecclesiastical, vol. 7, Judex, 25, 26, 27. 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT AVOODBUnY. 277 

to ascertain, on account of the imperfection of its early recortls. 
Eighteen males and nine females subscribed the covenant at its for- 
mation. The whole number of commur.icants found on IMr. Canlield's 
record, for the long space of more than fifty years, is fifty-five males 
and fifty-eight females. The names of some known to liave been 
members of the church, arc not found in it. Nor do we find any ac- 
count of admissions after 17G1, although it is certain that some, and 
probably many, were by him admitted after that date. Of the forma- 
tion of the church, and his own ordination, Mr. Canfield has left a 
very particular account, which although somewhat minute in detail, 
is deemed of sufficient interest, to merit an insertion. By it we may 
see how an ordination, in the olden days, compares with one at the 
present time : 

"A Record of tiiy proceedings as to settling in ye Work of ye Miniftry, But 
more especially Respecting ye Parish of Roxbury in Woodbury Also con- 
taining a Record of C*ih Mtunbers, Baptisms, Births, Deaths v.\:c. in s'^ Parish 
Anno Domini, 17-14. 

" 111 yc first Place I made application to ye Rev'l Association of New Haven 
Comity, and obtained the following License. 

" At a Meeting of ye Association of New Haven Comity, Reguhxriy Convened 
Wallingford, SeptrSS, 17 1>. 

"This may Certify whom it Coneerns That Mr. Thomas Canfield, having 
been e.xamiiied as a Candidate for ye Ministry, was approved. And is l)y this 
.Association Licensed to Preach tlie Gospel when and where he shall be Regu- 
larly Called thereunto, And as a Person Qualified therefor, Do Recommend 
him to ye Improvement of ye Churches of Christ. 

"Test. Thomas Ruggles, Scribe. 

"The first of my Preacliing was at Branford, Nov. 28, 1712, on Luke II, 23. 
1 having ail Invitation to gc^ & Preach at ye Mountain, now called Cambridge 
in Farmi»igton, w-'i I aceeptiiig acordingly Preach'' yre ye next Sabbath, it be- 
ing yC r)th of Deer ^V from yttimc till yc latter end of Octob' 1743. On ye 4<h of 
OetDlj"" afore.-'l Mr Jn" Liimin one of Oxford Society Came tV gave me an Invi- 
tation to Preach y^e on Probation. Accordingly I gave Some Encouragement 
of Coming. I also went lV Preaeh^ 3 Sabbaths; viz : yc last in sd Ocir & ye' 2 
first in Novf — On ye 12'1' of .~'l Oetr came Mr. Ju" Baker one of ye Society Com- 
tee of Roxbury &:c. I gave him some Encouragement. I went & Preachd 
yre on je .'jJ Sabbath : \'r/. : on yc 20 Day of Nov"^ and on ye first Sabbath, 
i. e. 4 day of Dee''. VVhereiii)on ye peojile of s^ Parish of Roxbury, being 
finu'ly warned, Did meet on yi; fi'li of >J Dec"^ &; in :-i' meeting unanimously 
Voted to (iive me a Call on Probation in order to Settlement in ye work 
of ye Ministry. In s<l Meeting were cliosen Capt. Jno Baker, Lieut. Henry 
Castle, Eb^er Thomas, Beiiji Warner, Dan" Castle as a Comtec to act in be- 
half of s'^ Society for ye year ensuing, weh Comlce Conferring with me Con- 
cerning ye aforesil Vote, I Consented to Preach among.st them on Probation as 
aforesd. But I having given Encouragement of Preaching at Oxford 3 Sab- 



278 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

baths more, I returned thither until ye time was Expired & then Returned to 
sd Roxbury on Dcc^ 29, on the terms proposed & Continued Preaching with 
them on s^ terms untill April 16, 1744, wiien ye people of s<l Parish Meeting 
voted to give me a Call for Settlement, in ye Work of ye Gospel Ministry among 
them ; I yielding to it Accordingly on May 30, ye People of sd Parish meeting 
again, made Proposals of Settlement & Salary wch were these (viz) to give me 
75£ Lawful Money Equal to silver at 6s — Sd pr ounce, paying in 3 years i. e. 
jC25, pr annum. During wcli time giving me j£27, 10s. salary pr annum, & 
aftfirwards my Salary to rise £2, 9s pr annum till it amount to £40. On June 
13, 1744, I returned answer to ye aboves^ Proposals to ye acceptance of ye So- 
ciety, it being in a Regular Society Meeting, ye People then Preceded to ap- 
point by a Gen" vote a Day for my ordination, viz. ye 3d Wednesday, i. e. ye 
15th Day of ye next August ensuing, and also a Day of fasting & Prayer Previ- 
ous thereunto, on ye 8 day of sd August. The Ministers Pitchd upon by ye 
Com^ee for ye performance of ye Publik Duties of ye said fast, were ye Revd 
Mesurs Stoddard & Graham. 

Accordingly on sd 8th Day of August, Revd M^ Graham appearing for sd busi- 
ness, (Revd Mr Stoddard failing by reason of bodily indisposition,) he perform- 
ed ye Publik Service of ye Day. And whereas there being a Publick Fast ap- 
pointed on ye Day prefixed for Ordination; Therefore on this 8"! Day of August, 
(it being also a warned Society meeting,) there was a unanimous vote passed, 
yt ye Day of Ordination should be ye 22d i. e. ye fourth Wednesday of sd August. 
Acccordingly, Circular Letters were immediately issued out to all ye Ministers 
& messengers of yc Eastern Consociation of Fairfield County, signed by ye 
Comtee, ye form of wch is hereafter inserted. 

Accordingly on ye Evening before Ordination, viz ; 2lst of August, Oame 
Revd Messurs Kent with his messenger. Case with his messenger, who was 
afterward dismissed, Judson with his messenger & Lewis. Next Morning 
Came Mr. Stoddard with his Messenr, and then they began to embody to Pro- 
ceed in ye form of an Ordaining Council. Mr. Judd Coming also with his 
messenr. Revd Mr. Stoddard was chosen Mode'or — Mr. Kent, Scribe. Then 
ye Council Proceeded to my examination by asking questions Concerning fund- 
amentals of Religion — then it was Concluded it might be Convenient, yt I 
should Relate my experiences in Religion, in wcli Season Came in Revd Mr. 
Mills & his Messenr, Mr. Graham & Mr. Treat of Pennsylvania, & when ex- 
amination was ended. Came in Mr. Bellamy & his Mesenr, who professd he 
was free to act from former acquaintance with me, and all ye Council professd 
Sa^tisfaction as to my Relation, Whereuijon it was tho't convenient yt J should 
read ye prol'ession of Faith & C^h Covt to so many C^h Members as were then 
present at Lieut. Henry Castle's, yc place where yC Venerable Council was 
Convened, w<^l' accordingly I did. 

" Then ye Publick Worship & Solemnity was attended after this form. The 
Revd Mr. Bellamy made ye first Prayer, Revd Mr. Mills Preached on 1 Pet. 1. 
15,16. The Revd Mr. gathered the Church in this wise. First Read- 
ing ye Parish Grant, which is as foUowelh : 

"Alt a Generall Assembly Ilolden at Hartford on y^ -^'l Tliiuxli y oi' May, 
A. D., 1743. 

"Upon ye Memorial of yc Inhabitant-' • A' liiir part !>r VVoo>,liiiry called 
Shippaiige, Praying this Assembly to be m mIc ;v iJistiict l^l.•(■k■siu^t!L•al Society, 
&c. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 279 

" Granted by this Assembly, that ye s'l Inhabitants within sJ limits be and 
tlicy are heieby made one Distinct Ecclesiastical Society, with the Powers and 
Privileges of other Ecclesiastical Societies in this Colony, & shall be called & 
known by ye Name of Iloxbiiry. — A True Copy &c. 

" Test. George Wyllys, SecretX- 

"Odly was Read ye associations advise, viz : 

"At a Meeting of ye Association in Southbury, Oct. 5, 1713, the Society of 
Roxbiiry [asked] for advise for a suitable person to preach the Gospel among 
them for a season, & were advised to ye worthy Mr. Canfield, and in Case he 
should fail, to apply themselves to the ministers of Woodbury for furtlier di- 
rection. 4 

" A true Copy — test John Graham, Scribe. 

".3dly was Read ye Society's call and my answer as follows, 

"April ye Kjth Day A. D. 17-14. At a meeting of ye Society of Roxbury, it 

was voted to give Mr. Thomas Canfield a Call for Settlement in ye work of ye 

Ministry. 

" Agreeable whereunto on ye 13 day of June, at a Society Meeting, ye s'l Mr. 

Canfield Returned answer to ye acceptance of ye Society. 

"A true Copy, Test. Tilley Blakslee, Society Clark. 

" Next was read my Recommendation as follows : 

" Branford, July 2yth, 174.1. 

"This may certify whom it may Concern, That on ye 28th Day of Decern"^ ' 
A. D. 1740, Mr. Thomas Canfield was admitted a member in full communion 
with the first Church in Branford, & has behaved Regularly during his abode 
with us. And now upon his desire he is Dismissed from us, & Recommended 
as a person of a regular Conversation, & in good Standing to be incorporated, 
or have communion with any C^\ of Christ wherever Providence shall place 
him. 

" by Philemon Robins 
Pastor of s'l C^h in Branford, with Consent of ye Brethren. 

" Then was Read ye Recommendations of Church members, w^i is as fol- 
lowetli. 

" Revd & Beloved — Whereas the Inhabitants of ye Parish of Roxbury in 
Woodbury have (thro ye orderance of Divine Providence.) a Prospect of hav- 
ing one set over them (speedily) in ye work of ye Lord & taking ye Pastoral 
Care of them, tfc many of ^'' Inhabitants Standing in Special Relation to them 
ye isi Crhof Christ in Woodbury. As &c. 

"These may certify, y' all ye abovenamed persons are members of ye 1st 
Crh of Christ in Woodbury in full Communion, & in good Standing, & upon 
their Desire, as matters stand, are Discharged from their Immediate Relation 
to .s<i Church. 

" Thus Certifieth Anthony Stoddard, Pastor of ye 1st Cch of X with ye Con- 
sent of s'i Church. 

" Whereas they having belbrc assented, & subscribed to ye Profession of 
faith, & Church Covt. They were now asked whether they now made Choice 
of me to take ye Pastoral Care of them, to wdi yy assented. Then I being also 
asked whether I complied with their Desire & Invitation to take ye Pastoral 



280 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Care of them, to wch I gave my assent. Then they being Declared a true 
Cch of Christ. The Rev'l Mr. Stoddard Proceeded to Pray with the laying on 
of hands of ye Elders. And then also, gave me my Pastoral Charge, which is 
as followelh. 

"We ordain thee, Tho^ a minister of Jesus X, & a Pastor of ye flock of X, 
who will Judge ye Quick & ye Dead at his appearing & Kingd'". Take heed 
to thyself, & to all yc flock over w"* you are made an overseer to feed it : feed 
ye Sheep, feed ye Lambs; Give attendance to reading, to exhorta". & to Doc- 
trine; Neglect not ye gift yt is in ye; Meditate on these things, give thyself 
wholly unto them, yt thy profiting may appear unto all ; In Doctrine, shew un- 
corruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound, speech, yt cannot be conde: ned, yt he 
w^h is of ye contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil to say of you : In 
meekness instructing yose yt oppose y'"selves: feed this flock of God, taking 
ye oversight thereof, not of constraint, but willingly, not for filthy Lucre, but 
of a ready mind ; not as being Lord over God's heritage, but being an ensample 
to ye flock ;_ Give thyself to prayer, &: to ye Ministry of ye word ; Study to 
show thyself a workman, y^ needeth not to be ashamed. Rightly dividing ye 
word of truth ; And remember you stand as a watchman, and art to observe 
approaching danger to give warning from God, and know yt if you warn not 
ye wicked, when called thereto, ye wicked will die in his iniquity, but their 
blood will be required at your own hand ; but if you warn ye wicked as you 
ought, &■ he will not hear, tlio he die in his Iniquity, tViou hast delivered thy 
soul. 

" Administer ye Sacraments to such as are ye proper subjects of y"^, giving 
caeh one his portion as a faithful Stewart Dispense censure, as sorrowful 
occasions offer ; they yt sin, rebuke before all, yt others also may fear ; And we 
charge you before God, & ye Elect Angels, yt you observe ye Divine rule with- 
out preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. And as to your 
Conversation; Remember ye instruction, yt a Bishop must be blameless, vigi- 
lant, sober, of good behaviour, given to Hospitality, not given to wine, no 
striker, not given to filthy Lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous : flee 
youthful lusts; but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace with all them y' 
call u])on ye Lord out of a pure heart; but foolish and unlearned questions 
avoid ; and be thou an example of ye believer, in word, conversation, in chari- 
ty, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Take heed to thyself as to thy Doctrines; & 
if you be faitlilnl to him, yt Jiath called yon, de[)end on it, your Labour will 
not be in vain in the Lord; but when ye Chief Shepherd shall appear, you 
shall receive a Crown that fadeth not away. 

"Then Mr. Kent Prayed with Laying on, &c. 

" Rev'i Mr. Case gave ye right hand of felIow"ship. Concluded with singing 
in ye G^th PssUm." 

Mr. Canfield graduated at Yale College in 1739, and spent a long 
life with this people, useful as a pastor, kind and affable, equal to all 
emergencies, beloved as a man in all the relations of life. During 
the long period of more than half a century, his people enjoyed his 
acceptable ministrations, living in peace, a happy and united church 
and society. Fifty years, five months and twenty-four days, did he 



II I S T O U Y OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 281 

remain doing service " in tlie vineyard of the Lord," and died Jan. 
IGth, 1795, aged seventy-four years. 

After the death of Mr. Canfield, the church remained destitute of 
a pastor about two years and a half, during which time the puljDit 
was supplied by various candidates for the ministry. On the 5th of 
July, 1795, Eev. Zephaniah Swift was installed second pastor of this 
cluu'ch, and was dismissed April 1, 1812. 

The church then remained destitute of a pastor till June 2, 1813, 
when Rev. Fosdick Harrison, its third pastor, was installed. After 
a successful ministiy of twenty-two years, he was dismissed June 
30, 1835. 

The church was now again destitute of a pastor for some four years, 
when the present pastor, Rev. Austin Isliam, was ordained over it in 
the pastoral relation, in 1839. Mr, Isham graduated at Yale Col- 
lege in 1836, and has remained fourteen years with the people of 
Roxbury — a sufficient proof of the estimation in which he is held 
by liis people, in this day of sudden changes. 

In February, 1794, the society voted to build their third meetino-- 
house by a vote of twenty-nine to three. On the 9th of December, the 
same year, they voted again, thirty-six to three, to build the house, 
at a " heap of stones in the Daniel Ilinman meadow about 11 rods 
northerly from David Hammond's shop." 

There have been several revivals with additions to the church, as 
follows: tliirty-five in 1805; nineteen in 1813; sixteen in 1816; 
nineteen in 1821 ; and fifty-seven in 1828. 

The following have been deacons in tliis church. Tilley Blakelee 
and Capt. John Baker, appointed in 1747 ; Charles Thomas, date not 
noted; Ezekiel Frisbie, 1783; David Gillet, no date ; Abner Wake- 
lee, 1798; Ichabod Ward, 1806; Enos Warner, 1808; John Thom- 
as, 1809; P]phraim Beardslee and Elihu Canfield, 1812; Chauncey 
Whittlesey, 1817 ; T. More, Eli M. Smith and Thomas Ilurd, 1829 ; 
Curtis Blakelee, 1836; and Josiah Bronson. 

The struggle of Roxbury society to be incorporated into a sepa- 
rate town was long and severe. For ten years, there was one con- 
tinued round of efforts on the part of its citizens. The first vote by 
the society in relation to the subject, was Oct. 2, 1786, when* they 
voted to make application to the Assembly to be set off as a sepa- 
rate town, and at a meeting held Oct. 23, 1786, they voted discre- 
tionary powers to Curtis Ilurd, to pursue a petition before that body 
to accomplish this end. On tlie 17th of the same month, Woodbury 
voted, one hundred and four to eighty-six, to oppose the prayer of said 
19 



282 UISTORY OF ANCIENT AVOODBUKY. 

petition. Oct. 9, 1787, the society laid a tax of tlu-ee farthings in the 
pound to pay the expenses of the effort to obtain a town charter. Wood- 
bury this time voted not to oppose the incorporation. Jan. 12, 1789, they 
again voted to renew their application, and appointed John Hunt 
their agent for this purpose. On the 11th of May following, a tax 
of half a penny on the pound was laid for the same purpose as be- 
fore, and Lt. Lamljerton Painter was appointed agent to " pursue the 
petition." In September, the same year, a committee was appointed 
" to see if Woodbury would relinquish one deputy in the General 
Assembly if Roxbury should be a town." At a town meeting in 
Woodbury, held April 13, 1789, the following vote passed : 

' Voted not to oppose the grant of a petition from the Society of Roxbury 
now lying before the Genl Assembly of this State to be incorporated into a 
separate town — voted ncminc contrudiccntc." 

Notwithstanding this, the charter was not granted. In May, 1790, 
as the contest grcAV warmer and warmer, they began to employ legal 
gentlemen to assist them in their ciforts, and Ilezekiah Thompson 
and Nathaniel Smith, Esqrs., were employed to prosecute their ap- 
plication. At the October session this year, Mr. Daniel Slierman Mas 
also appointed to assist. In October, 1791, Capt. Roswell Ransom was 
appointed agent to urge the incorporation, and Hon. Nathaniel Smith 
in May, 1792. In September, 1795, Samuel Weller was appointed for 
the same purpose, and the petition was again pressed with vigor at the 
October session, 1796, when it proved successful, and the society of 
Roxbury was incorporated into a town of the same name. 

One or two casualties have occulted in this town, worthy of notice. 
The first illustrates the danger of a careless use of fire-arms. Sixty- 
six years ago, a tavern, kept by Roswell Ransom, was located on the 
spot where the Episcopal church now stands. On the 31st of Octo- 
ber, 1787, a "training" of the militia soldiers was held at this place . 
About four o'clock in the afternoon of that day, David Downs left 
his house, now occupied by Ti'eat Davidson, and went to the tavern 
for the purpose of getting his son excused from going to the " General 
Training," to be held the next day at Southbury. Thomas Hurlbut 
was present with a gun, in the house of Ransom, and one Hitchcock 
asked him if his gun was a good one. He replied " Try it and see." 
On being asked by Hitchcock if it was loaded, he replied in the neg- 
ative, on which he pulled the trigger, and the gun being loaded, the 
ball which it contained passed through the head of David Downs, 
above the eyes, and dashed his brains on the wall, or ceiling, near 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 283 

wliich he stood, the stain from which remained indelible for many- 
years after. 

In a graveyard nortli of the Episcopal church is a monument con- 
taining the following inscription : 

" In memory of Lieut. Thomas WclliM-, an olficer in the United States army, 
who was murdered by Archibald W. Knap]), May lOth, 1S14, aged '25 years 
and 9 mo., son of Thomas and Polly Weller " 

The circumstances of this murder are thus related by Barber: 

" The circumstances respecting the death of Lieut. Weller, appear to be 
these. Li the last war with Great Britain, Kna^ip enlisted as a soldier. The 
time having arrived for him to march on to the lines, he refused to go ; Weller, 
with three or four soldiers, went to Knapp's residence in the lower part of New 
Milford, in order to take him by force. Knapp meeting him at the door, told 
him that he had no ill-will against him, but if he advanced any farther towards 
him ho was a dead man. Weller disregarding his threats, advanced to take 
him. Knapp then shot him in the groin, which cau.sed his death in about 
fifteen minutes. Knapp made his escape into the State of New York, wliere it 
is believed he now resides. It is stated that Knapp was arrested a few years 
since, on account of this crime, but was rescued out of the hands of the officer 
by some soldiers of an independent militia company, of which he was a mem- 
ber, who were out on a military review." 

Roxbury is almost wholly a farming town. It is about six and a 
half miles in length, and nearly four in l)rca(ltli. It has two church- 
es, one Congregational and one Episcopal, two ministers and two 
doctors. It contains four mercantile stores, employing a capital of 
about ten thousand dollars, five hatting establishments, employing 
about as much more capital, two manufactories for forming hat bodies, 
one grist-mill, ten saw-mills, and two foundries. By the census of 
1850, its population was 1,114. 



CHAPTER XV. 

HISTORY OF THE OTHER CHURCHES BESIDE THE CONGREGATIONAL. 

17^0 TO 1853; History of St. Pail's Church, "Woodbury; Progress of 
Toleration ; Zechariah Beers' " Signing-(Jff" Certificate ; Parish or- 
ganized, 1740 ; Col. Seth Warner's Grave ; Rev. John R. Marshall, 
First Rector, 1771; Church erected by seventy persons in 1785; con- 
secrated, 1822; Mr. Sayre succeeds Mr! Marshall, 1791 ; Constitution 
accepted by the Church in 1794; Mr. Elijah Sherman's Secession and 
Character; Glebe House erected, 1837; Church ceased to be a Plu- 
rality, 1838 ; List of Clergymen ; List of Native Clergymen ; Christ 
Church, Roxbury; First Church Edifice, 17G4; St. John's Church, 
Washington ; St. Andrews' Church, New Preston ; Christ Church, Beth- 
LEM ; Baptist Church, Roxbury ; Methodist Church, Woodbury ; First 
Preaching in the Street near " Lodge Rock ;" Next in Mr. Elijah Sher- 
man's House ; Methodist Churches at South Britain and Southbury ; 
Reflections. 

For nearly seventy years after the first settling of the town, there 
were no other churches within its limits, except those of the Congre- 
gational " or standing order." Our fathers emigrated to this country 
to enjoy their religion, not only free from persecution but without 
interruption from Christians of different sentiments. They were de- 
sirous of maintaining a uniformity of doctrine and worship. Correct 
principles of religious liberty were not then known in any Christian 
country, and toleration was not the virtue of that age. On their ar- 
rival in this new world, they foi'mcd an ecclesiastical constitution, and 
passed a statute that no persons should " embody themselves into 
church estate" without the consent of the General Court, and the ap- 
pi'obation of the neigliboring churches, and that no church adminis- 
tration should be set up contrary to the established order. Laws 
were made to compel every person to pay taxes to the established 
religious organization, and for the support of the "approved minis- 
ter." In 1708, an act of toleration passed, allowing all persons who 
should conform to it, the liberty of worshiping God in a way sepa- 



HISTORY OF ANCIEXT WOODBURY. 285 

rate from that establislieLl b}- law, but it did not excuse them from 
paying taxes to the approved, settled ministers of the churches. In 
1727, the members of the church of England made an api)lication to 
the legislature to be exempted from paying taxes for the support of 
the ministry of any other denomination, and for liberty to tax them- 
selves for the support of their own ministry. Accordingly an act 
was passed, directing that all persons witliin the limits of a parish, 
belonging to the church of England, and to the churches established 
by law, should be taxed by the same rule, and in the same propor- 
tion, for the support of the ministry in such })arish, and where there 
was a society of the church of England, so near to any person who 
had declaimed himself to be of that church, that he could conveniently 
and did ordinarily attend public worship there, then the collector of 
the tax, on levying the same, should jDay it to that minister of the 
church of England on which such person attended, who should have 
power to receive and recover the same ; and when the amount so 
obtained should be insufReient for the support of any such minister, 
the members of the society were vested with the power of taxing 
themselves, and they were also exempted from paying taxes for 
building or repairing the meeting-houses of the established churches. 
The same privileges were afterward granted to other dissenters from 
the established faith. In the revision of 1784, all dissenters were ex- 
empted from paying taxes to the established societies, where they had 
a society of their own and contributed to its support, on lodging a cer- 
tificate from such church or society, properly authenticated, of the fiict 
of such membership. Some disputes having arisen as to the validity 
of such certificates, and suspicions arising that an undue advantage was 
taken of the law, an act Avas passed. May, 1791, directing that certi- 
ficates to be valid, must be approved by a justice of the peace. This 
law excited general disapprobation, and in October, the same year, an 
act w^as passed, authorizing dissenters to make certificates in their own 
names, and lodge them with the clerk of the society, in the limits of 
which they lived, which should exempt them from taxes as long as 
they ordinarily attended public worship in the society which they 
joined, and dissenting societies were authorized to tax themselves for 
all the purposes of other ecclesiastical societies. This was in effect 
placing all religious denominations on the same footing. Yet there 
was a nominal distinction, members of one society being obliged to 
lodge certificates with another. But now by the constitution, all dis- 
tinction among societies is done away, and all denominations are 
placed on equal ground. The support of religion and religious insti- 



28G HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

tutions depends entirely upon their own consent and voluntary con- 
tribution. The office of the present law is only to give them the 
power of providing for their support in such a manner as they may 
think proper. '^ Thus the people of this state, in less than two cen- 
turies, have passed from a religious establishment, through various 
changes, to perfect freedom ; and it may be added, that these changes 
have not broken up any of the located societies, but public worship 
continues to be duly attended in them all."' 

Under the law allowing each one to lodge a certificate w^ith the 
clerks of the several established societies, or as it was usually ex- 
pressed, " to sign off," considerable scope was allowed for the imagin- 
ation. Many specimens of wit, of malice, or of sarcasm were, in con- 
sequence, lodged in the archives of the several societies. Some gave 
the clerk of the " standing order" " distinctly to understand," that 
they should attend his " meeting" no more forever. Others gave the 
notice in a quiet business way. As a specimen of the "mirthful de- 
])arture" from the established order, the following " signing-oif " cer- 
tificate of Zachariah Beers, a poetical genius of whom more will be 
said hereafter, is inserted. This certificate was lodged with Matthew 
Minor, Jr., Esq., clerk of the first Congregational society in Wood- 
bury : 

" Matthew Minor, Jun^', Esquire, 
Hear ye the words of Zechariah. 
Under the Law, the State now orders, 
In serving God we choose our quarters. 
And as I never yet have stated, 
Where long my mind has been located. 
This information I send (greeting,) 
"Where I expect to go to ineeting. 
I joine the Church Episcopalian, 
Tho Satan terms it a rebellion ; 
And to avoid all further evil, 
Renounce the world, the flesh and Devil. 
Woodbury, Jan. 1st, ISll. Zechariah Beers." 

A short time previous to 1740, some few families in this town 
adopted the sentiments of the church of England, and at this date 
they were occasionally supplied by the missionaries of the " Society 
for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts." A church was sub- 
sequently formed, for the following interesting history of whicih, the 
author is indebted to Hon. Charles B. Phelps, a member of that 

1 Statutes of Connecticut, revision of 1821. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 287 

communion. Rev. Solomon G. Hitchcock, a fonnei' pastor of tlie 
church, had very kindly furnished the author with copious miiuites in 
relation to the church, of ■which use is made in the biogra})hical 
sketches in a subsequent part of this volume, but it was deemed best 
to give Judge Phelps' sketch entire, rather than rewrite an article 
from all the sources of information at hand. 

Episcopal Church, Woodbury 
At an early period of the polemic controversy arising from Doctor 
Johnson's convei'sion to Episcopacy, divine service, according to the 
ritual of the P^nglish Episcopal Church, was celebrated within the 
limits of the ancient town of Woodbury, by the missionaries of '' The 
Society for the Propagation of the Gosi)el in Foi'eign Parts." In 
1732, Doctor Graham, the Congregational minister of Southbury, 
then a part of Woodbury, published a pamphlet antagonistic to the 
publication on Episcopacy, by Doctor Johnson and Rev. John Beach, 
of Newtown. After this controversy, some few families of this town- 
ship adopted Episcopal opinions ; they were, about 1740, organized 
into a parish. The names of Masters, Castle, Squire, Warner and 
Ward, occur in the early annals. About this time, a church edifice 
was erected within the township, on the hill between the present cen- 
ter of Roxbury and Transylvania, near the old graveyard, now 
dilapidated and thrown to the commons, where the bones of Col. Seth 
Warner repose in disgraceful negligence, marked by a broken slab, 
reproaching the inheritors of that liberty his valiant arm so essen- 
tially contributed to establish. 

The principal portion of the inhabitants of the society, lived in 
the south section of Roxbury, and Grassy Hill. The cellar of the 
masters mansion house now remains visible on the lot next north of 
the present dwelling-house of Wm. N. Shelton, on the Avest side of 
the way, and overlooks the Woodbury valley. 

For a season, the Episcopal families in the valley, Avere an ad- 
junct of the Roxbury church, and for many years, Avorshiped there 
more or less. Ashbel Moody lately deceased, Avas baptized at that 
church, Dec. 8, 1705, by the Rev. Thomas Davies. 

The old town house on the groun.d noAV occupied by the carriage 
house of N. B. Smith, Esq., Avas, after the erection of the ncAv Con- 
gregational house in 1747, occupied by the Episcopalians for stated 
worship until the erection of the present church edifice in 1785. 

Within the ancient limits of the toAvnship, another Episcopal church 
was erected at Judca, now Washington, in Davis Hollow, near the 
present dwelling-house of Capt. Centci% 



2oS HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

This Avas built principally by the Davies family, to whose lineage 
the Rev. Thomas Davies belonged, a family distinguished during a 
century for their intellectual superiority and indomitable persever- 
ance. 

The Rev. John R. Marshall assumed the charge of the present 
parish at Woodbury, in 1771. He was a citizen of New York, and 
educated in the Reformed Dutch faith. During the discussion of 
apostolical authority, and the imi)arity of the priesthood, Mr. Mar- 
shall followed the opinions of Dr. Johnson, Doct. Leming and Mr. 
Beach, and having graduated at King's (now Columbia) College, and 
laid the foundation of a theological education, he sailed to England 
to be cpiscopally ordained, and was in that year ordained deacon and 
priest at the chapel of Fulham, by Richard Terrick, D. D., Bishop of 
London, and returning came to Woodbury to commence his professional 
life in the same year. A glebe was purchased and conveyed to the 
society, the place now improved and occupied by Gideon B. Bots- 
foi'd, Esq., as his residence. The parish Avas a plurality, and flour- 
ished under his ministration until the breaking out of the Revolu- 
tionary War, when its progress Avas retarded by the invincible hostil- 
ity of the public mind to everything English. Without adverting 
to the inhuman violence inflicted by passion and bigotry on Mr. 
Marshall, all is to be regarded as the effervescence of the public 
mind at an excited period, as the error of the age modified by the 
crisis. 

The church was ei-ected by the contributions of seventy persons 
in sums ranging from three shillings to forty-three pounds. Mr. 
Mai'shall gave the glass and nails. 

John Clark paid, £43, 8s. 8d. 

Mitchell Lamson, £34, 19s. Id. 

Elijah Sherman, £22, Os. 5d. 

Doct. Samuel Orton, . . - . £21, 14s. Id. 

Hezekiah Thompson, _ _ _ _ £20, Os. Od. 

None of the original subscribers are noAV living. 

Only seven persons, children of the original subscribers, reside la 
Woodbury. Nathan Preston and John P. Marshall are the only 
children of the original subscribers Avho Avorshi}) in this faith. 

The proceeds of the glebe, sold to build a church, added to the 
other expenses, Avere only adecpiate to the inclosure of the church 
edifice, laying the floors, plastering and building some side pcAvs, and 
a coarse pulpit temporarily constructed. It Avas in this condition, 
at the death of Mr. Marshall, in January, 1789, and so continued until 



ir I S T O U Y O F A N C I E X T WOOD B U K Y . 289 

1812. About this time a new stee|)lc was erected, -tlie house llnish- 
ed much in its ]>resent form, and painted within and without. 

In 1809, by the exertions of Coh Moseley, a bell was obtained, 
wliicii IteiiiLj I)roken in 1818, another was supplied. 

Tlie society made grants of tlie lloor to individuals to be holden in 
perpetuity, but no such grants were made after the death of the first 
rector. Il was probably a project- of his derived from similar 
ownership of pews in New Yoil-c. Ilis ojiinions were much regard- 
ed by his followers. 

In finishing the inside of the church, Thomas Prentice fell from 
the upper wall to the floor, and was killed. 

Tlie church was consecrated by Bishop Browncll in October, 1822. 
The name of this church is " St. Paul's Church, Woodbury." 

At the death of IMr. jMarshall, the parish enumerated several 
families living within the present tov>'nships of Southbury, Bethlem 
and Middlebury, The Wheelers, Benham, Osborne of Southbury, 
Doct. Hull, and Prentices of Bethlem belonged to this parish. 

From tlie extension of the j)arish during the war, and immediately 
after its close, embarrassed by the many obstacles that i-esisted its 
progress, and the known capacity, devotion, perseverance and apti- 
tude of Mr. IMarshall's mind, it is [)robable it would have been a 
strong })arish, had his life been spared. In the measures connected 
with the establishment of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the 
United States, Mr. Marshall bore a conspicuous and efficient part- 
In 1784, with a view to the union of this communion into one eccle- 
siastical bod}', Mr. Marshall was elected a delegate from Connecticut 
to the convocation of the Episcojial clergy in the council convened 
at Kew York. Connecticut before this time had held a convocation 
of her clergy, and sent Rev. Mr. Seabury to England for ordination 
as a bishop. 

Before the convocation, Mr. JMarshall read a paper, declaring that 
Mr. Seabury Avas on his way to f^urope, and Connecticut would take 
no action in the convocation until the result of Mr. Seabury's appli- 
cation for consecration was known ; and should that prove propitious, 
Connecticut would lend her whole energies to aid in the consolida- 
tion of tlie E2)iscopal interests of the Union. This measure had its 
eflect ; and to its adoption, the union and harmony of the subseciueut 
action may, in a good measure, be referred. 

This communion by the agency of its articles and ritual being es- 
sentially conservative in its tendencies and character, this parish has 
been little agitated by controversy. The Rev. James Sayre, who in 



290 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

1791, followed Mi*. Marshall in iiiluidteriiigto this flock, was opposed 
to the adoption of the State Constitution, and gave in the convoca- 
tion his sole negative vote. When the constitution was subsequently 
referred to the families for adoption, Mr. Sayre in this parish, com- 
menced a bitter opposition to its adoption for some year or two. 
After Mr. Sayre left the parish, they refused to act upon it. The 
Episcopal convention under the constitution declined exercising any 
jurisdiction over its interests. This engendered on Mr. Sayre's part 
violent hostility and imputations upon the bishop and clergy, in 
which some of the parish, who had become attached to him, more or 
less, participated. A committee of the convention, consisting of Rev. 
Messrs. Phillip, Perry, Truman, Marsh and Ives, were appointed ; 
who conferred with Doot. Orton, John Clark and R. B. Marshall, a 
committee from the parish. Tlie whole terminated in accepting the 
constitution Nov. 10, 1794. During this controversy Mr. Sayre left 
the parish. While in the parish he was eccentric, rash and incon- 
sistent, probably from the incipient stages of insanity. Not much was 
known of him after hi,s departure. He died the tenant of a mad- 
house. In this agitation, a worthy member of the communion, Eli- 
jah Slierman, was involved and ultimately abandoned the society. 

The })rincipal objection to the constitution as well as can now be 
ascertained, was that the clergy were invested with too much power, 
and the parishioners with too little, not having discovered that the 
real authority resided in those who furnish the means. The king 
may declai-e war, but the commons may refuse supplies to sustain it, 
thus possessing the ultimate power. 

The temperament of Mr. Shei-man was humble, earnest, and emi- 
nently conscientious ; firm in his adhesion to what he deemed to be 
the line of duty. He could not adopt Calvinistic opinions, then 
ardently pressed upon the public mind, in all the Congregational pul- 
pits. Swayed by an enthusiastic spiritualism, his sympathies were 
with those humble heralds of the cross, so efficiently blessed in the 
morn of Methodism. For twenty years, with some few companions, 
himself an elder, the Avorshipers in this fiiith, assembled in his own 
house. His religious experiences gave him new developments in 
Christian duty. Chastened by the death of several children, liis 
faith and zeal and knowledge grew deeper, more ardent and expan- 
ded. He became an eminent example of Christian excellence. Un- 
der that humble roof, from subdued and pure hearts, prayers gushed 
forth, not surpassed in pathos and piety by a Massillon or a Bour- 
daloue. Souls now looking to the great judgment seat with confidence 



II I S T O 11 Y OF ANCIENT W O O D B U U Y . 291 

anil lioly hope, recall with devout ,uratitiule liis ardent aspirations in 
that lowly temple. Had he received the advantages of early edu- 
cation and training, with the compass and melody of his voice, he 
would probal)ly have made an el()(}uent and powerful preacher. He 
lived to see the erection of a IMethodist church on his own home- 
stead, and a numerous and devout company of believers worshiping 
there. He was gathered to his fatliei-s at the advanced age of ninety, 
in the month of January, 1814. 

None of his descendants worship at the church. Rev. Henry B. 
Sherman, rector of a church at Bellville, N. J., is his grandson. 

The glebe house was erected in 1837, and by its original limita- 
tion can not be alienated to any other use. It cost about two thousand 
dollars, and has been hitherto the residence of the clergymen having 
families. 

I'ntil 1<S,j8, the society labored under the enervating influence of 
the phiralify system. Under the auspices of the truly faithful and 
talented exertions of the Rev. S. G. Hitchcock, a change Avas efiect- 
ed, and has without interruption been continued to this time. The 
church now has a minister duriu"- the whole time. 

After the death of Mr. JMarsliall, the feud in relation to the consti- 
tution, the defection of Mr. Slierman, and the death of some promi- 
nent parishioners, reduced the society to a feeble condition. After 
the Rev. Dr. Judd left the parish, in August, 1801, the parish was 
without a minister, until the accession of Rev. Mr. Welton, in 1809. 
The surrounding clergy occasionally ministered to them. Rev. Mr. 
Marsh, Dr. Burhans, Rev. Mr. Prindle, Rev. Mr. Wheeler, preserved 
some Avatchfulness over their interests. Without a minister, with an 
unfinished church in a state of dilapidation, and a scattered, wander- 
ing flock, extinction seemed to be its only fate ; yet Providence or- 
dained it otherwise. From 1809, it has gradually risen to a respect- 
able position and character. 

List of Clekgymen who have officiated in St. Paul's Chl-rcii, Woodbury. 



Cominenceineiit. 








Termination. 


NoveniljL-r 


1771, 
1790, 
1791, 
179.3, 


Kev 


. John Rutgers Marsh; 
James Sayre, 
ir^ctli Flint, 
I'oubon Ives, 


Ul, 


died January 


7th 


, 1789. 
1791. 
1793. 
1797. 




1797, 




Tillotson Bronson, D. 


D., 






179S. 




1799, 




Bethel Judd.D. D.; 




August, 




1801. 


Easter, 


1S09, 




Joseph D. Welton, 




June, 




1S16. 


August, 


ISIO, 
1S27, 




Sturges Gilbert, 
Bennett Glover, 




August, 




1827. 
1827. 



292 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODUURT. 



November, 1^2.7, Rev. Sniniiel Fuller, Jr , D. D, April, 1S2&. 

1S2S, " William H. JiuUl, 1S28. 

Noveiiiljcr, 1S28, " William Lueas, 1829. 

1829, " Ulysses M. Wheeler, 1830. 

1831, " Daniel Rurlmns, D. D., July, 1831. 

July, 1S31, " Joseph Scott, . April, 1833. 

I'^^J, " Jol.n Dowdney, 1S35. 

Easter, 1835, " Edmund C. Bull, Easter, 183G. 

July, 1836, " P. Teller Babbitt, March, 1837. 

May, 1837, " Solomon G. Hitchcock, Aiigust, 1844. 

October, 1844, " Richard Coxe, November, 1845. 

November, 1845, " David P. Sauibrd, February, 1n47. 

Easter, 1847, " Charles S. Putnam, April, 1S49. 

June, 1849, " P. Teller Babbitt, September, 1850. 

October, 1S50, " Robert C. Rogers, January, 1853. 

May, 1853, " F. D. Harriman. , 

The following persons born in this parish, and receiving their reli- 
gious impressions and culture in the Episcopal church, have been or- 
dained priests and officiated as such : 

Rev. Phillips Perry, Rev. William Preston, 

" Philo Perry, " "Martin Moody, 

" James Thompson, " Thaddeus Leavenworth, 

" Rufus Murray, " Henry B. Sherman. 

Episcopal Church, Roxbury. 
This is probably the oldest Episcopal parish in the county of Litch- 
field, dating its organization as far back as the year 1740, a period 
earlier than that of any other parish of which we have any written 
records. It was organized by Rev. Mr. Beach, of Newtown, and was 
for a considerable time the only Episcopal parish within the limits of 
the town of Woodbury, of which, at that time, Roxbury formed a 
part. Some account is given by Mr. Davies, of its house of worship, 
in his correspondence with the society. Li a letter dated A}>ril loth, 
1762, he speaks of his having received invitations to preach in 
Hartford and Woodbury, and says, " In each of the above-named 
places, the people are resolved to erect Churches." Writing again, 
June 2r)th, 1764, he says, " In Roxbury, a parish in AYoodbury, there 
is a pretty Church, neatly finished." This church stood on the hill 
between Transylvania and the center of Roxbury. During the time 
that Rev. Mr. Davies preached in Litchfield county, he occupied this 
pulpit one-fifth of the time. At that date, the parish consisted of 
thirty-four fiunilies, out of which were twenty-eight communicants. 
Since that day the old church has gone to decay, and a new one has 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 293 

been erected in the center of the present town of Roxhurj. By a 
letter to the author from Rev. George L. Foote, then pastor of the 
church, dated August 2l6t, 1848, we learn that the early records of 
this church are all lost, and therefore the list of ministers, and other 
interesting particulars of its history can not be given. It has been a 
" plurality," and for this reason, among others, information in regard 
to it is olttained witli diiriculty. The name of this church is " Christ 
Church, Roxbury." 

Episcopal Churches in Judea and New Preston, Washington. 

For the account of these churches, the author is indebted wholly 
to Rev. James L. Scott, their present rector. A full and accurate 
history of them is impossible, on account of the defective state of 
their records, and the scanty means of information still left us. Like 
many other churciies, they have lal)ored amid numerous difficulties, 
and discouragements of various kinds. 

Tiie beginning of the parish, the church edifice of which now 
stands on Washington " green," seems to have been on this wise : 
About the year A. D. 1762, a few Episcopal families resided in what 
was then called Judea, now Washington, though not sufficiently nu- 
mei'ous or wealthy to organize a parisli, or to erect for themselves a 
house of worship. Therefore, the Rev. Thomas Davies, A. M., a 
missionary of the society in P^ngland " For Propagating the Gospel 
in Foreign Parts," held occasional services and baptisms in houses, 
or wherever he could obtain admittance. After the separation of 
what was called Birch Plains or Davies' Hollow, fi'om the township 
of Litchfield, the Davies family, one of considerable note, and zeal- 
ously attached to the church, withdrew from the Litchfield parish, 
and built a church edifice of their own in Davies' Hollow, where, 
with assistance from some few families who resided near, they sus- 
tained religious services according to the liturgy of the church of 
England, and kept up a distinct parochial organization for some con- 
siderable period. 

The following is a copy of a deed given by John Davies, senior, 
the father of Rev. Thomas Davies, to the churchmen in Washington, 
making to them a conveyance of tlie land upon which this house of 
worship was erected : 

" Know ye that I John Davies, of that part of Washington fonperly belong- 
ing to Litchfield, and known and called by the name of Birch Plain, in the 
county of Litchfield, for the consideration of an agreement and promise made 
with, and to, my honored father, John Davies, late of Birch Plain, in said 
Litchfield, deceased, and for the love and allection I have and bear towards 



294 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

the people of the church of England, now in said town of Washington, and 
securing and settling the service and worship of God among us, according to 
the usage of our most excellent Episcopal Church, whenever there shall be one 
legally organized in said Washington, and all times forever hereafter, do there- 
fore demise," &c. 

The measurement of the land, as described in the deed, must have 
been equal to ninety-six square rods, and it was restricted to being 
used for a public burying-ground, and for the purjiose of having a 
suitable place of vforship erected upon it. The same condition was 
annexed to it as that which was expressed in the deed given by his 
father to the church in Litchfield, viz., the requirement of one jiepper 
corn to be paid annually on the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, 
if demanded. The above deed was given on the 22d of January, 
1794. Upon the ground, principally at his own expense, an Episco- 
pal church was subsequently erected. Aged and infirm, and seated 
in an arm-chair, at the door of his house, he witnessed the raising of 
the edifice Avith a feeling similar to that of pious Simeon, when he 
said, " Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace." He 
survived about three years, and at the age of eighty-six years, he 
died on the 19th of May, 1797, and was buried in the family grave- 
yard in Davies' Hollow. 

Tlie first entry of services in Judea, made in the Notitia Parochi- 
alis of the Rev. Thomas Davis, is this: " 17G4, April 11, Judeah, 
[preached trom] 1 John ii : 12, John iii: 8, the Colony Fast." 

The following are the first records of baptisms; "1764, August 
28th, Judeah, 1 Peter iv : 18, baptized a daughter of Mrs. Ingram. 
1765, April 17th, Colony Fast, Judeah, Micah, vi : 8, christened a 
daughter of Abel Mix." 

As the number of inhabitants had decreased in Davies' IIoHoav, 
and most of the parishioners lived in other parts of the town, it was 
thought best to move the church edifice to its present site. Finally 
by consent of the Davies family, now very few, it was removed in the 
year of our Lord, 1813. It received the name " St. John's." It has 
gallantly persevered among discouraging circumstances, and because 
of only occasional services, at one time, not oftener than once in three 
months, then once in six weeks, it has not enjoyed any large increase. 
It now has services on every other Sunday. The following is a copy 
of the rector's report to the Rt. Rev. Bislioji, in 1853, for the year 
last past : 

" The Rev. James L. Scott, Rector. 
" Families, 33. Baptisms — iniants, 5. Conlirinations, 6. Communicants, 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 295 

added ano\v, 0. Lost by removal, 1 ; by death, 2. Present number, rif). Bu- 
rials, G. Sunday School Teachers, 3 ; Scholars, 15. Missionary and charita- 
ble contributions, $24.50," exclusive of the communion otFerings. 

There is anollier Epi.scopal cliurcli ^vitliin the limits of the town of 
"Washington, usually known as " St Andrew's, New Preston." The 
first church edifice stood in the village called " Waraumaug" or 
" Upper City." It was built before the Revolution, and during that 
period was unused, or rarely used, and finally pulled down. In 1796, 
the Episcopalians of the ncighl)orhood purchased the building former- 
ly occupied by Jgmima Wilkinson and her followers, situated about 
two miles south, and just within the limits of New Milford. 

This parish is also under obligation to the missionary labors of the 
Eev. Thomas Davies, A. M. In a letter written June 25th, 1764, 
this indefatigable clergyman writes : " In New Preston, a parish in 
Kent, they have most of the materials for Iniilding a church, Avhich 
they determine to erect and finish next summer, 45 by 35." This is 
probably an allusion to the church which was built in Waraumaug. 
New Preston is not a ptirish in Kent, but as a school society includes 
a part of Kent, New Milford and Washington. 

The first record of ministerial acts in Ncav Preston, found in the 
Notitia Parochialis of Rev. Thomas Davies, A. M., is the following : 
" 17G4, January 4, New Preston, a lecture, jMatthew xxii : 14, bapti- 
zed Epiiraim, son of II. Dean, IMargaret Ann of Sharp." Same year, 
"June 2, East Greenwich, Ilcb. ii : o, baptized Freelove Reney, a 
daugliter of Zadock Bostwick, a daughter of Stephen Lee, and a 
child of Morgan's son-in-law." 

The meeting-house formerly used by Jemima Wilkinson, was oc- 
cupied by the churchmen till about A. D. 1822, when the substantial 
brick building, now standing in Marbledale, was finished and conse- 
crated by the Rt. Rev. T. C. r>rowncll, D. D., LL. D. The history 
of this parish is like that of most other Episcopal parishes in the 
land, one of severe struggle and hardship. But now it is gaining a' 
strong footing, and will soon, to all appearance, be ecpial to most 
country parishes, in numbers and prosperity. A parsonage and 
grounds have of late, (Easter Monday, 1853,) been presented to the 
parish by the Rev. N. S. Wheaton, D. D., who is a native of this town, 
and owns this as his native parish. The present church edifice will 
probably be soon enlarged, in order to supply the increased demand 
for pews. The Rev. David Btddwin preached his first sermon in 
this parish, probably in the old building once standing in the " Upper 
City." We find on the records, under date April 4th, 1785, that 



296 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

"the committee reported that we can have Mr. Baldwin, if he can 
not form his mission nearer his home, &c., and that he will preach to 
to us for 2s. &d. per day as a candidate." The preaching was proba- 
bly a reading of printed sermons, and " a candidate" was probably a 
candidate for holy orders. 

The following is a transcript from the records, and is probably a 
note of the first organization of the parish. The " East Greenwich" 
spoken of, was a part of the present town of Warren, near which the 
old and first church stood. 

"June yc 2G Ad. 1781. 

" the Inhabitants of New-preston and Eastgrinwitch of the Denomination of 
the church of England so cauled parislies. Having formed them Selves into a 
Lawfull Society acording to A late act of the gineral Assembly of this State of 
Connecticut, We the Subscribers Whose Names are undor Written being Desir- 
ous for the promoting of Religon anil good Ordor do acknoledg our Selves to be 
and beloung to aboue sd Body and do by these Presents .Toine and incorporate 
into sd Society as witness our Hands." 

Below is another extract from the records : 

" Tliese are to warn all the Professors of the Church of England, so called, 
in the Parishes of New Preston & East Greenwich to meet at the church in 
New Preston upon Augt ye 23: 17SJ, at one o'clock in tlie afternoon : First to 
choose a Moderator; 2'' to hire preaching, or some candidate to read prayers; 
3d to raise money for the aforesaid jnirpose, and to jiurchase a Prayer Book and 
Bible, and in what way ; 4tii to choose Collectors and all necessary ofricers for 
said Parishes ; 'jiii in what way the meetings shall be warned for the future; 
Gth and to act any other business as shall be necessary for the aforesaid purpose. 
" By order of the committee, 
" July the 2'i A. d 17S1. Test by me, 

" Stephen Morehouse, 
Clerk." 

The last report to the Rt. Rev. Bishop, for the year ending June, 
1853, is as follows : 

" The Rev. James L. Scott, Rector. 
" Families, 7.'). Baptisms — infants, 1. Confirmations, 2. Communicants, 
added anew, 5; present number, 89. Marriage, 1. Burials, 7. Suiulay 
School — Teachers, 8 ; Scholars, 45. Missionary and charitable contributions, 
exclusive of the communion olferings, $10 26." 

Of late years, these two parishes have united in engaging the same 
minister, and have divided the time according to their respective 
ability to contribute toward the salary. During the last four years, 
services have been held alternate Sundays in each parish, but St. 
Andrew's, New Preston, will probably soon have the entire service 
of a clergyman. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 297 

Tlie names of some of the clergymen who have olficiated are Clark, 
Baldwin, Benham, IMarsh, Jones, Andrews, Kellogg, Lucas, Atwater, 
Huntington, Gordon, Hitchcock, Sherman, Long and Scott. 

Episcopal Church, Bethlem. 
A few families from Newtown moved into this town in the early 
part of the present century, who were cliurchmen. These, joined by 
some of the former inhabitants, oi'ganized a parish, March 30th, 1807. 
The names of those belonging to the society, at its ilrst organization, 
are as follows : 

Christopher Prentice, Benjamin ILawley, John Sperry, Michael 
Judd, Abel ILard, Glover Skidmore, Ebenezer L. Thompson, Robert 
Porter, Samuel Bloss, Reuben Tinker, Samuel Blackman, Daniel 
Skidmore, Henry Jackson, Amos Lake, David Pulford, and Benja- 
min T. Lake. 

No church edifice was erected for some time, but the society voted 
January, 1829, that " Robert Porter be a committee to circulate a 
subscription paper for the purpose of raising money to build a 
church." The church was accordingly erected, and occupied some 
time before consecration. On the 23d of September, 1835, it was 
consecrated by the bishop, and named " Christ Church, Bcthlem." 
The same cause prevents an extended history of this as of other so- 
cieties, the want or defectiveness of the records. It has been a 
" plurality," having a minister to otRciate all the time but a few 
years since its organization. The following is a list of ministers who 
have preached in this parish, as far as it has been possible to collect 
them, together with the date of the commencement of their labors. 
Rev. Russel Wheeler, 1807, Rev. William Watson, 1835, 

« Willard Welton, 1814, " T. W. Snow, 1837, 

" Sturges Gilbert, 181G, " Lsaac H. Tuttle, 1839, 

" Isaac Jones, 1828, " Wm. Henry Frisbie, 1847, 

" Joseph Scott, 1832, " Joseph S. Covell, 1848, 

" John Dowdney, 1834, " J. D. Berry, D. D., 1852. 

Baptist Church, Roxbury. 
Tliis church was constituted in South Britain, January 21st, 1790, 
at the house of Justus Pierce, by a meeting of delegates from several 
churches of the " Baptist order." Elder Higbee, of Stratfield, was 
moderator, and Elder Hull, of Ridgefield, clerk. Elder Finch, of 
Danbury, preached on the occasion. The church thus organized, 
consisted often males, and twelve females, residing at South Britain, 
20 



298 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Roxbury and Zoar Bridge, in Newtown. In April, 1794, a portion 
of this church, with others, were organized into a new church, at 
Zoar Bridge. In January, 1803, the 

•' Society ai^reed younanimous to have Mr. Fuller ordained as an Elder in 
said Society." 

He was accordingly ordained. May 18th, 1803, at the meeting- 
house in Roxbury, the churches represented in the ordaining council 
being those at Colebrook, Bristol, Newtown, Danbury, Winchester 
and Warren. The records show seventy members admitted to the 
church before Mr. Fuller's ordination, and forty-one since. Mr. 
Fuller moved to Vermont, in 1821. 

December 30th, 1800, the society voted to build a meeting-house, 
" a little this side of Benjamin Rumsey's," to be thirty feet long, 
twenty-five wide, with ten feet posts. This building was finished and 
ready for use the next year. It was turned into a school-house in 
1825, reserving the right to hold meetings in it. 

In 1809, a vote was passed by the society, " that the names of such 
persons as have certified to our society, but have never attended our 
meetings, nor given any thing to support our ministei's, be handed 
over to the preshuterian Society's Clerk, as the names of persons who 
do not belong to our society." From 1821 to 1833, there is no entry 
on the church records. At the latter date, there were twenty-one 
members of the church remaining. Since 1833, there is no entry on 
the records. The present number of members probably does not ex- 
ceed ten, although they have preaching once in four weeks, by Elder 
Biddle, of Brookfield. 

Methodist Church, Woodbury. 

In 1789, Connecticut was visited by Jesse Lee, a distinguished and 
devoted preacher of the Methodist denomination, who preached all 
over the state, laying here as in the rest of New England, the foun- 
dation of INIethodism. This denomination rapidly increased, and it 
has continued to be prosperous, beyond precedent, till the present 
day. The clmrcli had gained some footing in New York as early as 
17G6. 

About the year 1790, before the general conference was formed 
in 1792, the first Methodist sermon in Woodbury was preached 
in the open air, in the street under the Rock, on which the 
Masonic Hall stands, by Rev. Samuel Wigdon, who was sent to 
preach in Litchfield circuit. This town was added to that circuit, and 



H I S T O K Y OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 299 

there was occasional preaching here after that to such as would 
" hear the word." The tirst class was formed some time between the 
date of the first sermon and the year 1800. The church continued 
in a feeble condition till 1812, when Elijah Sherman, senior, better 
known to the people of this communion, and of the town, by the name 
of " Father Sherman," became dissatisfied with the Episcopal church, 
on account of some ditference of opinion, as is understood, in relation 
to the adoption of the Episcopal cliurch constitution, joined the Meth- 
odist denomination, and became very active and zealous in advancing 
its interests. The exact date of this transaction is not now at hand, 
but he was appointed the first regular class leader in 1812. Previ- 
ous to this, the several ministers who had oiliciated hei-e, had fulfilled 
the duties of that office. At this organization of the class, in 1812, 
the number of communicants was forty. From this time till 1824, 
" Father Sherman" threw open the doors of his house, and it became 
the place of public worship for this church. Having increased in 
numbers and means, they erected the first meeting-house on the site 
of the present church edifice, in 1824. But the class and social 
meetings of the society continued to be held at the house of Mr. 
Sherman, till the erection of the present commodious church, in 1839. 
This edifice is furnished with a good basement, and from that date 
the social meetings of the church have been held in it. The society 
here continued to constitute a part of some other circuit till 1832, 
when the circuit of Woodbury was formed, and this became the place 
of residence for its ministers. Rev. Raphael Gilbert was the first 
minister who statedly resided here. This has continued to be a cir- 
cuit or station, and the residence of the stated minister, ever since. 
It has for some years been a station, and enjoyed the undivided labors 
of a minister. From the first meetings in the dwelling of " Father 
Sherman," the church has enjoyed a continued prosperity till the 
present day, and now numbers within its folds 215 communicants. 
"The Lord of the harvest" has smiled upon it, and it now occupies a 
useful and honorable position among " sister churches." 

Methodist Churciies in Southbury. 

The first society of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the present 
town of Southbui-y, was organized at the south part of the town, on 
"George's Hill," about the year 1803, and consisted of about six 
members. They met at that time in a building formerly occu])icda3 
a school-house. But, in a few years, it was greatly enlarged, i-emod- 
eled, and made more convenient and ample in its accommodations. 



300 HISTORY OF ANCIENT "VVOODBURT. 

The society continued to increase in numbers until tlie churcli was 
filled to its utmost capacity. It soon became quite too small to ac- 
commodate the worshiping congregation. 

In the year 1832, the society erected and dedicated a larger and 
more convenient house in South Britain. There they worshiped 
until the year 1851, when the edifice was enlarged and made a neat 
and elegant house of worship. The society now (1853) numbers about 
sixty-five communicants, and the church is well filled with a devout 
worshiping congregation. 

The second society of the Methodist Episcopal church in the town 
was organized at Southbury several years ago, and consisted of one 
small class. About the same time, another class,' or small church, 
was organized at Southford. They worshiped for several years in a 
small church which is now comi)letely out of repair. In the mean 
time the church at Southbury met in the brick school-house, and 
were under the pastoral care of the Rev. Sylvester Smith. In the 
year 1847, the two societies united, and the same year erected a neat 
and commodious church, in the village of Southbury. 

The church at Southbury now (1853) numbers sixty-five communi- 
cants, and their house of worship is well filled with a respectable and 
devoted congregation. 

Thus have we ti'aced the various forms of church government and 
religious belief, as they have exhibited themselves in our town, and 
are full of the conviction, that not the form, not the particular creed, 
is of so much importance as a pure heart and a guileless life ; and 
that these may subsist, in full perfection, under all the various forms 
and ceremonies and creeds of the several evangelical churches. For 
this reason it will ever be a matter of astonishment to the lofty intel- 
lect, the mind of extended and liberal views, when it sees bitter con- 
tentions among professing Christians, " about quips and quibbles and 
non-essential points." 



CHAPTER XVI. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY CONTINUED FROM CHAPTER. VIII. 

1760 TO ls53 ; Rev. Noah Benedict settled, 1760; Half-way Covenant 
System abolished, 1760 ; State of the Church ; Kev. "Worthington 
Wright settled Colleague with Mr. Benedict, 1">11, and dismissed, 
1813; Death of Mr. Benedict, 1S13; His Character; Rev. Henry P. 
Strong settled, ISM — dismissed, 1S16; Rev. Samuel R. Andrew in- 
stalled Pastor, 1S17 — dismissed JS46; Third Church dedicated 1S19; 
Sketch of Mr. Andrew's Life; Rev. Lucius Curtis settled, 1S46; 
Church Statistics; Ministerial Fund ; Hon. Noah B. Benedict's Devise 
TO the Society ; Remarks. 

In a former chapter we traced the history of the " Second Church 
in Stratford," or first church in "Woodbury, from its commencement, 
its stormy origin, for ninety years, " down the stream of time." In 
the early part of 17G0, IMr. Stoddard having become very aged, the 
churcli and society took tlie necessary measures to settle a colleague 
with him. The matter was all arranged. Rev. Noah Benedict had 
been called, and the day for his ordination had been appointed before 
Mr. Stoddard's death. He was, however, suddenly taken ill, and 
died after a sickness of two days, not long before the day of ordina- 
tion. Tliis event took place October 2 2d, 17 GO. It is thus recorded 
on the church records by Mr. Benedict : 

" October 22, 1760. This Day wiis ordained to the Work of the Ministry, in 
the first Society in Woodbury, 

on the call of the Church and Con^^regation : the Sermon was preachil by the' 
Rev. Mr: Bellamy from 1 Tim. 5, 21, tlie ordaining Prayer and Charge by Rev. 
Mr: Graham, the riglit hand of fellowship by Rev. Mr. Brinsmade, the conclu- 
ding Prayer by Rev. Mr: Canfield." 

It is to be noted, that the church did not go out of town for minis- 
ters to assist in the ordination services. The four ministers men- 



302 HISTORY OF ANCIENT AVOODBURY. 

tioned were all then settled within the limits of the ancient town, and 
remained with their people till the death of each separated them 
from all earthly friends. 

At the death of Mr. Stoddard, the half-way covenant system was 
not yet done away. He, as well as his father. Rev. Solomon Stod- 
dard, were advocates of the system, though Rev. Mr. Edwards, the 
grandson of the latter, taking a different view of the matter, had 
done so much to overthrow it, whei*ever it existed. As we have 
seen, it had been voted out of Mr. Bellamy's church nearly twenty 
years before. It existed here only in a mild, or rather a strict form. 
Many of the church had for some years been against the i^ractice, 
yet from respect to their aged and beloved pastor, they had " held 
their peace." But Mr. Stoddard was now dead, and the system was 
not in accordance with Mr. Benedict's views. Within two weeks, 
therefore, after his settlement, we find the following action on the part 
of the church : 

" Nov. 6, 17G0. At a meeting of the Members of the Chh. at the Meeting 
House, the following things were voted, (viz.) 

"1st that Baptism and the Lord's Supper are seals of the Covenant of Grace. 

" '2i>', that the Covenant of Grace is but one Covenant. 

" Sb", that whosoever makes a credible Profession, that he believes and cm- 
braces the covenant of Grace, and appears to walk accordingly, lias a right to 
Sealing ordinances. 

" -lly, that he, that has a right to Sealing ordinances for himself, has also a 
right to Baptism for his children. 

"5ly, that the Lord's Supper is not more holy than Baptism. 

" It was likewise voated, that those Persons, that had own'^ the Covenant, 
and yet had absented themselves from the Lord's Supper, had own^ a Cove- 
nant of Grace, and upon their manifesting that they mean to be understood as 
havin<' own^l a Covenant of Grace, shall be looked upon as Members in com- 
pleat Standing, and admitted to the Seals of the Covenant." 

This Avas a mild way of getting rid of the practice. As these 
half-way members had professed and taken upon themselves precisely 
the same covenant as the members in full communion, they were now 
called to show whether they had made that profession sincerely or 
not. If so, they were members in " complete standing," like the rest 
of the church ; if not, then they were entitled to no privileges from 
the step they had taken. At the same meeting a covenant and pro- 
fession of faith were drawn up and approved by the church, which 
with slight verbal alterations is the same noAV used by the church on 
the admission of members. It is a fact worthy of notice, that the 
first church covenant, adopted by our fathers just before removing 
into this wilderness, stood unaltered for the long space of ninety 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AVUODBURY. 303 

years, and that tlie second, the one now in use, is the same adopted 
ninety-three years ago. 

Mr. Benedict spent a long and useful life among his peoi)le. P\'W 
contests, or differences in feeling and action, arose among the people 
of his charge, during the long period of his ministrations, till near 
its close. This was a controversy in regard to the location and build- 
ing of the third meeting-house. That everlasting source of bitter 
animosity and mischief, the location of public buildings, Avas the only 
thing that disturbed the serenity and happiness of a period of pasto- 
ral labor extending through more than half a century. But he 
lived not to see the heat of the battle, having departed this life about 
three years before the final disruption of his church. lie died April 
20, 1813, in the seventy-sixth year of his age, and the fifty-third of 
his ministry. The church was prosperous under his administration 
of the ordinances. The number of persons admitted to the com- 
munion of the church under his pastoral care, was 272, and 758 
persons were baptized. The following were chosen deacons : 

Capt. Gideon Stoddard, August 19th, 17G7 ; Clement Minor, Feb- 
ruary 10th, 1773 ; Jonah Minor, October 1st, 1782 ; Matthew Minor, 
November 2oth, 1793; Daniel Huntingdon, November 25th, 1793; 
Nathan Atwood, January 4th, 1803; Ens. Seth Minor, Jr., Septem- 
ber 2Gth, 1805 ; Benjamin Judson, Jr., August 31st, 180G. 

There were several revivals of religion under Mr. Benedict's min- 
istry, the last near the close of his earthly labors. 

As early as 1810, the society gave Rev. Gordon Hall a call to 
settle as colleague with Mr. Benedict, with a salary of $G00, but he 
did not see fit to accept the invitation. During the same year, the 
same offer was made to Rev. Worthington Wright. He accepted 
the call, and was oi'dained as colleague to Mr. Benedict, on the last 
Wednesday of January, 1811, and dismissed early in 1813, at his 
own request, before Mr. Benedict's death, on account of an afi'ection 
of the eyes, which prevented his application to study. After his 
ordination, the ministers present on that occasion, among whom were 
Dr. Beecher, President Tyler, Rev. Mr. Swift, Rev. Mr. Clark, Dr. 
Backus, Rev. Philo Judson and the newly ordained minister, retired 
to Bethel Rock, and there held a prayer-meeting, in imitation of the 
early fathers, who amid the dangers which beset the early settlers, 
retired to this secluded dell for the same purpose. ' 

Shortly after Mr. Wright's dismission, Mr. Benedict was called 

1 Ecv. Philo Judson informed the author of this incident. 



304 HISTORY OF ANCIENT AVOODBURY. 

from this earthly scene of toil and labor. He was a man of sound 
piety, and of great dignity and amiability of character. He held an 
honored place in the aftections of his people. He was successful as 
a spiritual teacher, and was followed to the tomb by his parishioners, 
with hearts throbbing with grief. This church has been noted for 
the length of time it has enjoyed the services of its ministers. There 
is, perhaps, no other instance in the country, where a church has 
been presided over by three pastors, as has been the case with this, 
for the long period of 143 years. 

Mr. Benedict was a native of Danbury, and graduated at Nassau 
Hall, in 1757. He received the degree of Master of Arts ad eun- 
dem from Yale College, in 1760, and was a fellow of that institution 
from 1801 to 1812. 

" Mr. Benedict was spoken of, during his life, and is remembered, as one of 
the fairest specimens of the good clergymen of Connecticut. Constitutionally 
he had a well-balanced mind; singularly discreet and exemplary in his every- 
day deiiortment, and in all the relations of life; as a preacher and counselor, he 
held a high rank. His temper was even, and his condition was placid and easy. 
Temptations he was cautious, and even zealous, to put, if possible, out of his 
way. He once had a favorite horse, young, sound, gentle, active and graceful ; 
the animal was admired by his rider's parishioners. But Mr. Benedict, to the 
surprise of all, sold the horse. A neighbor expressed his astonishment at the 
event, and inquired the reason of it. ' He was growing unruly,' was the grave 
pastor's reply. ' But I thought,' said the man, ' that lie was a very orderly 
horse.' ' No,' was the rejoinder, ' he was growing quite unruly; he once got 
into the pulpit, and I thought it was time to part with him.' This minister 
was blessed in his family, and honored in the alliances of his children by mar- 
riage, and by their eminent usefulness, and the distinctions to which they at- 
tained in public ofiices and employments. His people never desired his sepa- 
ration from them; death effected it in the year, IS'13. He lives in the sweet 
and grateful remembrance of the aged in his parish, and out of it; and the 
present generation of Woodbury have heard from the reverential and affection- 
ate, the story of his goodness."! 

After the death of Mr. Benedict, Rev. Dr. Tyler was appointed 
moderator of the church, and continued in that office, till May 25th, 
1814, when Rev. Henry P. Strong, a native of Salisbury, was in- 
stalled pastor over the church. He was dismissed, January, 1816, 
less than two years after his ordination. In some particulars, he was 
not fitted for his holy calling. It did not engage his careful, or best 
attention. He appeared to be much more interested in having the 
best animals of the male gender, of all the domestic kinds, than in 

1 Rev. Dr. McEwen's Discourse at Litchfield, 1852, p. 74. 



U I S T O R T OF ANCIENT AV O O D K U 11 Y . 305 

jidvancinp; tlio interests of liis " ^Master in the vineyard of the Lord." 
The eliureh and people of the town will always recollect him, for 
one thing, with no great pleasure, and that is the loss, through his 
heedless recklessness, of a v:iluable volume of church recoi'ds, con- 
taining, among other things, a complete list of marriages for nearly 
150 years. That loss has been severely felt by business and other 
men, and can nevm- be re[)aired. Thirty-eight persons were admit- 
ted to the church in the interval between Mr. Benedict's death, and 
the settlement of Mr. Andrew. 

After the dismissal of Mr. Strong, Rev. Fosdick Harrison was 
appointed moderator of the church, till the installation of Rev. Sam- 
uel R. Andrew, after a unanimous call of the church and society, as 
pastor over this church and people, October 8th, 1817. He preached 
his farewell discourse, January 4th, 184(;, and was dismissed during 
the same year, on account of failing health. The division in the 
church, caused !.)y disagreement about the location of the new meet- 
ing-house, had ended in the formation of another church before his 
installation into the pastoral office, and the church, under his care, 
for nearly twenty-nine years, continued to enjoy uninterrupted peace 
and prosperity. Two hundred and sixty-tliree members were added 
to the communion of the church, and two hundred and forty-three 
persons were by hini l)aptized. The present church edifice was dedi- 
cated to the purposes of public worship, January loth, 1819, seventy- 
two years after the dedication of the second church. Three revivals 
of religion took ])lace during his ministry, in one of which forty per- 
sons became converts, and twenty-six joined the church on one day, 
being the largest number by one, that has ever joined the church on 
one occasion, since its organization in IGTO. During his ministry, 
three deacons were appointed — Judson Blackman, July 2d, 1818, 
Eli Summers, 1830, and Truman Minor, June 29th, 1838. 

Mr. Andrew is the only son of Samuel Andrew, who was grand- 
son of Rev. Samuel Andrew of Milford, one of the founders of Yale 
College, a fellow and pro tempore a rector of that institution, and 
for fifty years pastor of the first church in Milford. Mr. Andrew 
Avas born at Milford, May, 1787, and graduated at Yale College, in 
1807. lie studied law for a year or two, and spent a few years at 
the South in editing a newspaper, and in teaching. He studied 
theology with Rev. B. Rinneo, of Milford, and was ordained pastor 
over this church in 1817. He Avas chosen a fellow of Yale College, 
in 1837, which office lie resigned in 1847, on moving out of the 
county of Litchfield, and was at the same time appointed secretary 



306 HISTORY OP ANCIENT AVOODBUKY. 

of the college, which office he still holds. In 1848, he was chosen 
a member of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences. Mr. 
Andrew now resides at New Haven, his health not allowing him to 
assume a pastoral charge. 

Immediately after the resignation of Mr. Andrew, Rev. Lucius 
Curtis received a call from the church and society, was installed pas- 
tor over the church, July 8th, 1846, and still remains in his pastoral 
relation to the people. He is a native of Torrington, a graduate of 
Williams College, class of 1835, and of the Andover Theological 
Seminary, class of 1845. During his administration, the church has 
been very prosperous, eighty members having been added to its num- 
bers, and thirty-six persons baptized. Its present number of mem- 
bers is 222, not including some twenty-five absent members whose 
location is not known. 

The whole number of admissions to the church since its organiza- 
tion in 1G70, is 1,377, and the whole number of baptisms, infant and 
adult, 2,953. 

In June, 1816, a fund of more than $6,000 was raised by subscrip- 
tion among the members of the society, 

" To be and remain a perpetual fund ; and the interest arising thereon shall 
be appropriated exclusively to the support of a presbyterian minister, to be ap- 
proved by the Association of ministers in. whose limits we live, and who shall 
preach the pure doctrines of the Gospel generally called Calvinistic, or in con- 
formity to the shorter catechism of the Westminister Assembly of Divines. It 
is also expressly stipulated, that no part of the interest of this Fund, shall be 
applied for preaching the Gospel in any house of publick worship, North of 
the place fixed for a Meeting House by a Committee of the General Assembly, 
appointed in May, A. D. 1S14, & whose report was accejjted in October, A. D. 
1S14, which committee was composed of Daniel Porter, Daniel St. John & 
Diodate Silliman, Esqr, nor South of the present Meeting House in said society." 

The church then occupied was the second one built in town, which 
was located near Mr. Marshall's hotel, and the other location men- 
tioned above, was that now occupied by the present church of this 
society. This fund will perhaps have some influence in preventing 
quarrels about the location of a meeting-house in future. It now 
amounts to $6,.347. Besides this, the society has by a devise in the 
will of the late Hon. Noah B. Benedict the right of reversion to 
his homestead, and some fifteen acres of valuable land, as will be 
seen by the following : 

" I give and devise to the First Congregational or Presbyterian Society in 
Woodbury, whereof the Rev. Samuel K. Andrew is now ]^astor, tlu; land and 



UISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 307 

buihliiigs" above allii(l<-(l to, " to l>e liy said Sorii'ty usi d and forcViT iii)[)rovcd 
as a parHonay;*', and nevt'r, under any picti'nce, or ?n])po.*c(l beiirlit whatever, 
to be dis[)osed ol", or abenateil ; and any alienation oflhei^anie by said Society 
sliall worlc a Ibrfeitnre llu'renl, to my heirs at hiw. Bill it is liirther to be un- 
derstood, that it is uiy will, that the use ol' said proj)erty shall be aj)pro])riated 
to the .Sni)j)ort of the preaehiriL^ ol' the (losjiel in iro house of jMiblic worship, 
Ikrther North than the present hou>e, or Chnreh, whieh has lieeii Ijuilt within 
a few years, and is now oecnpied by said t'oeiety; nor shall said Society take 
beuelit of this beiiuest, if it shall hereaj'ter cease to maintain the pure doctrines 
of the liii^iiel, as now held, i)reaehed and imderstood Ijy oui I'astor, and his 
people. If the said society shall bet'ome exiinet, or shall cease to maintain the 
prcLiehini; of the Gi>s))el for such unreasonable length ol' time, as to ;how it is not 
intended permanently to sn|)piirt the public worship) ol' God therein, this devise 
sliall cease, and tlie estate revert to my heirs."' 

Thus have we traced the histoiy of this branch of" the '' Church 
universal" for 183 years. It is the honored mother of six useful and 
extended churches — six " well-settled children," which were nurtured 
in the " old homestead," and have arrived at a vigorous maturity. 
At times, ever since its own unquiet infancy, the storm and the whirl- 
w'ind have passed over it, but by the kindness of Providence, it still 
stands secure and prosperous, in a " ri])e old age," among its children 
and " sister churches" of the various denominations. 

1 Woodbury Probate Records, vol. 16, p. 276. 



/ 



CHAPTER XVII. 

HISTORY OF THE STRICT CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY IN 
WOODBURY. 

1816 TO 1853 ; Differences of opinion in regard to the Location of a Meet- 

ING-HOUSE THE OCCASION OF THE FOUNDATION OF THIS SoCIETY ; TwENTV 
YEARS spent IN EFFORTS TO SECURE A NORTHERN LOCATION ; COMMITTEE OF 
1795 RECOMMEND THE LOCATION OF THE PRESENT NoRTH ChURCH ; COMMITTEE 
OF 1814 RECOMMEND THE LOCATION OF THE PRESENT SoUTH ChURCH ; ThIS NOT 

PROVING Satisfactory, SEVENTY-ONE " Sign Off," 1814; They prepare to 
BUILD A Church — are stopped by the State's Attorney ; They there- 
fore PRONOUNCE themselves Baptists, and form a Constitution; Strict 
Congregational Society incorporated, 1816; Church gathered, by Rev. 
Dr. Tyler, 1816; Church Edifice commenced in 1S15 — Finished in ISIS — 
Dedicated, 1S19 ; Rev. Grove L. Brownell ordained First Pastor, 1817; 
Dismissed in 1S40 — Success of his Ministry ; Rev. John Churchill in- 
stalled, 1840; Statistics and State of the Church; Ministerial Fund. 

For more than a hundred and forty-six yeai-s after the gathering 
of the first church of Woodbury, it had remained a unit, firm and un- 
divided, while one part of the territory of the town after anoth-er had 
been incorporated into distinct ecclesiastical societies, to accommo- 
date the extension of the town, and the wants of its increasing popu- 
lation. The ancient church, under the successive ministrations of its 
first three worthy and revered pastors, had enjoyed great peace and 
prosperity. But the first society had, about the year 1794, become 
thickly settled in its northern limits, so that a majority of its mem- 
bers wei'e located in that part of its territory. The ancient meeting- 
house was within about two miles of the southern boundary of the 
society, while a part of the inhabitants lived nearly five miles north 
of the church. In March, 1794, the feeling to have a church edi- 
fice nearer the center of the parish became decided, and a vote w'as 
passed in a meeting of the society. 111 to 81, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 309 

"To build a Meeting House in the 1st Society for the greater convenience 
of said Society, on or near the Northwest corner of the land of John Martin, 
on the great plain, so called." 

In December, the same year, tlie society appointed Gen. Ilermon 
Swift, Aaron Austin, Esq., and Gen. David Smith, then judges of the 
Litchfield County Court, a committee to give advice " respecting the 
moving of the old, or building a new Meeting House." This com- 
mittee reported in March, 1795, that they would recommend the so- 
ciety, at some convenient future time, to build a new meeting-house 
about one mile north of the old house, near the dwelling-house of Mr. 
Elijah Slierman, Sen., being the })lace where the present north church 
stands ; but advised them '' neither to hurry, as the old house was 
comfortable, nor to lay out more money in its repair." On the 7th 
of February, 179G, the society 

" Voted, that Noah Judson be apixjinted agent to draw a petition to the next 
County Court for the .iiipointnicnt of a Committee to fix a place for a meeting- 
liouse in the 1st Society." 

The matter seems to have been dropped at this point, as no further 
action in regai'd to it was taken in the society, till April 23, 1810, 
when it was • 

"Voted either to build a new Meeting House, or move the old one; between 
April 1813 and April, 1S16, to such place as shall be established by a Com.iiit- 
tee appointed by the General Assembly, said Conuriittee to fix the place in the 
month of January 1S13." 

" Voted, that Nathaniel Bacon and Noah B. Benedict, Esq., be agents to pre- 
fer a !nemorial to the General Assembly for this purpose." 

At the following May session of the Assembly, a committee, con- 
sisting of Hon. Asher Miller, Hon. Jonathan Brace, Birdseye Nor- 
ton, John Kingsbury, and Samuel W. Johnson, Esquires, was ap- 
pointed, from wliich the society's clerk w^as to di-aw three, and they 
were to proceed to determine the matter in issue according to the 
foregoing vote. But this arrangement affected nothing, and the rec- 
ords show no farther action on the j)art of the society till the third 
Monday of February, 1814, when a vote passed 

" To build a new, or remove the old Rleetiug House between 1 June, 1S14 & 
1 June, 1S17, as tlu; General Assembly's Conine appointed in May Session 
next shall determine." 

At the May session, Diodate Silliman, Daniel Potter and Daniel 
St. John, were appointed a committee 



310 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

" To decide whether a new House for public worship should be built, or the 
old one repaired, and to fix the place for said Meeting house, within 90 days 
from the rising of the Assembly." 

This committee reijorted to the General Assembly at the October 
session, 1814, tliat 

" A new Meeting House should be built on the West side of the Highway, at 
the junction of the Middle Road Turnpike, Washington Turnpike, and the 
Litchfield County Road," and that they had " fixed a Stake 2 rods North of the 
North west corner of Hermon Stoddard's Dwelling house." 

The location here indicated, is that now occupied by the South 
Congregational Church, which the first society voted unanimously to 
build, March 27, 1817, after the secession of tlie northern inhabitants, 
so that this house stands at the place appointed by the Assembly. 
The northern inhabitants were still dissatisfied, and procured the 
passage of a vote in the society, " to oppose the acceptance of the re-' 
port," which they knew Avas to be made at the October session, and 
appointed Benjamin Judson, Reuben Martin and William O, Bron- 
son, agents for this purpose. But the report was accepted by the 
Assembly, and on the 29th of November following, Hon. Charles B. 
Phelps, wlio, at this tiine, acted with the northern inhabitants, to- 
gether with seventy others, lodged a certificate with the clerk of the 
first society, giving him " distinctly to understand," that 

" We do not belong to the first, or Presbyterian Society in this Town, but 
for conscience and duty sake do pronounce and hereby certify whomsoever it 
may concern, that we, and each of us, are of and do belong to the sect or persua- 
sion denominated Independent and Strict Congregationalists, to follow their doc- 
trines and discipline, strictly and without deviation. You [the society's clerk] 
and your successors are therefore directed, according to a statute law of this 
State, in such case made and provided, to consider each and every one of us ever 
hereafter as strict and independent Congregationalists, and distinct from your 
society, and cxemjjt irom all further taxes, or rates, or from any benefits and 
immunities of, in or belonging, in any view, to said first society in Woodbury. 

"Witness our hands this seventh day of November, A. D. 1814." 

In order to understand the design and effect of these proceedings, 
a word in relation to the law existing at that time is necessary. Be- 
fore the constitution of 1818, all the territory of the state Avas carved 
out into ecclesiastical societies. As various causes led to the erec- 
tion of new societies, they were, with few exceptions, incorporated 
by the Assembly with local limits. A few irregular parishes, ac- 
knowledging the general faith of the churches, made such by slight 



niSTOKT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 311 

differences of opinion, were, after 1784, designated by enrollment. 
With these few exceptions, which had been made for cause, two dis- 
tinct societies of the " standing order," were not allowed to occupy 
the same territory. It therefore became necessary for the northern 
inhabitants to call themselves by some other name in order to be re- 
leased from the regular society. 

By an act, passed in 1748, soon after the feud between the " Old 
Lights" and " New Lights" had agitated the religious community, 
entitled " An Act directing how to proceed when it shall be neces- 
sary to build a Meeting-IIouse for divine Worshiji," it was provided, 
that when by a two-thirds vote a -society should declare it to be nec- 
essary to build a meeting-house, the county court in the county where 
the society was located, should " appoint and affix the place whereon" 
the house should be erected. It was further enacted, that it should 
not be lawful for any society, or j)art of a society, '' to build, or set 
up any meeting-house for religious worship," without first procuring 
the appointment of a place by the county court, under penalty of 
$134, " to the treasury of the county ; to be recovered before the 
county court, in the county where the transgression is committed." 

After repeated efforts on the part of the northern interest, as we 
have seen, to procure a location, acee[)table to themselves, and for 
which they several times obtained a major vote in the society, but 
never the necessary two-thirds, a voluntary subscription was started 
by them, in 1814, to build a house on the site occupied by the 
present North Congregational Church. This subscription embraced 
some persons not members of the society, and a day was appointed 
to transport the timber to the place appointed. At this crisis, Gen. 
Elisha Sterling, state's attorney for Litchfield county, addressed a let- 
ter to some of the leaders in this project, declaring their conduct to 
be illegal, that each person engaged in the enterprise would incur the 
penalty of the statute, and that it would become his duty to prose- 
cute the offenders, which he should not omit to do. Accompanying 
this letter was an opinion of Judge Reeve, then on the last year of 
his judicial authority, confirming this position of Gen. Sterling. Dr. 
Lyman Beecher also addressed a letter to some members of the 
church, remonstrating against these measures, as inconsistent with 
their religious obligations and duties. 

To avoid these penalties, and the formidable array of enemies to 
" their movement," it was necessary to take some other measures. 
They believed that Dr. Beecher, and the other surrounding clergy- ' 
men, were adverse to their interests, and, asserting the same right of 



312 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

indepenucncj, that our Puritan fathers asserted in their conflict with 
ecclesiastical and political power in England, they determined to es- 
tablish a " church, free and independent." A committee, on which 
was Hon. Charles B. Phelps, was raised to frame a constitution for 
the government of the church and society. The first proposition of 
this constitution was, 

"This Church under God is free and independent of all Synods, Consisto- 
ries, Associations, Conventions, Classis, and all other Ecclesiastical authority, 
save that of the Lord Jesus." 

In its general tenor, it gave large authority to the church and so- 
ciety, in all matters relating to their interests ; but this power was 
modified by the appointment of a ruling elder, who was, ex officio, 
moderator of all church meetings, and possessed an unqualified veto 
upon all votes of the church, which did not meet his approbation. 
Benjamin Judson was appointed ruling elder, the name of the " Bap- 
tist Church" was adopted, and a minister of that denomination em- 
ployed, for a time, to preach to the church.' 

In May, 1816, an application was made to the General Assembly 
by this church, for incorporation into an ecclesiastical society, with 
the same privileges as other societies, but it failed. At the October 
session, the same year, a petition signed by 102 individuals renewed 
the application for society privileges, which were granted, and the ap- 
plicants Avere incorporated by the name of the " Strict Congregational 
Society" in Woodbury, with the same limits as the first society, leav- 
ing all persons within those limits to signify in the month of March 
annually, to what society they chose to belong, by leaving with the 
clerk of such society, a certificate to that effect, which is by him en- 
rolled on the records of the society.^ 



1 The chairman of the coinraittee that drafted this constitution, informed the au- 
thor, that the theological 2Mshilata advanced in it " were gathered up and down the 
Scriptures, Confessions, XIatechisms, Platforms, Articles, Theses and Creeds — where- 
ever a word of seasonable doctrine could be found. The precise amount of author- 
ity for it could not now be stated." He further remarked, that, in his opinion, not- 
withstanding this excellent constitution, the church had very soon after their regular 
incorporation into an ecclesiastical societj', in 1816, by a process of '■'■unconscious mn- 
talion,^^ relapsed into a close affinity with the " associated churches." 
"2 The late Reuben Walker, availing himself of this privilege, lodged with the clerk 
of the Strict Congregational Society, the following cei-tificate : 

" To Leman Shemian, Clerk of the North Society. 
Hear the words of Reuben with the strictest propriety. 
Tliis may certify to all who gather tithes, 
That Reuben has done with the South Socictv till he dies. 



niSTORT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 313 

After the incorporation of the new society, the bitterness of feeling 
began to wear off. Even before the incorporation, a committee had 
been appointed by the south part of the first society, consisting of 
Stiles Curtiss, John Strong, Esq., Simeon Pearce, Jesse Minor, and 
Moses Clark, 

" Tomect and confer with a eonimittee from ihc northern part of the society, 
on the situation and affairs of the society, and to deviso some method for the 
reconciliation of the existing dilVereiiees in the s-anie, andnnike report." 

The " differences," however, were not healed, as has appeared, and 
considerable feeling existed for many years — in short, some of it has 
even reached the present day. But it is mentioned with profound 
gratitude, that tlie present generation meet each other on a more 
generous footing, laying aside, in a good degree, the prejudices of 
the " fathers ;" and the ministers of the two societies meet and ex- 
change pul[)its with each other, in tlie bonds of true Christian fellow- 
ship. It is gratifying to see this, for there is no need of contention, 
and surely there is no pleasure or profit in it. There is room enough 
for both societies, and both are in a very flourishing condition. 
Doubtless there are at present more prof<i?sing Christians in the two 
churches than there would have been in one. Two laborers have 
effected more than could have been done by one. Let them continue 
on in this course, and show the Avorld " how good and pleasant it is 
for brethren to dwell togetlier in unity." 

The north church was organized December 2oth, 181G. The per- 
sons •\vlio composetl it were all of them members of the first church, 
and had been, at their own request, formtdly dismissed from that 
church, and recommended as in good and regular standing, for the 
purpose of b(;ing constituted into a sejiarate church. The church 
was formed by Rev. Dr. Tyler, then j)astor of the church in South 
Britain. By si)ecial request, he came and preached a sermon, and 
after its delivery he read the articles, or confession of faith, that had 
been prepared, which were assented to by thirty-one persons, eleven 
males and twenty females, upon which he pronounced them a church. 
The sermon preached on this occasion was on Ephesians iv. 3. 
" Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace." 
The church was constituted such, it seems, by a voluntary act, on 
their part, in assenting to certain articles of faith, and adopting a mu- 



Therefore wish to be considered not as one of the Thcoloj^icalists, 
But as belon^rinn; to the Strict Congregationalists. 
Woodbury, March 13th, 1818. Reuben Walker.' 

21 



314 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

tual covenant. The only ministers present, it is believed, were Rev. 
Dr. Tyler and Rev. Mr. Dwight. The latter was at this time offi- 
ciating as minister to this people. Since this organization, though 
nominally not connected with the Litchfield South Consociation, it 
has usually been represented in its deliberations. During the year 
previous, the present north meeting-house had been erected, and was 
at the time of the organization of the church, inclosed, but not fin- 
ished at all in the inside. A congregation had been for some time in 
the habit of meeting here for the purpose of religious worship, and 
the duties of the ministry had been discharged by Rev. Mr. Weeks, 
afterward Rev. Dr. "Weeks, of Newark, N. J. 

Thus was the church constituted and brought into a formal exist- 
ence. As yet, however, it was without pastor or deacon. Five days 
after its organization, Benjamin Judson was chosen deacon, Decem- 
ber 30th, 1816, and Deacon Nathaniel Minor, who still holds that 
office, was chosen the following year, 1817. He has consequently 
discharged the duties of that office about thirty-six years. 

It has already been stated that the church edifice, at the time of 
the organization of the church, was only inclosed. It was not fin- 
ished till two years after this time. Plain benches formed the seats 
of the worshipers, and a few boards only, an elevation for the pulpit, 
during that time. It is believed that the first sermon ever preached 
in the house, was delivered on the last Sabbath in July, 1816, from 
these words : " Behold ye trust in lying wonders, that can not profit." 
Jeremiah vii. 8. 

In February, 1817, came Rev. Grove L. Brownell, who com- 
menced preaching to this church, and continued to do so till the fol- 
lowing July, when he was ordained first pastor over the church and 
congregation. The sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Catlin, of 
New Marlborough, Mass., from 1 Thessalonians ii. 4. " But as we 
were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we 
speak, not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts." Shortly 
after the formation of the church, eight members were received into 
it, and in the following April, eleven more were added, so that at the 
ordination of the first pastor, the church consisted of fifty members, 
eighteen males and thirty-two females, eleven of whom had been 
added after he commenced his labors here. The church was dedi- 
cated January 7th, 1819. The sermon on the occasion was preached 
by Dr. Lyman Beecher. In 1821, there was a revival of religion in 
the church, and about thirty members were added to it. In 1827, 
there was another revival, which, from the records of the church, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT W O O I) B U U Y . 315 

would seem to have continued some years. From 18'27 to 1839, n 
jieriod of about eleven years, 167 persons were added to the church. 
The followinjr is taken from a manuscript sermon of Rev. John 
Churchill, present pastor of the church, to which we are indebted for 
a statement of many of the facts in its historv: ' 

" There were no additions to the chnr>'h subsequent to l'=:3^, during the min- 
hlry of the I'ormer jjastor, (Mr. Brownell,) vvhieh continued for nearly twenty- 
three years. During that period of time there were received into the church by 
profession, under the ministry of the former pastor, two hundred and thirty-six 
^ persons, who may be regarded as the iiroper fruits of his ministry. There can 
be no better encomium passed upon the htborsof your former pastor, than that 
during his ministry, lie was the honored instrument of leading 236 of your 
number, your rehitions and friends, and many of yourselves, to the Lord Jesus 
Christ. No one can look at these fruits, without the conviction that his labors 
Were not in vain in the Lord. I take pleasure in testil'ying from the records ol' 
the rhurcli,and Irom living records, which are known and read of many, that 
liis ministry was a highly useful ministry. It would be a matter of devout joy 
and tlianksgiving, could his successor ever be permitted to look back upon such 
proof of the usefulness of his labors for the cause of Christ."' 

" Besides those wlio wlmc connected with this church by profcs.Mon, there 
were added to it under the ministry of Mr. Brownell, by letters from other 
churches, fifty-six, making the whole number added, from the time he began 
his ministry, 292. If we add to this number, thirty-nine, who were connected 
with the church when became, it will make the whole number of persons con- 
n.'cted with the church during his niinistry, .')3L The number of children bap- 
tized by him was ISS." 

Two deacons ^vere chosen during the ministrations of Mr. Brownell, 
jSIoses Clark, in 1821, and Elijah Sherman, Jr., to succeed him at his 
death, in 1831. ]\[r. Brownell graduated at the University of Ver- 
mont, in 1813, and received the degree of master of arts from Yale 
College, in 181G. He now resides in Sharon, Conn., and is the prin- 
cipal of a flourishing academy at that place. 

On the dismission of the first pastor. Rev. John Churchill received 
a unanimous call from the church and society, to settle with them, and 
was installed into the sacred office, April 22d, 1840. Mr. Churchill 
graduated at the theological deiitirtment of Yale College, in 1839, the 
year preceding his installation here, and received the honorary de- 
gree of master of arts from the same college in 18-14. 

• Under the care of the i)resent pa>tor, who has now accomplished 
his twelfth year in the duties of the ministry, the church has greatly 
prospered, steadily advancing in strength and numbers. At the ac- 
cession of Mr. Churchill, twelve years ago, there were living, 183 
members of the church. Of these, thirty have died, and tliirty-one 



316 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

have been dismissed to other churches, leaving now 122 members, 
that were such before that date. During his ministry, 165 persons 
have been added to the church, thirteen of whom have died, and 
twenty-two have been dismissed to other churches, leaving 130 who 
still remain members of the church, of those who have joined it with- 
in twelve years. The whole number of members of the church, at 
the present moment, leaving out, as has been done in the foregoing 
estimates, absent members of whom little or nothing is known, is 250. 
Of absent members not included in the above statistics, there are 
some fifteen or twenty. There are but six persons of the thirty-one 
who foi'med this church, thirty-six years ago, now remaining among 
the living. Of the eiglit that next joined the church, not one re- 
mains, and two only are living of the eleven who joined next year. 
There are only thirty-three out of the whole number of 155 who 
united with the church up to 1830, now living. More than 125 
members have been removed by death since the church was organ- 
ized, thirty-six yeai-s ago. 

From a sermon delivered by the present pastor, in April, 1853, the 
following extracts are taken to show the present state, and also the 
prosperity of the church, past and present : 

" It is due to the kind providence of God, my friends, to remember with 
gratitude the fact, that for twelve years, and even ever since your organization 
as a society, you have been uniformly prospered — not always equally, but still, 
more or less, prospered. Very little, perhaps I may say nothing has occurred, 
since you became a society for Christian purposes, to disturb, essentially, your 
unity, or the harmony of your counsels and your operations. * But from the first 
till now, during a period of thirty-six years, you have had a very steady and 
uniform prosperity. When this house was first erected, you were comparative- 
ly few, yet through the good resolution, firmness, and self-sacrificing spirit of 
the men of that day, most of whom have been gathered to their fathers, it was 
30 far completed as to be a comfortable place for Christian worship, and at the 
expiration of two years, it was finished in a style to compare with the churches 
of that day. Under these favorable auspices, your numbers, as your popula- 
tion, increased, and during almost the entire ministry of my predecessor, to 
whom I have not a doubt, we are all of us indebted, for, at least, a considera- 
ble portion of the harmony and prosperity that we have enjoyed here, your 
course was onward. You were not broken up by divisions of sentiment, or by 
changes in the pastoral office ; and in consequence of frequent revivals of reli- 
gion during all that period, you were decidedly strengthened as a society. 
» * * • * * * 

" Our peace has been mostly uniform — never seriously broken — and, conse- 
quently, we have been able to go on in the ordinary use of the means of grace, 
without having to tarn aside and rectify evils among ourselves. Our meetings 
as a church, have no*, been, except in a very few instances, meetings for the 
settlement of difficulties, but for spiritual edification. This has been true of 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKT. 317 

us for the past twelve years, to an extent that is by no means common among the 
churches throu>,'hout the country, and it shouhl be regarded as an occasion for 
gratitude and praise to 'God." 

"Such indeed has been tlje spiritual prosperity of this church during the 
past twelve years, that we now have nearly the whole adult portion of the con- 
gregation included in the church, or among those who entertain the hope of 
salvation. It is confidently believed, that there is not another congregation in 
the State, where so large a proportion of them are regarded as Christians — 
where there are so few irreligious persons in proportion to the whole number." 

One deacon has been appointed during the ministry of Mr. Church- 
ill, Reuben H. Hotchkiss, November 4th, 1842, in })lace of of Dea. 
Sherman, who had resigned. In 1846, a commodious chapel was 
built for the use of the society near the church, and another in 
Hotchkissville, for the use of the people of that neighborhood. 

In 1821, a fund of $5,163 was raised by subscription among the 
members of the society, to 

" Be and remain a perpetual iund, and the interest arising thereon shall be 
appropriated and applied exclusively for the support of a Minister to be ap- 
proved by the association of Ministers within the limits of which we live, and 
who shall preach the pure doctrines of the Gospel, generally called Calvinis- 
tick, or in conformity to the Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Assembly 
of Divines; and no Minister shall be entitled to receive support from this fund, 
unless he is approved by three-fourths of the male members of the church in 
the aforesaid Society. And it is explicitly stipulated, that the interest of this 
fund shall be applied ibr preaching the Gospel, in the present Meeting House 
of said Society, or in a house erected for public worship at the same place 
where their said Meeting House is now standing, and that no part of sucii in- 
terest shall be applied for preaching the Gospel in a house of publick worship 
at any other place." 

On the failure of the Eagle Bank in New Haven, some years ago, 
$1,000 of this fund, which had been invested in the stock of that 
bank, was lost. Another loss of $95 has occurred. Thei'e still re- 
mains of the fund, the income of which is appropriated for the purposes 
for which it was originally raised, $4,0(58. Of this sum, $500 is in- 
vested in the stock of the Woodbury Bank. It will be seen, that 
here, as in the first society, the location of the present meeting-house 
is made perpetual, so far as the fund can do it. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

CIVIL IIISTOUY CONTINUED FROM CHAPTER IX. 

Miscellaneous Events from 1775 to 1S53; Slavery; "Redemptioners" — Ho^•. 
Matthew Lyon; Pest-IIouses ; Approval of the Constitution of the 
United States, 1787 ; Ravages of Canker Worms ; Public Library, 1772, 
1S23 AND 1S50 ; Robbery at Guernsey Town; Obsequies of Washington, 
1800; New MiLFORD Fever ; War of 1812; Hartford Convention, 1814; 
State CbNSTiTUTioN, 1818; Daniel Bacon's Town Hall, 1S23; New Town 
Hall, 1845; Sectional Feeling ; Burial Customs; New Burial Ground, 
1820; North Academy, 1846; South Academy, 1851; Masonic Lodge 
founded, 1765 ; Masonic Hall, 1839; Fidelity Chapter, 1809; Pomperaug 
Division, S. of T., 1847 ; Bethel Rock Lodge, L O. O. F., 1847 ; Woodbury 
Bank, 1851; Woodbury Savings Bank and Building Association, 1853; 
Trade and Manufactt-res ; Remarks. 

Again we address ourselves to the task of collecting and treasur- 
ing up the isolated facts and incidents in the history of the town, 
and this time the last, in this our undertaking. Although the labor 
has been arduous in the extreme, as we have slowly traced our way 
through the long years gone by, yet we can scarcely leave these com- 
munings with the past without regret. We part from the actors and 
their deeds as from old friends, and join again the thronging, rushing 
tide of busy life- 
It will scarcely be believed by some, who have imbibed cer- 
tain notions so prevalent in the north, that Connecticut was 
ever a slave state, and that in this sequestered spot, in these re- 
ligious vales, in this Puritanic '' dwelling-place in the wood," have 
been heard the " clanking chains of slavery." Yet it is but five 
years since that " institution" was unconditionally abolished in this 
state. Up to this time, slavery had existed in Woodbury, although 
it has been for many years reduced to the person of one superannua- 
ted negro, who Avas and is supported on the estate of his former owner,' 

1 An act passed May, 1848, abolishing slaveiy. There had been for a long period of 
years but a few superannuated slave? in this state, supported by their former masters, 
or their families, as was their duty to do by the statute. One such instance still ex- 
' sts in Woodbury. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 319 

It will be difficult for a portion of our community to believe, that the 
sainted Walker, Stoddard and INIarshall, those men of God, those 
lights to the people in this wilderness for so many years, were slave- 
holders ; and yet such is the fact. All the leading men and men of 
property, in the early days, owned slaves. The fact is attested by 
all our records, town, probate and ecclesiastical. It is true that 
they were treated kindl}^, educated, presented in baptism, their reli- 
gious interests cared for, stan<ling rather in the light of children of 
the household, than that of slaves ; yet were they such, bought and 
sold, and at the will and pleasure of their masters. During the 
whole of the eighteenth century, the institution flourished here, though 
in a mild form. The various records sjiow, that a considerable pro- 
portion of the personal estate of the more opulent of the inhabitants 
consisted of negro servants. They became attached, in many instan- 
ces, to the place where they had been brought up, and lingered 
around the " old homesteads," long after some of them were entitled 
to go free by virtue of law. 

Although slaveiy was never directly established by statute in this 
state, yet it was introduced in the seventeenth century, has been in- 
directly sanctioned by several statutes, and frequently recognized by 
the courts, so that it may be said to have been established by law. 
Importation of slaves into the state was never large, and in 1771, 
their importation was prohibited altogether. In the war of the 
Revolution, freedom was granted to all slaves, who Avould enlist and 
serve during the war. To avail themselves of this provision, some 
twenty-tive of their number in this town enlisted at various periods 
of the war, and made good soldiers, lighting valiantly for the liber- 
ties of the country. Several of these, having survived the perils of 
the war, returned and resided in Woodbury, and received pensions 
from the general government, in common with others, for their mili- 
tary services. 

After the close of the war, in 1784, the legislature to effect the 
gradual abolition of slavery, assuming that " Policy requires that the 
Abolition of Slavery should be eifected as soon as may be consistent 
with the Rights of Individuals (ind the public Safety and Welfare," 
enacted that no negro or mulatto child born after the first day of 
March, 1784, should be held in servitude longer than till they arrived 
at the age of twenty-five years ; and also provided for the emancipa- 
tion of slaves by masters without being liable for their supj)ort on 
application to tlie civil authority of the town, if they were in good 
health, were desirous of emancipation, and were between the ages of 



320 



HISTOKY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 



twenty-five and fortj-five years. To prevent those entitled to free- 
dom at the age of twenty -five years fi'om being held longer by unscru- 
pulous masters, a statute was passed in 1788, requiring all masters, 
within six months after the birth of each slave, to send in to the 
town-clerk their own names, and the names and ages of snch children, 
under a penalty of seven dollars for each month's neglect. In 1797, 
children of slave mothers, born after August of that year, were to be 
free at the age of twenty-one years. All slaves, set free by their 
masters, in any other form, than is above expressed, and all who 
served for a time, were to be supported by their masters, if they ever 
came to want. Another regulation Avas made, that no one should 
carry slaves out of the state for sale. In consequence of these stat- 
utes, slavery gradually decreased, and had virtually disappeared, 
when in 1848, a statute was passed abolishing it^^ro forma. 

By an act under the title of " Arrest" in the code of laws com- 
piled in 1G50, and not rei)ealed till more than one hundred and sixty- 
five years afterward, it was i)rovided that if no other means could 
be found to pay a debt for which a debtor was imprisoned, if the 
creditor required it, and the court judged it reasonable, the debtor 
might be disposed of in service to satisfy the debt. It is asserted to 
have been a common practice, for poor foreigners, who were unable 
to pay their passage money, to engage their passage by stipulating 
with the captain of the vessel which brought them to this country, 
that he might assign them in service to raise the money which was 
his due, on arrival at the port of destination. Persons assigned in 
this manner, were called '' Kedemptioners," and moz-e than one was 
so held in Ancient Woodbury. Among the number was Matthew 
Lyon, a native of Ireland, who was assigned on his arrival in New 
York, to Jabez Bacon of Woodbury, who brought him home, and 
after enjoying his services for some time, he assigned him for the 
remainder of the time of service to Hugh Hannah of Litchfield, 
for a pair of stags, valued at £12. By dint of sterling native talent, 
under these most disheartening circumstances, he fought his way to 
fame and eminence, and was afterward a member of Congress from 
Vermont, and also from Kentucky. . He was one of the number con- 
victed under the famous " Alien and Sedition" law, and fined, but the 
fine was subsequently remitted by Congress. Lyon's success furnish- 
es a striking example of the genius of the institutions of our favored 
country. 

About the time of the Revolution, the small-pox was the great 
courge of the colonies, and during that period, the soldiers were 



HISTORY OF A N C I K N T WOODBURY. 321 

constiintly dying of this disoust'. The returning soldieis frequently 
cume lioine witli it, and seattered it among their neighbors in this 
retired valley. So gi-eat was the affliction and alarm growing out of 
the })revalence of tliis disease, that scarcely any one dared to under- 
take a journey of any length without tirst being inoculated with the 
small-pox. Dui'ing the Ivevolution, upon the representation of Gen. 
Putnam that soldiers shouhl be inoculated, liberty was granted to 
Dr. Isaac Foster to set up a house, or hospital for the inoculation of 
this disease in Woodbury. It was located east of the Orenaug Kocks. 
In December, 1789, it was voted that 

" Doct. Josej)!! Pyrry have lil)L-ity ti_) set up the business of Inoculation in 
this town under .•-uch regulations as a couitee Judge pro])er which the town 
should appoint." 

lie accordingly took charge of this business for many years. At 
the present day, the matter is much more easily managed by inocu- 
lation with the vaccine or kine j)OX. 

As the town had been true to the cause of independence, during 
the dark and gloomy night of the Revolution, and expended freely its 
blood and treasure in the ac(piisition of free institutions; so after 
that event it was among the first to ttike advantage of the rights and 
privileges that had been gained, by a right direction of public opin- 
ion. On the 12th of November, 1787, after the formation of the 
Constitution of the United States, and its presentation for ratification, 
a special town meeting was called, at which Hon. Daniel Sherman 
presided as moderator, and it was 

"Voted, th;:t this mei ting ajiprove oT tlie system of government recommend- 
ed hy the Coiivi'uliou of the United States." 

At the stune ineeling Doct. Samuel Orion and Hon. Daniel Sher- 
man were chosen delegates to the state convention at Hartford, for 
the ratification of that instrument, fraught with so many interests of 
this widely extended country. I>y their active exertions they did 
much toward tlie consummation of this auspicious event. Though 
impressed with the right views, and taking the right course of action, 
little did they dreatn of the vast importance of that action, and the 
glory that should dtiwn on their country by the adoption of that chtir- 
ter of our liberties. 

Tlie convention met at Htirtford, January 3rd, 1788. Woodbury 
at this date had parted with territory sufficient for three towns, 
Washington, iJethlem, and Southbury. These children of the old 
town were also represented in the convention, and imitated the ex- 



322 HISTOKY OF ANCIEXT AVOODBUKY. 

ample of the motlier-town. Bethlem was represented by Moses 
Hawley, Esq. ; Wasliington by John Whittlesey and Daniel N. 
Briusniade, Esqrs. ; and Southbury by Benjamin Stiles, Esq. The 
entire delegation of the ancient territory gave an affirmative vote on 
the question of ratification, showing themselves true to the best in- 
terests of the country, though the proposed constitution met much 
opposition in some quarters. 

In 1791, the canker-worms devoured the orchards, not only here, 
but all over the New England states ; and their ravages were re- 
peated the two following years. Orchards standing in stitt" clay soil, 
and in low grounds, which are wet in the spring, escaped ; but on all 
kinds of light and dry soil, the trees were almost as dry on the first 
of June, as on tlie first of January. The same insect has this year 
(1853) attacked the orchards in the same manner, and with the 
same result. The trees on the fifteenth of June, were as brown as in 
autunni, and almost entirely stripped of foliage. Tlie fruit has been 
entirely ruined, although at the present Avriting, (August,) the trees 
have again put on a fresh garment of foliage. The eye of man could 
not well behold a denser shower of vermin than these trees presented. 

In 1772, a public library for the use of those disposed to avail 
themselves of its advantages was established in the town. The best 
information that we have of it is contained in an extract from a let- 
ter written by Rev. Noah Benedict to Dr. Stiles, president of Yale 
College, dated December 17th, 1798 ; 

•' There is one public library in the Town. It was set tq) in the year 1772. 
It contains about ISO volumes, consisting iM-incipaliy of Books upon Divinity 
and Ecclesiastical History. However, there are other histories, and some books 
of amusement." 

It is highly probable, that the " books of amusement" constituted 
no large proportion of the library, when we reflect what were the 
notions of that day, and even they might not be classed under the 
head of " amusement," were we of the present day called upon to 
make the classification. This library association was broken up some 
time after 1800, and there was nothing of the kind in town for some 
years after. 

In 1823, another circulating library was established by about forty 
of the principal inhabitants of the town, under the name of the 
Woodbury Union Library Company. This company also "ran well 
for a season," and acquired a respectable number of interesting and 
useful books. Like other human institutions it had its rise and fall. 



HISTORY OF A N C I E X T WOODBURY. 6Zo 

It held its last meeting in 18SG. Its books became scattered among 
those of its members who were ])robably the best readers, and finally 
went out in darkness. 

The town depended on the "light of nature," and the use of pri- 
vate libraries, from this date till the organization of the present 
library in January, 1850, This library was orga)iized on a ditlerent 
principle from either of the others, and thus tar has prospered be- 
yond any former experiment. By its rules every book is to be re- 
turned to the library on the lirst Thursday of each month under 
severe penalty, so that each member may know, that at each succeed- 
ing monthly meeting all the books will be in the library. The use of 
the books each succeeding month, is then put up at auction, and 
struck off to the highest bidder. A fund is thus raised without in- 
convenience to the members, sullicient without taxation, whicji for 
some reason is always odious, to make a fine addition of books to the 
library at each succeeding amuial meeting. It has been incorporated 
as a body politic and corporate under a public statute of tliis state, 
enacted ior such purpose, and is thus enabled to carry its regulations 
into effect. Its corporate name is the "Woodbiny Library Associa- 
tion, and it has about 300 volumes of well selected books on 
various subjects of interest, civil, ecclesiastical and miscellaneous. 
Its officers are Rev. Lucius Curtiss, president, "William Cothren, 
treasurer and librai-ian, and Lucius Curtiss, William Cothren, George 
Drakeley, Garwood II. At wood and John E. Strong, executive com- 
mittee. Its influence has been for good, and has induced an increas- 
ed desire for reading useful books. There is no reason to doubt, that 
if the present system is strictly followed, there will be, in a few years, 
a lil)rary of which the town may well be proud. 

In the spring of 1778 or 1770, an occurrence took place at Guern- 
sey Town, which is thus related by Barber in his Historical Collec- 
tions of Connecticut : 

•' A robbery, wliicli at tlio time caused considerable excitement in the com- 
munity, took place, in the east part of ilie parish of Bethlem, called Guernsey 
Town, in the spring,' of the year 177S or 1779, at the house of Ebenezer Guern- 
sey, a wealthy farmer. Mr. Guernsey had sold his farm some time before, to 
Isaac Baldwin of Woo(lbridp,'(>, who had moved in with Mr. Guernsey, and had 
paid him a large sum of money. Mr. Guernsey had a number of men in his 
employ in building a house on an adjoining farm. All in the house had retired 
to rest, it being late at night, except Mr. Baldwin and wife, and two young men 
who were in another room. Two of the roljbers came in, their faces being 
blackened, one being armed with a gun, the other with a pistol, and ordered 
Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin into the room where the yoimg men were, to be bound, 



324 nisTOKY OF ancient wgodbuky. 

fbreatfniny tlicin with immediate death if they made any losi.stance. One of 
the young men made liis escape; tliey bound the other, and while attempting 
to bind Mr. Baldwin, who ^vas a very active man, he wrenched the pistol from 
one of the robber.*, at which the other attempted to shoot him, but he managed 
to keep behind the other robber till another from without came in and knocked 
Mr. Baldwin down with the breech of a gun, and wounded him badly. Mr. 
Guernirey, although somewhat deaf, was awakened by the uncommon noise, 
and coming into the room was knocked down and had his skull fractured ; the 
rest of the family made their escape or hid themselves. The robbers rilled the 
house of many valuable thing?, but in retiring, dropped Mr. Guernsey's pocket 
book, which contained a large amount of continental money. One of theyonng 
men who escaped ran three miles to Bothlera meeting-house, without stopping 
to give any alarm." 

Untler the date of tlie 14tli day of April, 1<S00, there appears on 
the town records the followmg interesting vote : 

"Voted that the town pay Major Cunningham 2^/'), the expense of Musick 
at the time the death of Genl Washington was kept."i 

Tluis it is seen, that Woodbury, in common with the rest of our 
favored land, mourned with public rites the death of the " father of 
his country." Amid the tolling of bells, and the booming of minute 
guns, the participation of our quiet valley in the general grief was 
betokened. A public eulogy was pronounced in commemoration of 
the virtues of the nation's greatest benefactor, and of the public grief 
at the country's greatest loss. That was a sad day in the vale oi 
Woodbury, No man in this country, if in the Avorld, was ever 
mourned so widely and sincerely as Washington. In every part of 
the United States, the most distinguished men pronounced eulogies 
on his public and private character ; the pulpit spoke forth his pniise ; 
and some mark of respect was offered in every little hamlet in the 
country. There is no extravagance in the assertion, that a nation 
was in tears at his death. There have been other men, great and 
popular ill their day and generation, and lamented with deep sorrow 
at their death, but their fame has soon passed away. Not so with 
that of Washington. His fame has continued to grow brighter with 
the lapse of years, and thus it shall go on as time glides by, till the 
last great day. 

In 1813, the town, which was then reduced to its present limits, 
was visited with another fatal scourge, or " Great Sickness." It was 
called the " New Milford fever," from the fact of its having first orig- 



1 Towu Book, vol. 1. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 325 

inated there. The disease was very destructive of human life, ter- 
minating in deatli, apparently, Avithout remedy. Medical aid, for a 
time, seemed to be of no avaiL After a while, Doct. Josiah R. East- 
man, of Roxbury parish, hit upon a mode of practice, which though 
not so scientific, perhaps, as that of his brethren in the profession, 
proved efficacious in this disease, and lie was called to attend patients 
in all directions, and always with great success, till the disease finally 
disappeared late in the year. Forty-four deaths occurred in the 
present town of Woodbury during the year, Avhile the number of 
deaths for many years preceding and succeeding this date, had only 
been from ten to twenty-five each year. The records show twenty- 
two deaths in Roxbury, twenty-seven in Washington, and in the same 
ratio in Southbury. So that there were, undoubtedly, as many as 
one hundred and fifty deaths, in the '' ancient territory," during this 
year. Surely this was a sad and trying time for the dwellers among 
these verdant hills and smiling valleys. 

On the 2Sth of June, ISI'2, war was declared between the United 
States and Great Britain. From the war message of President Mad- 
ison, we learn as causes for the declaration, that British cruisers had 
been in the continual practice of violating the American flag on the 
great highway of nations, and seizing and carrying oif persons sailing 
under it ; not in the exercise of a belligerent right, founded on the 
law of nations, against an enemy, but of a municipal prerogative over 
British subjects. That so far from British subjects alone being affect- 
ed by this i)ractice, under the pretext of searching for these, thousands 
of American citizens, under the safeguard of national law and of their 
national flag, had been torn from their country and everything dear 
to them ; had been dragged on board the ships of war of a foreign 
nation, and exposed, under the severities of their discipline, to be ex- 
iled to the most distant and deadly climes, to risk their lives in the 
battles of their oj)pressors, and to be the melancholy instruments of 
taking away those of their own brethren. That British cruisers had 
been in the practice, also, of violating the rights and peace of our 
coasts, hovering over and harassing our entering and departing com- 
merce. To the most insulting pretensions, they had added the most 
lawless proceedings in our very harbors, and had wantonly spilt Amer- 
ican blood within the sanctuary of our territorial jurisdiction. That 
although for a series of years our government had made every effort 
to induce England to discontinue these untenable pretensions, yet 
such was the spectacle of injuries and indignities, Avhich had been 
heaped upon our country, and such the crisis which its unexampled 



326 HISTORY OF ANCIENT W O O D B U K T . 

forbearance and conciliatory efforts had not been able to avert. Our 
moderation and forbearance had had no other effect than to encourage 
perseverance, and to enlarge pretensions. For these and other causes, 
was it deemed just by the administration of Madison, that war should 
be proclaimed, although there was a large and respectable party, 
which thought tliat war might yet be avoided by conciliation. 

During this conflict, in our naval warfare against Great Britain, 
our nation had a glorious beginning. Astonishment and mortification 
seized the British at the brilliant success of our little navy, which 
they had so much despised, and which added such glory to the Ameri- 
can name. In the laconic language of the gallant Perry, it " met the 
enemy and they were ours." Nor were the operations on land less 
successful than on the sea, after a little discipline and experience. 

During this war, the situation of Connecticut, and indeed of all the 
New England states, was in the highest degree critical and dangerous- 
The services of the militia, during its whole continuance, were ex- 
tremely severe. Tliey were constantly taken from their farms and 
from their ordinary occupations, to defend the coasts ; and in addition 
to all the numerous and severe losses which this state of things pro- 
duced, they we]"e further subjected to the hardships and dangers of 
the camp, and the life of a soldier in the regular service. Sometimes 
whole companies were called to march, without delay, to New London 
and other exposed places. On one of these occasions, a Avhole com- 
pany, the artillery company of Washington, under Capt. Nathaniel 
Farrand, marched to the former place. Levies on the militia in the 
ancient territory were constantly made, which were as constantly an- 
swered by the required number of men. Although from the short 
terms of service and other causes, it is not now possible to determine 
how many from the territory served their country in this war, yet the 
number is believed to have been more than two hundred. A hun- 
dred and twelve names are still preserved, and a list of them may 
be found at the close of this volume. As on all former occasions^ 
l)Oth while under the colony, and under the government of the free 
and independent state, the sons of Woodbury W(!re found at the post 
of duty. 

Notwithstanding the great services of Massachusetts and Connect- 
icut, Congress withheld all supplies for the maintenance of the militia 
for the year 1814, in both those states, and thus forced upon them 
the burden of supjjorting the troops employed in defending their coasts 
from invasion, and their towns from being destroyed. Meanwhile 
the taxes laid by the general government for the prosecution of the 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "VV O O D B U R T . o2 1 

war, were exacted from llie^e states with tlie most rigorous prompt- 
ness. It became apparent that if the New England states were res- 
cued at all from these calamities, it must depend, as far as human 
means were concerned, ujmn their own exertions. The inhabitants 
on the sea-coast of Massachusetts s])read the alarm, and early in 
1814, petitions and memorials from a large number of towns were 
sent to the legislature, praying to be protected in their constitutional 
rights and privileges, and suggesting the expediency of appointing 
delegates, 

"To meet delegates from such other states as might think j>roper to appoint 
them, for the purpose of devising proper nieasures to procure the united cflorts 
of tlie eommcrcial states to obtain siieli amcnflments and explanations of the 
constitution, as will seenre them from i'urther evils." 

The legislature referred the matter to a committee, who reported 
in favor of a convention of those states ftivoring the enterprise, by a 
vote of 226 to 67, in a convention of both houses. 

A circular was addressed to the several states, inviting them to 
meet in convention with them, stating the object of the convention to 
be, to deliberate upon dangers to which the eastern section was ex- 
posed by the course of the war, and to devise, if possible, means of 
security and defense, which might be consistent with tlie preserva- 
tion of their resources from total ruin, and not repugnant to their ob- 
ligations as members of the union ; and also to deliberate on the ques- 
tion of amending the constitution of the United States. Accordingly 
a convention was agreed upon, to meet at Hartford. Dec. 15th, 1814, 
and Massachusetts sent twelve delegates, Connecticut seven, Rhode 
Island four, all apj)ointed by the several legislatures, and New Hamp- 
shire and Vermont three, appointed by local conventions. These 
were among the most distinguished men in the union. The conven- 
tion assembled at the time appointed, and their proceedings took 
place with closed doors, though their journal was afterward made 
public. The convention immediately published a report, containing 
their views, which was extensively circulated. 

News of peace soon after arrived, and the subjects mooted in the 
convention were no longer agitated. As all the delegates appointed 
to the convention l>elonged to the party opposed to the administra- 
tion, they were denounced by its friends, both before and after their 
meeting, in the bitterest terms, as treasonable to the general govern- 
ment, and the name of the " Hartford Convention" became, with the 
administration party, a term of reproach. Woodbury Avas represent- 
ed in that convention, in the person of the late distinguished Judge 



328 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Nathaniel Smith, to M^liose cool judgment, wise reasoning, and burn- 
ing eloquence, much may be attributed in bringing the determina- 
tions of the convention to a rational conclusion, without detracting 
from the merits of others. To the hem of the garments of that pure 
patriot and upright statesman, no stain attaches. 

Previous to September 15th, 1818, tlie state had continued to live 
under the charter of 16G2, granted by Cliarles IT. For some time 
previous to this date, it had been thouglit by many, that it was unbe- 
coming the spirit of progress, and the genius of our institutions, to re- 
main under a charter granted by a Icing. Others thought the pro- 
visions of the charter eminently free, and having for a long period of 
years prospered under it, wished no change, or at least none at the 
risk of w^hat an attempt at change might introduce. Parties were 
formed upon the question, and the spirit of party ran high. The re- 
sult of the discussion was a convention, and the subsequent adoption 
of our present state constitution. 

January 15, 1818, the town of "Woodbury acted on tlie question, 
and, in a town-meeting held on tliat date, passed the following vote : 

"That the ix'presentativesof this town in the next General Assembly be and are 
hereby re<[ueste(l to use their infiuence and exertions that suitable measures 
be taken for forming a written constitution of civil government for the State of 
Connecticut."' 

It was further voted, that the town-clerk furnisli a cojjy of tliis 
vote to each of the representatives to the IMay session of the General 
Assembly, and that Mr. Garry Bacon should proein-e and forward a 
like co[)y to the editor of the Columbian Register, at Xew Haven, for 
publication. The representatives to the May session were Nathan 
Preston and Philo Murrey, Esquires. At this session a convention 
was called to meet in August following, to form a constitution. Dan- 
iel Bacon, Esq., and Doct. Nathaniel Perry, were appointed dele- 
o-ates from Woodbury to the convention, which closed its labors Sept. 
15, 1818, having framed the constitution, under which we now live. 

Previous to 1823, there had been an effort to locate and build a 
new town hall for the use of the town, but as is usual in such cases, 
a wreat deal of bickering and bad feeling had arisen on the occasion, 
and no conclusion was arrived at. Finally, to end the difficulty, Mr. 
Daniel Bacon built a new two story building, near Jiis dwelling-house, 
now owned by his son. Rev. AYilliam T. Bacon, and offered the use 
of the second story, rent free, to the town for its meetings. At a 



1 To^\^l Journal, vol. 1. 



HISTORY OF AXCIENT WOODBURY. 329 

meeting of the town, Dec. 29, 1823, Dea. Elijah Sherman being 
moderator, it was 

" Voted to adjourn this meeting to Mr. Daniel Bacon's now Building, to meet 
in the Chamber of s^ Building immediately." 

This continued to be used as the phace for all meetings of the 
town till 1845, when the present commodious town-hall was built. 

At that date, it was thought that the old town-hall did not answer 
the necessities of the town, and that a new and more commodious 
building should be erected. In the conclusion that a new building 
should be erected, all agreed ; but the location was quite another 
matter. In this the " ends" of the town were widely at variance. It 
was an occasion which could not pass without an exhibition of the 
" old feeling," which began in Stratford, caused the settlement of the 
town, showed its controlling power in the location of each successive 
church building that the increasing wants of the community demand- 
ed, and had finally rent the church of God in twain. A meeting 
was called in the " dead of winter," to determine the question of loca- 
tion, and after a spirited debate, a respectable majority voted to locate 
the building in the spot it now occu]iies. But there being a suspi- 
cion of unfairness in the vote, application was made to the select- 
men to appoint another meeting to try the question anew. The 
meeting was called, and though Providence, the evening before the 
appointed day, shed down some two feet of snow, enough one would 
think, to cool the feelings of the belligei'ent parties, yet the high piled 
drifts were penetrated in every direction, and almost every legal 
voter appeared at the meeting for the decision of the momentous ques- 
tion of a difference in distance of one or two hnndred rods ! The 
vote was taken by ballot, and the former location ratilied by an in- 
creased majority. 

To the inhaliitants bred and born in this goodly valley, this ques- 
tion of feet and inches has an importance, a magnitude, totally un- 
appreciable by those born in a different latitude. On this question, 
the author, who is not to the '' manor born," speaks with a freedom 
and an impartiality, which, in the eyes of some of his readers, may 
amount to recklessness ; but he verily believes, that he speaks the 
words of " truth and soberness." The general prosperity and advan- 
tage of the whole town are greatly to be desired, and it is most can- 
didly conceived that this infatuated localism is the bane of every 
scheme for the town's best interest. Men of mind and expanded 
views ought to look beyond the insignificant toadstool which they 

22 



330 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

themselves occupy. Washington would never have achieved the in- 
dependence of the United States, if he had studied the interests, alone, 
of his own plantation, and the health and condition of his own ne- 
groes. It is by expanded views, by the banishment of self, that great 
objects are accomplished. "Woodbury possesses great natural advan- 
tages. Only the warring of localism could have prevented it from 
availing itself of the advantages which God and nature have furnished 
it with a lavish hand. No locality in our country boasts of a fairer 
heritage, a more beautiful succession of hills and dales. Scarcely 
any in our state can excel us in agricultural or manufacturing facil- 
ities. No territory is richer in historical associations. None pos- 
sess advantages of all kinds, calculated to awaken a whole town pride, 
more numerous than ours ; and yet we linger behind sister towns, to 
whom nature has been less bountiful of her favors. In all natural 
advantages, Woodbury is the equal, perhaps the superior, of Water- 
bury. In wealth of intellect and wealth of purse, Woodbury was the 
equal of Waterbury, till within a limited number of years. And now 
Waterbury is a flourishing city, while Woodbury is traveling in the 
footsteps of its illustrious fathers. What has caused the difference ? 
Why has the one advanced, and the other remained almost station- 
ary ? It is because the one has had no localism, that did not em- 
brace the whole town ; no contention, except that " noble contention 
of who best can labor, best agree." The inhabitants of the one have 
had minds expanded enough to take in the whole town, and to labor 
for its advancement ; the other has had the mind fixed on minute tri- 
fles, light as air. The one has seen his own prosperity in that of 
every neighbor, while the other has seen the prosperity of every 
other antagonistic to his own. To this fell sjiirit of localism, in good 
part, may we attribute the financial disasters under which the whole 
town has " been in travail" for the last few months. A nice care for 
sectional interest enabled unscrupulous financiers to work the destruc- 
tion of our monetary interests. It is to be hoped for the honor of the 
town, and of the human race, that this diseased state of feeling will 
speedily pass away. It is believed, and mentioned with devout grat- 
itude to heaven, that the generation now coming on the stage of ac- 
tion, as has been before asserted, are beginning to be divested of these 
fatal prejudices. Happy the day, when not the ends of the earth, 
but the ends of the town, shall act together for the common interests. 
We do not say that the millennium will then have come, but peace 
will be within our borders, and " prosperity within our palaces." 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 331 

For a long period of years it was the custom of the people, when 
a death occurred, to have the coevals of the deceased attend the fu- 
neral, bear him to the place of interment, and in the presence of the 
mourners, take turns in fdling the grave. In small rural communi- 
ties, the death and burial of an individual Avere a matter of general 
concern, and all were accustomed to assemble to take a last look at 
the remains of an associate, and to pay them the last honors. In 
earlier years it was expected that the rites of hospitality would be 
dispensed at the house of the deceased, and, especially in the days 
when ardent spirits were freely used, sometimes scenes of convivial- 
ity usurped the place of real grief and sober lamentation. But the 
custom of friends filling tlie grave, after a time became burdensome, 
as the duty was left to be performed by a few, in all cases, who felt 
called upon to do that duty, as no others oflered. Finally, at the an- 
nual town meeting in October, 1826, it was "voted that it shall be 
the duty of the sexton to fill the graves at all burials in this town." 
Accordingly, since that date, this duty has been performed by that 
officer. 

At tlie same meeting a vote was passed to buy a new burying- 
ground, of Capt. Elijah Sherman ; and John Strong, Jr., James 
Moody, Noah B. Benedict, Judson Blackman, Jeremiah Peck, Jesse 
Minor, Leman Sherman, Nathan Preston and Chauncey Crafts were 
appointed a committee to lay it out into lots. A majority of those 
who have died since that date, have been buried in that place, Thalia 
Judson being the first occupant, November 28th, 1826. 

True to her military instincts, Woodbury furnished three soldiers 
for the war with Mexico, in 1847. As the nation was at that day 
careering in the fullness of its power, it needed not the services of 
many of our citizens. But she furnished this small quota for the 
conquest of the " Halls of the Montezumas," and the extension of 
the " area of freedom." 

In 1846, the North Congregational Society built a commodious 
buildino- for a lecture room and academy, and a flourishing school has 
since been there sustained. In 1851, an academic association was 
formed by the inhabitants in the south part of the town, with sufii- 
cient means, and made a body cor])orate and politic, under the statute 
for that purpose. The association erected a structure of convenient 
size and beautiful architecture, in the lower story of which a success- 
ful school has been maintained, the second story being used for the 
accommodation of the Woodbury Bank. 

Masonry was established in this vicinity in 17G5, and consequently 



332 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

the institution here has become time-honored, having reached the 
venerable age of nearly a hundred years, through all varying vicissi- 
tudes. The lodge which now exists in this town, seems in its organ- 
ization to have been constituted of brothers residing both here and 
in Waterbury. It appears, however, to have been located in Wood- 
bury, though the means of information in regard to it are very scanty, 
all the records except the charter from its first organization till 1782, 
being no longer in existence. At this time it was reorganized under 
the most favorable auspices. The charter remains nearly entire, the 
venerable and sole relic of the early history of the lodge. 

By it we learn that application was made to the Provincial Grand 
Lodge of Massachusetts, sitting at Boston, by " Joel Clark, James 
Reynolds, and sundry other Brethren of the Ancient and Honorable 
Society of Free and Accepted Masons, now residing at or near Wa- 
terbury," for a charter, which was granted July 17th, 1765, and 
" Mr. John Hotchkiss our Right Worshipful and well Beloved Broth- 
er," was appointed the first master of the lodge, and empowered to 
" Congregate the Brethren together, and Form them into a Regular 
Lodge, he taking Especial Care in Choosing Two Wardens and Oth- 
er Officers necessary for the due Regulations thereof for One Year, 
at the End thereof the Lodge shall have full Power to Choose and 
Appoint their Master and other Officers, and so Annually." This 
charter was gi-anted and delivered by the " Command of the Provin- 
cial Grand Master, Jeremiah Gridley, Esq., and signed by J. Rowe, 
Dep. Grand Master, and Edmund Quincy, G. Sec'y." Of the pros- 
perity of the lodge during the first seventeen years, we have no re- 
liable information, from the fact heretofore mentioned. The tradition 
is that it was highly prosperous, during a part of the time, though 
toward the latter part of that period, for some cause, it was not so 
successful. It must have been prosperous in its former years, for at 
its revival, August 6th, 1782, fifty-six old members were present. 
After the organization of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut in 1791 
this charter was registered in the records of the Grand Lodge of the 
State, by Elias Shipman, Esq., G. Secretary. It received a new 
charter from the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, and became King Sol- 
omon's Lodge, No. 7, of this jurisdiction. 

At the reorganization of the lodge in 1782, which took place at 
the house of Peter Gilchrist, now occupied by George B. Lewis, 
there were present P. M. Doctor Anthony Burritt, Joseph Perry, 
M. D., P. M. Ilezekiah Thompson, Esq., Hon. Ephraim Kirby, Na- 
than Preston, Esq., and fifty-one other members. The records from 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 333 

this date are in a good state of preservation. By them it appears, 
that at this meeting, John CLark Avas installed W. M., Josiah Beers, 
S. W., and Doctor Anthony Burritt, J. "W. The lodge met once a 
month, at the same place as at first. The same ofllcers continued to 
be annually re-elected till December, 1787, with the exception of the 
latter, whose place was filled by the election of Samuel "Woodman. 
During this period, there had been eleven admissions, among them 
Bartimeus Fabrique and Rev. John E. Marshall. 

In 1787, Nathan Preston was elected W. JVI., Samuel Woodman, 
S. W., and Adam Lum, J. W. The same of!icers were re-elected 
the next year. This year two members were added. In 17'89, the 
first two were again elected to the offices previously held by them, 
and Doctor Anthony Burritt chosen J. W. 

In December, 1790, Nathan Preston was again chosen W. M., 
Anthony Burritt, S. W., and Elijah Sherman, J. W. The latter and 
four others had been admitted as members during this year. The 
next year the same officers were re-elected, and Rutgers B. Marshall, 
Benjamin Stiles, Esq., and three others were added to the Lodge. 

In 1792, Nathan Preston Avas W. M., Elijah Sherman S. W., and 
Garwood H. Cunningham J. W. Masonry this year, after the es- 
tablishing of the Grand Lodge of this state the preceding year, 
seems to have revived, and admissions were frequent. Twelve mem- 
bers were received, among whom was Col. Joel Hinman. About 
this time, the exact date not being known, the lodge established a 
library for the use of its members, and by additions, in a few years 
had collected between two and three hundred volumes of useful and 
valuable books. The library in its best state, was worth some $500. 
After a time its books became somewhat scattered, and the remain- 
der, by vote of the lodge, was collected and sold. 

In 1793, Garwood II. Cunningham was chosen W. M., Benjamin 
Stiles, Jr., S. W., and N. Sherman Judson, J. W. The next year 
they were again elected. In the former year ten new members were 
added to the lodge, among whom was Capt. Timothy Hinman ; and 
in the latter year four were admitted. The funds of the lodge in 
December of the former year, were £100, 9s. Sd. At the festival of 
St. John tlie Baptist, in the latter year, Rev. Azel Backus, of Beth- 
lem, preached a sermon to the lodge. 

In 1795, nine members were received, and Benjamin Stiles, Jr., 
made W. M., R. B. Marshall, S. W. and William Moody, J. W. 

In 1796, Nathan Preston was chosen W. M., G. H. Cunningham, 
S. W. and Benjamin Stiles, Jr., J. W. Two members were re- 



334 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



ceived. In October of this year, David Tallman agreed to prepare a 
room in Widow Gilchrist's house, and furnish the same for the lodge 
for t\vent:3r-five years, from the first of March, 1797, for £114. This 
was the house now occupied by Lucius II. Foote, as a hotel. Ac- 
cordingly the lodge convened in this place during the length of the 
time agreed on, when its meetings were held in Alvah Merriman's 
building, about fifteen years, from which place it removed to the old 
lodge room for some two years, till the dedication of the present hall 
in 1839. 

In 1797, the officers were G. II. Cunningham, W. M., Benjamin 
Stiles, S. W"., and William Moody, J. W. This was a year of unu- 
sual prosperity in the lodge. Twenty-five of the principal citizens 
of the town were added to its numbers, being the largest number^ver 
received by the lodge in one year. Among these were Daniel Ba- 
con, Esq., Doctor Nathaniel Perry, and Deacon Scovill Ilinman, of 
New Haven. The latter is still living, and is the oldest initiated 
member of the lodge. 

In 1798, William Moseley was chosen W. M., Doctor Nathaniel 
Perry, S. W., and Philo Murray, J. W. The same officers were re- 
elected the next year. Eight members were received in the former 
year, among whom was Jesse Minor, the second oldest living member 
of the lodge, and two were added in the latter year. 

In 1800, Doctor Nathaniel Perry was elected W. M., William 
Hawley, S. W., and B. Seward, J. W. The first two were re-elected 
next year, and Doctor Samuel Orton elected to the J. W's station. 
Three members were admitted in the former and four in the latter 
year. 

Two members were added in 1802, and Nathan Preston was made 
W. M., G. H. Cunningham, S. W., and William Hawley, J. W. 

G. H. Cunningham succeeded in 1803 as W. M., Noah Martin as 
S. W., and King William Sampson as J. W. Twelve brothers were 
initiated this year. 

In 1804, ten members were added, and Doctor Nathaniel Perry 
was chosen W. M., Noah Martin. S. AY., and Benjamin Andrews, 
J. W. 

Three were admitted to membership in 1805, and Nathan Preston 
was elected W. M., Nathan S. Judson, S. W., and Benjamin .An- 
drews, J. W. 

In 1806, Nathan S. Judson was selected as W. M., Richard Smith, 
S. W., and Daniel llurlbut, J. W. Tiie next year Doctor Nathan- 
iel Perry filled the master's chair, and the other officei's remained the 



HISTORY OF ANCIEXT WOODI5UKY. doO 

same as before. Seven new members were added in caeb of these 
years. 

In ISO,'^!, William Moseley was W. I\r., Daniel IIurlb.it, S. W., 
and Ebenezer Weed, J. W. The next year Abraham Somers, now 
living, took the place of the latter, and the other two Avere re-elected. 
Three joined in the former and four in the latter year. 

In 1810, Doctor Nathaniel Perry was again elected W. M., Abra- 
ham Somers, S. "\V., and Samuel Frazier, J. W. Four additional 
members were received. 

In 1811, Richard Smith was ^Y. M., Nathaniel Tattle, S. W., and 
x\bijah S. Hatch, J. W. 

Eight new members were added in 1812, among whom were Hon. 
Charles B. Phelps, now judge of the county court for Litchfield 
county, and Hon. Curtiss Ilinman, afterward member of the senate 
of this state, when that body was elected by general ticket. The ofli- 
cers this year were Natlianiel Tuttle, W. M., William A. Bronson, 
S. W., and Nathaniel Bacon 2d, .J. W. The next year the same offi- 
cers were re-elected, except that Charles B. Phelps, Esq., took the 
junior warden's scat. Six new members were admitted this year. 

In 1814, five members were added to the lodge, among whom was 
Gen. Chauncey Crafts. Hon. Charles B. Phelps was elected W. M., 
Hon. Curtiss Hinman, S. W., and Erastus Osborn, J. W. 

In 1815, Nathaniel Tuttle was selected as W. M., William A. 
Bronson, S. W., and Keuljen Fairchild, J. W. Three members were 
added. 

In 1816, William A. Bronson was chosen W. IM., Reuben Fa,ir- 
child, S. W., and Joel Scovill, J. W., and two persons joined the 
lodge. 

In 1817, two persons joined the lodge, one of whom was Nehe- 
miali C. Sanford, Esq., and Doctor Nathaniel Perry was elected W. 
M., Reuben Fairchild, S. W., and Austin Lum, J. W. 

In 1818, Thomas S. Shelton was chosen W. M., Reuben Fair- 
child, S. W., and James Manvill, J. W. The next two years the 
same officers Avere re-elected, except that William Hicock took the 
place of junior warden. In the first of these years eight members 
Avere added, in the second, five, and in the last, one. 

In 1821, Phineas S. Bradley was elected W. M., William Hicock, 
S. W., and Garry H. Wheeler, J. W. Under this administration 
twelve members were admitted. 

In 1822, William Hicock Avas chosen W. INI., Garry H. Wheeler, 
S. W., and Benjamin Doolittle, J. W. Next year Benjamin Doo- 



336 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



little was elected S. W., and Charles Bronson took his place. la 
1822, six nevv'members were admitted, among whom was Rev. Stur- 
ges Gilbert, and the next year five, among whom was Hon. Edward 
Hinman, late judge of New Haven county court. On the 18th of 
September, the lodge moved to their room at Col. French's build- 
ing, now Mr. Merriam's. 

In 1824, E. B. Foote was elected W. M., Benjamin Doolittle, S. 
W., and Charles Ransom, J. W. Next year the latter held the same 
station, while Nehemiah C. Sanford, Esq., was W. M., and Phineas 
S. Bradley, S. W. In 1824, four persons were made masons, and 
three next year, among whom was Doctor Samuel Steele. 

In 182G, Samuel Steele was chosen W. M., Charles Ransom, S. 
W., and Roderick C. Steele, J. W. Next year the latter was made 
W. M., and Nathan Preston, J. ^Y., the S. W. retaining his place. 
Nine members were added in 182G, and four in 1827. It will be 
seen by the above, that notwithstanding the anti-masonic storm which 
had swept over the land for several years, and lasted for ten years, 
that admissions to this lodge did not cease. 

In the years 1829 and 1835 one member each was admitted. For 
the six years intervening between these two dates the same causes 
were at work to hinder admission here, as elsewhere, and had their 
effect. In 183G and 1837, two members each year were admitted. 
Next year fifteen were added to the numbers of the lodge. In 1839, 
six were admitted; in 1840, two; in 1841, three ; and two in 1842. 
In 1847, one was initiated ; in 1849, three ; in 1851, seven ; and 
from that date to the present, eighteen. 

The lodge was very prosperous for several years previous to 
1841. From that time for several years, on account of removals and 
other causes, it rapidly declined in point of numbers and efficiency, 
so much so that its annual report to the Grand Lodge was not sent 
in for three years. In consequence of this, in May, 1846, its charter 
was declared forfeited, and in October of that year a committee of 
the Grand Lodge waited upon the former officers, and requested the 
surrender of the charter. After satisfactory explanations, the charter 
was given up on a promise that the lodge should liave a dispensa- 
tion till the next session of the Grand Lodge, and a return of the 
charter at that time upon payment of their dues. The last meeting 
before the forfeiture of the charter, was held January 10th, 1844. 
The dispensation was received in December, 1846, and a meeting 
was held January 6th, 1847, at which oihcers were elected, and the 
business of the lodge went on. The charter was also restored ac- 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 337 

cording to stipulation. The ])resent beautiful and commodious Lodge 
Hall, one of the best in the county, whose location on a bluff of trap 
rock, some thirty feet above the main street of the village, makes it a 
prominent object of attention as the stranger enters our village, 
was built in 1839, and dedicated to the use of the lodge on the twen- 
ty-fifth of June, in that year. By the construction of this buildingj 
the lodge was burdened with a debt of some five hundred dollars, 
which contributed not a little to the misfortunes that subsequently fell 
upon it. About two years ago, the lodge again became prosperous ; 
the debt which proved such an incubus is removed, and the lodge 
goes on successfully. Since its reorganization in 1782, three hundred 
and sixty-two members have been admitted, ninety-eight of Avhom 
still survive. As we have now arrived at the time of the present 
actors in the lodge, it Avill hardly be expected that we should pi'o- 
nounce an eulogy on the living. We will only return and give a list 
of the officers till the present time, and close our sketch. 

In 182S, Roderick C. Steele was re-elected W. M., Charles Ran- 
som, S. W., and Nathan Preston, J. W. 

In 1829, Martin Moody was elected W. M., Garry Riggs, S. \Y., 
and Gad Hitchcock, J. W. 

In 1830, Martin Moody was re-elected W. M., Nathan Preston, S. 
W., and James Manville, J. W. 

In 1831, Natlum Preston was elected W. M., James Manville, S- 
W., W. II. Atwood, J. W., and in 1832, these oflicei's were re- 
elected. 

In 1833, Samuel Steele was elected W. M., James Manville, S. 
W., and W. II. Atwood, J. W. 

In 1834, W. II. Atwood was W. M., James Manville, S. A7., and 
Selick Galpin, J. \Y. 

In 1835, Garry Riggs Avas chosen W. M., Benjamin Doolittle, S. 
W., and James Manville, J. W. 

In 183G, Benjamin Doolittle was elected W. M., W. H. Atwood? 
S. W., and John M. Safford, J. W. In 1837, the W. M. and S. W. 
were re-elected, and Jame,s INIanville made J. W. 

In 1838, Charles II. Webb was cliosen W. M., Mitchell S. Mitch- 
ell, S. W., and Charles S. Peck, J. W. * 

In 1839, Mitchell S. INIitchell was elected AY. M., Charles S. Peck, 
S. W., and Edwin Hull, J. W. 

In 1840, Bethel S. Castle was elected W. M., W. II. Atwood, S. 
"W., and Lucius Ives, J. W. 



338 HISTORY OF ANCIENT -WOODBUET. 

In 1841, Charles B. Phelps was chosen W. M., Mitchell S. Mitch- 
ell, S. W., and Charles H. Webb, J. W. 

In 1S42, Cliarles IT. Webb was cliosen W. M., Benjamin Doolit- 
tle, S. W., and Wyllys Judd, J. W. In 1843, the same oflicers were 
re-elected, and were the olficers when the charter was given up. 

In 1847, on the reception of the dispensation, Benjamin Doolittle 
was elected W. M., Wyllys Judd, S. W. and Albert Thompson, J. 
W., who served till December, the same year. In December, 1847, 
the same officers were re-elected for the succeeding year. 

In 1848, Wyllys Judd was elected W. M., Albert Thompson, S. 
W., and Eri Riggs, J. W. February 9th, 1849, on Mr. Judd's res- 
ignation, Benjamin Doolittle was elected to fill his place. 

In 1849, Benjamin Doolittle was rec lected W. M., Elcazer Wel- 
ton, S. W., and Eri Riggs, J. W. In 1850, the same otlicers were 
reelected. 

In 1851, Benjamin Doolittle was elected W. M., William Coth- 
ren, S. W., and E. W. Atwood, J. W. 

In December, 1852, being the month of the annual election, Wil- 
liam Cothren was elected W. M., E. W. Atwood, S. W., and W. R. 
Galpin, J. W. 

Rising Sun Lodge, No. 27, of Washington, was founded by a col- 
ony from this lodge. That lodge was for many years in a very flour- 
ishing condition, had many valuable members, but has not been work- 
ing for some years ; consequently its charter has been revoked. 

Fidelity Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, was organized in Wood- 
bury, January 25th, 1809. It went along prosperously for about five 
years, Hon. Charles B. Phelps, being the last member received, 
January 31st, 1814. The whole number of admissions was thirty- 
two. The location of the chapter was changed to Washington about 
the year 1815, the last meeting at Woodbury being held that year. 
The first meeting held in Washington, of which the records speak, 
was in 1823. While located here, forty-five members were admit- 
ted. Its location was changed again to AYoodbury in 1842, sinoe 
which time no meeting has been held. 

^ List of High Priests. 

Benjamin Stiles, Esq., Hon. Daniel N. Brinsmade, 

Doct. Nathaniel Perry, Hon. Daniel B. Brinsmade, 

Richard Smitli, Esq., Doct. Manly Peters, 

William A. Bronson, Esq. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AV O O D B U II Y . 339 

A division of the Sons of Temperance was organized in this town 
Febnuiry 8th, 1847, and called Poniperang Division, No. 27. John 
W. Kogers, James R. Young, John J. Beecher, Sheldon T. Allen, 
John S. Bennet, Ezra Toucey, James R. Thomas, Edwin Roberts, 
and George A. Capewell, were appointed the first officers, and the 
society went on prosjieronsly for several years. One hundred and 
five were received as members. Dissensions fin<ally arose among the 
members of the society, the interest in it subsided, and early in the 
spring of 1853, it divided its funds among its remaining members, 
and " parted to meet no more." 

List of Worthy Patriarchs. 

John Roberts, Robert Peck, Edward W. Atwood, 

John W. Rogers, George De Forest, George L. Teeple, 

Benjamin Doolittle, John E. Blackman, Jerome Ilubbell, 

James R. Thomas, Stephen B. Fairchild, Orley M. Parker, 

Monroe C. Sherman, Jo. T. Cai^ewell, Pliilo J. Isbell, 

Leander Ilodge, John H. Doolittle, George 11. Hitchcock. 

William Way, John Way, 

On the api)lication of Silas Chapman, Charles G. Judson, William 
E. Woodruff, Enos Benham and Clark Linsley, to the Grand Mas- 
ter of the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows 
for the State of Connecticut, the grand orticers of said lodge convened 
at AYoodbur}', April IG, 1847, and formed the applicants into a lodge 
under the name of Bethel Rock Lodge, No. 44. The same day, 
William Cothren, John P. De Forest, John A. Candee, Norman 
Parker, Noble Parker, RoUin Wooster, Aaron Mullings, Charles H. 
Webb, and Charles A. Somers, were received into the society by in- 
itiation. From that day to the present, the society has had a slow, 
but sure progress. In addition to those above named, it has received 
fifty-seven members, making seventy-one in the Avhole, and now has 
sixty-five acting members. 

Its object, like that of the two preceding societies, is the relief of 
the necessities and sufliarings of its members, and of the human race. 
It possesses a fund for these objects, which is constantly increasing, 
of about nine hundred dollars, which it keeps at interest, safely in- 
vested. To secure itself against loss, it has organized itself into a 
body corporate and politic, under a public statute of this state, enacted 
for such purposes. 



340 



niSTOKY OF ANCIENT WOODUUnT. 



Silas Cliapin, 
Charles G. Judsoii, 
John P. De Forest, 
Charles H. Webb, 
Luke S. Putnam, 



Charles G. Judson, 
John P. De Forest, 
Charles H. Webb, 
Clark Linsley, 
Luke S. Putnam, 



List of Nohh Grands. 

William Cotliren, Edward E. Bradler, 



Gilead II. Smitli, 
Benjamin vS. Curtiss, 
Henry Minoi-, 
Norman Parker, 



Norman Parker, 
Hiram Manville, 
L'^aac Smith. 



List of Vice Grands. 

AVilliam Cothren, Ed. E. Bradley, 

Gilead H.. Smith, 

Charles A. Somers, 

Benjamin S. Curtiss, 

Henry Minor, 



Wm. E. WoodrufF, 
Hiram Manville, 
Isaac Smith, 
Phineas A. Judson. 



At the session of the General Assembly in 1851, a bank, to be lo- 
cated in Woodbury, was chartered, under the name of the " Wood- 
bury Bank^" Its capital was $100,000. In taking up the stock of 
the bank, a small majority of it fell into the hands of one William E. 
Chittenden, a broker in the city of New York, who was heavily enga- 
ged in wild and daring railroad speculations in the west. Considera- 
ble opposition on the part of some of the home stockholders was man- 
ifested to this state of affairs at the beginning. Mi". Chittenden, how- 
ever, moved his family to Woodbury, made himself a director by 
means of his majority of the stock, and at once controlled the opera- 
tions of the bank. It commenced business in November, 1851, and 
continued till March, 1853, when Chittenden failed in business for a 
large amount, carrying down with him the Woodbury and Eastern 
Banks, and injuring the credit of the Bank of Litchfield County, 
being indebted to it in a sum greater than one-half of its capital. 

At the time of his failure, he owed the Woodbury Bank more than 
$175,000. To secure this, there were some $70,000, in collaterals 
of various kinds, most of which were not immediately available, leav- 
ing nearly $100,000, unprovided for and unsecured. The assets of 
the bank went into the hands of receivers, and after some time a com- 
promise was made with Chittenden, by which he assigned his stock 
and collaterals to the bank at their par value, and contracted to pay 
the remainder of his indebtedness in the bills of the bank. This 
agreement he has fuKilled in part, $30,000 having been paid by him. 
Besides this, there is an attachment on property sufncient, it is be- 
lieved, to secure his indebtedness to the bank within about $10,000. 
The friends of the Killingly bank having procured a requisition on 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 341 

the srovcrnor of New York for liis person, on a criminal complaint, 
he found it not advisable to remain longer in that state. Though 
thus disap2:)ointed in the promises of this man, the citizens of Wood- 
bury have come forward, taken said stock so assigned, and {)aid its 
par value into the bank. The result of this noble conduct on the 
part of the inhahitants, is, that the bank has been able to resume 
business on a firm footing, and its officers having learned " wisdom 
by experience," it will go on successfully. 

Its officers are Daniel Curtiss, president ; James M. Dickinson, 
cashier, and George B. Lewis, Lewis Judd, David C. Bacon, John 
Abernethy, Monroe C. Sherman, Philo II. Skidmore, George. Smith 
and William Cothren,' directors. 

AVhile these pages have been going through the press, a savings 
institution has been organized in the village, under the name of the 
Woodbury Savings Bank and Building Association. It is a corpo- 
ration under the general law authorizing such institutions. It can 
hardly be said to be fully organized, and yet it has already a capital 
of about fifty thousand dollars, and several thousand dollai's on de- 
posit. It bids fair to be a very successful institution, an5 with good 
management, it can not be otherwise than safe. Its officers are 

Nathaniel B. Smith, President, 

William Cothren, Vice President. 

Thomas Bull, Secretary and Treasurer. 

Benjamin Fabrique, 

Loren Forbes, 

Robert J. Tolles, 

Charles A. Somers, 

George Drakeley, 

Benjamin S. Cui'tiss, 

The manufactures and mechanical employments of the town, inde-* 
pendent of those of a domestic character, consist of one tinner's fac- 
tory, three grain mills, one clover mill, seven saw-mills, two tanneries, 
two cider distilleries, four tailor shops, five blacksmith shops, one 
silver spoon shop, one spectacle shop, three shoe manufactories, two 
carriage shops, one button factory, one powder fiask manufactory, 
two cigar shops, one felt cloth manufactory, two cassimere manu- 
factories, one shear manufactory, one thimble manufjxctory, one shawl 
manufactory, one cstal)lishinent for "leathering carpet tacks," one 



1 The latter lias been elected since the financial difficulties of the bank ; all the oth- 
ers were its former officers. 



> Directors. 



342 niSTORY OF ancient WOODBURY. 

suspender buckle shop ; all together employing more than $200,000 
capital. There are fifteen mercantile stores, and three hotels, employ- 
ing some $50,000 capital. There are also fourteen school district 
and primary schools, two academies, one social library, two attorneys, 
four clergymen, and four physicians. 

The amount of the last grand list was $39,653.83, and the valua- 
tion of the lands and buildings of the town, in 1815, for the levy of 
the direct tax of the United States, which comprised 19,528 acres, 
amounted to $604,175, being an average value of nearly $34 per 
acre. In 1799, the real estate of this town, together with Southbury, 
was appraised at $847,966. 

Thus have we gathered up the fragments of information scattered 
by the wayside, however trivial, and deposited them in the great gar- 
ner-house of history, if happily they may engage the attention of the 
curious reader in some gliding year of the distant future, who may 
possibly take the same kindly interest in the items of information that 
concern us of tliis day, " simple annals of the poor," that Ave now be- 
stow on each recorded trace of the doings and sayings of our early 
fathers. However trivial these matters may appear to the careless 
observer, the man of thought, of wise forecast, will ever find instruc- 
tion and food for deepest contemplation in every such recital. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

uiOGKAriiicAL ski;tciies of natives and residents of an- 
cient "SrOODIJURY, WHO HAVE REMAINED IN THE TERRITORY. 
THE NAMES WILL BE FOUND IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. 

BiOGRARiiY is that part of liistoiy wliich relates to the history of 
the life and character of men. It embraces the consideration of all 
that appertains to our moral, intellectual, social and professional char- 
acter. It is said that " history is philosophy teaching by example," 
and biography is ever one of the principal elements of history. Men 
and their acts are the great theme of the historian's pen. It is this 
element that furnishes most of the pleasure we enjoy in all historical 
accounts. The life and progress of men, their virtues and vices, their 
successes and failures, their motives and tlicir actions, not only affect 
their own position and happiness, but their influence extends to all 
within their reach, and descends influencing the character and des- 
tiny of unborn millions. The good deeds that men do live after them, 
and so do the bad. The influence of a good or a bad action, once 
committed, can never be recalled. As one who, standing by the sea- 
side, casts a stone into the waters, as they lie calmly sleeping in the 
golden sunlight, will immediately see a small circular ripple extend- 
ing itself in all directions, gradually increasing the circle of its cir- 
cumference, till it is lost to his view in the ocean's depths ; so the 
influence of a good or a bad action, however insignificant we may es- 
teem it, never ceases, but goes on, extending the sphere of its influ- 
ence, in an ever increasing ratio, till the end of time. Hence it is 
well, that the l^ves of the eminent should be written, that their good 
deeds and wise teachings may be extended, so that they may ulti- 
mately "lake in the human race. Example and competition form the 
character of nations. " To commemorate the virtues, wisdom and 
patriotism of their heroes and their statesmen, their philosophers and 
their poets, has ever been the noblest office of the noblest nations. 



344 HISTORY OF ancient WOODBURY. 

The voice of cnlopjy, the page of history, monuments, mausoleums, 
trophies and triumplis, were the proud testimonials to the splendor of 
their achievements, and the gratitude of their countrymen. Emula- 
tion blazed high in every bosom — worth became sympathetic and he- 
reditary — infancy caught the sacred flame of patriotism from the hon- 
ored and hallowed ashes of its ancestry, and in beholding the bright 
escutcheons of Avar and victory, the tottering and enfeebled limbs of 
hoary age itself glowed and strengthened into the ardor and energy 
of second youth. Thus all the diversified departments of their admi- 
rable systems of government, civil as well as military, contributed to 
inspirit, to support and dignify each other ; and while moving in their 
own respective orbits, like the inexhaustible luminaries of heaven, 
they reciprocally borrowed and reflected light, and shed their com- 
bined luster and glory upon an astonished world." 

The influence of great example diffuses itself over the world, and if 
we should strike out of history its earlier annals, it would be like 
striking out the acquirements and experience of youth, in its evil 
consequences upon the hopes and happiness of mature age. It would 
be to expect the harvest without the seed-time, the genial influences 
of summer, or the ripening power of early autumn. But biography 
is important, not only as a record of the virtues of men, but also of 
their follies and vices. Even the records of these have their salutary 
uses. They serve to check us in a career which might otherwise be- 
come reckless and disastrous. They are like beacons set up to guard 
us against those evils into which others have fallen, and to direct our 
attention to the acquisition of the opposite virtues, and the securing 
of those " temporal and etei-nal blessings, whfch are too often wantonly 
disregarded, and perhaps irretrievably lost." 

In a work like the present, there is not space sufllicient for the in- 
troduction of biographies, properly so called. We can only give 
such brief statistics as have come to hand, from which extended me- 
moirs can be made, when the recpiisite time, ability and encourage- 
ment shall call to the execution of that pleasant duty. Much diffi- 
culty has been experienced in collecting materials for the ])ersonal 
history of individuals, on account of the want of interest and slug- 
gishness of those who alone could give the information, and if the 
following brief sketches shall be exceptionable to any, on account of 
their meagerness, it is hoped that it will be attributed by the intelli- 
gent reader, to the appropriate causes. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 345 

ROSWELL ABERNETHY, M. D. 

Most of the readers of this vohime will recollect the aged, yet 
noble form — so lately in our midst — of the subject of this sketch- 
For more than twenty -five years, he " went out and in" among us, 
approving himself in all the relations of life. To see him about 
among the people, dispensing the charities of his humane and useful 
profession, had become a sort of "second natui'e" — a thing of course. 
Uiiusually attentive to the calls of the arduous profession of which 
he was so conspicuous an ornament, he was ever found at the post of 
duty, " in the forefront of the battle," in the conflict with dire dis- 
ease. The high moral and religious traits of his character were 
" known and read of all men" — of which we all are witnesses. His 
gentlemanly and friendly deportment toward all whom he was called 
to meet, in the various relations and duties of life, are known to the 
entire circle of his acquaintance. To the author he particularly 
endeared himself by his wise counsels in the various emergencies of 
the early days in his professional labors, and by his unwavering 
friendship, when the " love of many had waxed cold," and that of 
most was lukewarm. Pie was a friend in need. Many were the 
happy houi's spent with him in interesting and useful conversation on 
all the various topics of human thought. He can almost imagine at 
times of a pleasant afternoon, he sees that aged and revered form 
■ coming toward his office, and can almost hear those manly, kindly 
tones in which he was wont to hold intercourse with intimate friends. 
Anon the illusion vanishes, and he finds himself alone, with a sense 
of having experienced some great loss. To know the full worth of 
such a man as Dr. Abernethy, one must know him intimately — must 
hold communion with his very soul. We see few such men in our 
world. His death has created a void, that will not soon again be 
filled. He will Uve, while life remains, in the affectionate remem- 
brances of his numerous acquaintances and friends. 

For much of what follows, we ai'e indebted to the sermon preach- 
ed at his funeral by Rev. Lucius Curtis, pastor of the church at 
which Dr. Abernethy attended. His character was, on that occa- 
sion, so well drawn, that it seemed to the writer like a waste of time 
to go over the ground again. 

Dr. Roswell Abernethy was born in Ilarwinton, Conn., in the year 
1774. He applied himself very early in life to the study of medi- 
cine, under the instruction of his father, Dr. William Abernethy, 

who was at that time the principal physician in his native town. In 
23 



346 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

1795, while in his twenty-first year, he commenced the practice of 
his profession in New Hartford, an adjoining town, where he remain- 
ed six years. During this period, he formed the acquaintance of Dr. 
Griffin, the celebrated pulpit orator and divine, who had then just 
commenced his ministerial labors in that town. This acquaintance 
soon ripened into a friendship, which continued long after they were 
separated by removal. They were fitted by the character of their 
minds to sympathize, not only as friends, but as thinkers on impor- 
tant subjects. From New Hartford he removed to his native town, 
and continued the practice of his profession there till 1825. The 
reputation he had acquired as a physician and as a man, made him 
known abroad ; and a vacancy having occurred in this town, many 
desired to secure his settlement here. Accordingly the citizens of 
Woodbury, without distinction of party or sect, extended to him a 
formal " call," or invitation' to settle, which he accepted. He came 
here not only by this general invitation, but with the warmest testi- 
monials of confidence and regard from the citizens of his native town ; 
and for twenty-five years he continued here, enjoying the confidence 
and esteem of the community. The extent of his practice was such 
as to gain for him a generous competence, and during the last few 
years of his hfe, he often expressed a desire to retire from the active 
duties of his profession, which he followed without intermission for 
fifty-six years. It is remarkable, that just before his last sickness; 
and while in the midst of his professional labors, as soon as he had 
come, voluntarily, to the firm conclusion to retire from them, a higher 
summons came, calling him to close, at once, his professional labors 
and his life. As if by some presentiment anticipating the time of 
his departure, he had " set his house in order;" and none who knew 
him can doubt, that in all respects he was ready for the final sum- 
mons. After a sickness of little more than two weeks, during which 
he had but little acute suffering, he went at the age of seventy-seven, 
quietly and sweetly to his rest. 

With a mind completely balanced and harmonized, shaped in its 
very structure to the finest pi'oportions, he had an uncommonly 
marked and strong character. With none of those eccentricities 
which give brilliancy and notoriety by their extravagance, there was 
a depth, and tone, and fullness, pervading the whole man, giving 
strength without contrast, and proportion without weakness ; consti- 

1 This invitation was signed by some twenty-five or thirty of the principal inhab- 
itants of the tov/n. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 347 

tilting, in a word, one of the noblest characters, and one which is fit- 
ted to strengthen our conviction, that man was formed in the image of 
his Maker. A stranger would at once mark him in the crowd ; not 
merely from the upright position, the manly proportions, and the 
polite, dignified bearing of his form, but from the intellectual cast, 
and the earnest, benignant aspect of his countenance, and the elevated 
and commanding appearance of his whole person. It would be diffi- 
cult to tell which trait in him was most prominent; and it would be 
quite as difficult to tell in which he was defective, according to 
human standard. The essential qualities which belong to native 
strength of mind, and true nobility of character, were found in him. 

His intellect fitted him especially for reasoning and reflection, 
though he was not wanting in the power of observation. By the 
natural gifts of his mind, together with his habits of assiduous appli- 
cation, he placed himself, without the advantages of a collegiate edu- 
cation, or even of a professional school, in a position far above that 
of multitudes who have enjoyed both. He loved and faithfully 
studied his profession. Well read in its theory, keeping up with the 
discoveries and improvements of progressive science, he was also 
skillful and patient in the details of practice. A characteristic pru- 
dence and caution ever kept him from trifling with the life of a pa- 
tient by rash experiment; and a sense of responsibility, and the gen- 
eral seriousness of his character, prompted a faithfulness and a pa- 
tient self-denial in the examination and treatment of his cases, which 
a mere love of professional reputation would have failed to secure. 
With great delicacy and refinement of feeling, and habitual conscien- 
tiousness, he studied both the health and the feelings of his patient. 
His dignified, gentle and courteous bearing, was a part of the man. 
It was never put on for an object or an occasion ; and it was never 
put off. None, who intrusted him with a secret, as a physician or as 
a man, ever had occasion to regret a confidence misj^laced. 

But while he Avas faithful and laborious in his profession, his 
thoughts took a wider range. By his habit of general and Avell- 
selected reading, he took an intelligent survey of the topics discussed 
by the pi-ess, and of the general movements in society. Subjects 
especially of permanent interest to the citizen, to the philanthropist, 
to the Christian, he investigated with rare thoroughness and ability. 
Questions of a theological and biblical nature, which are fundamental, 
engaged his most earnest attention ; and the results of his inquiries 
upon these subjects he often committed to paper. Though he did not 
hold a ready or a prolific pen, his literary productions, notwithstand- 



348 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

ing his want of early discipline, exhibit a command of the best 
language, the power of full and accurate expression, method, ele- 
gance, precision, perspicuity, and force. The qualities of his mind 
were impressed upon his style, as well as upon his general demeanor 
and action. 

His judgment was sound and discriminating. He investigated 
with candor, and when he arrived at a satisfactory conclusion, he 
was neither fickle in abandoning it, nor obstinate in retaining it. 
But his mind was settled. He was clear and firm in his convictions. 
They took a strong hold upon his nature. He was decided. Once 
planted, you always knew where to find him ; because you knew that 
his opinions were above the reach of caprice, or favor, or interest. 
And yet, with all his firmness and decision, he was open to truth, 
liberal-minded, generous and kind, as an opponent. He accorded to 
others what he claimed for himself, an independent judgment. He 
loved agreement, but he loved truth more. He loved peace ; but 
he held fast to right and justice. Hence with all his gentleness, his 
amiable and courteous bearing, he was stable, conservative, inflex- 
ible. 

The delicacy of his feelings, and his wise sense of propriety, 
would have made him sensitive to ridicule, had not those qualities 
been joined to a kindness of feeling, and a noble bearing, which 
never exposed him to its power. It is difficult to attack, with any 
weapons whatever, an unobtrusive modesty, or a manly dignity 
which commands respect. He possessed both ; and was thus doubly 
guarded, by both his inoffensiveness and his strength, against many 
social evils to which most men are exposed. 

Hence, in social life, he was fitted for enjoyment and usefulness. 
His habits of study and reflection did not disquahfy him from ming' 
lin"' with lively and cheerful pleasure in the intercourse of social 
life. He loved the circle of friends ; and with all his dignity, every 
one felt at home in his presence. Never distant, nor overbearing ; 
easy of access, familiar ; interesting himself in the welfare of others, 
careful of their feelings, attentive to their wants, he was everywhere 
welcome. Uniting definite and varied information with good conver- 
sational powers ; and a peculiar blandness and urbanity of manner 
with genuine refinement and a high-toned moi'al sentiment, his socie- 
ty was always instructive, pleasing and elevating. In his attach- 
ments there were strength and constancy, and into all pure, social 
enjoyments he entered with a warm zest. Though not incapable of 
discerning the faults of others, he did not seem to think of them. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "SV O O D B U K Y . 349 

At least, he was unsuspicious — lie never deliglitefl to search them 
out — and if they came in his way, he had no tongue to speak of 
them, and no heart to remember them. No malicious or unguarded 
word from him ever tarnished a good name, or wounded the peace of 
a family. Though frank and judicious in giving counsel where it 
was asked, he never intruded. Unambitious of notoriety, or of pre- 
ferment, he seemed only to covet esteem and usefulness ; and there 
was such evident sincerity and truthfulness in his bearing, he was 
so conscientious, open and manly in all his conduct, so far above 
every species of artifice and management, that you knew him by in- 
tuition to be as incapable of a mean action, as he was of injustice 
and fraud. To the poor he was kind and generous. In his profes- 
sional practice he often gave them, not only an unrewarded service 
as physician, but friendly assistance as a neighbor and a man- 
Many a poor family, as well as the various objects of Christian be- 
nevolence at home and abroad, could bear testimony to the substan- 
tial tokens of his sympathy, and of his unostentatious, but liberal 
charity. In the family circle, as husband and father, with the ten- 
derness of an affectionate nature, the gentleness of a kind spirit, and 
the unclouded light of a cheerful disposition, reflected from his noble 
countenance in a smile so beaming and benignant, he thi-ew a pleas- 
ant sunshine around his home, and made it ever attractive and genial. 
In his general intercourse with men, he was the Cliristian gentleman, 
uniting tlie high bearing and humble sj^irit of the school of AVash- 
ington and the school of Clirist. 

But his religious character was as strongly marked as his intellect- 
ual and social. He made a profession of his faith in 1805, at the 
age of thirty-one, by uniting with the Congregational church in his 
native tow^; and when he removed to Woodbury, he transferred his 
relations to tliis church. Here for a quarter of a centui-y, the con- 
sistency of his daily walk and the growing elevation of his Christian 
character were witnessed by all. Tlie duties of an arduous profes- 
sion seldom furnished him an excuse for absence from the public 
worship of the Sabbath, or from the weekly meeting for prayer and 
conference. " He loved the house of God, and the place where His 
honor dwelleth." Devout and reverential in his piety, he loved all 
those doctrines, which exalt God as a righteous sovereign " upon the 
throne of his holiness." He had an enlarged and consistent view of 
the divine attributes, and he loved to contemplate the divine per- 
fections in their purity and majesty. Religious truth opened to him 
a field in which his mind and heart loved to range. His text-book 



350 HISTORY OF ANCIENT •WOODBURY. 

was his Bible. Next to this, he loved those books, which unfolded 
its meaning with clearness, and enforced its truth with an evangeli- 
cal and devout spirit. The pleasure which he found in Bible truth 
was superior to every other. Very few, who are not themselves 
religious teachers, become so thoroughly indoctrinated into the truths 
of the Scriptures as a system, or so deeply imbued with their spirit. 
He rested in them with unshaken convictions, with perfect satisfac- 
tion, and with that conscious security which reposes in immutable 
truth. 

Dr. Abernethy died September 24th, 1851, aged seventy-seven 
years. He left a widow and three children. John J., a surgeon in 
the U. S. Navy, Charles, a merchant in New York, and Anna, wife 
of Alvin Bradley, Esq., of Whitestown, N. Y. In 1825, the hono- 
rary degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred on him by the cor- 
poration of Yale College. 



DOCT. JONATHAN AT WOOD. 

The subject of this sketch came early to Woodbury. His naqje 
appears in the list of settlers as early as I70i. He is the father of 
all of the name in this part of the state, and many other places — a 
numerous and extended posterity. He was an emigrant from En- 
gland. His house stood not far from the old " Town House," and 
he owned land on both sides of the highway, so that the present 
Doct. At wood, his descendant in the fifth generation, has his home- 
stead on land that belonged to the first doctor of the name. We 
have no printed accounts of his standing as a physician o^fis a man. 
By the book of town acts it appears that he was frequently interest- 
ed with the management of the various interests of his fellow-towns- 
men. It seems also that they were satisfied with his services as a 
physician, as he remained for some years the only physician beside 
Parson Stoddard in that part of the ancient town, after the first Doc- 
tor AYarner's removal to Roxbury. The state of medical science 
was, however, very low at this date, and men owed their recovery 
from disease more to the blessing of sound constitutions, than to any 
aid from the physician. We can gain some idea of the state of 
medical science as exemplified in Woodbury, from the inventory of 
Doctor Atwood's case of medicine and medical library, which fol- 
lows: 



HISTOKY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 351 

" A sett of lancetts 4s. Cul., Physical Drugs 5s. Sd.,23 glass viols 4s. Gd., 5 vials 
Os. lOd., 5 small glass bottles, Is. 8d., 2 glass bottles, 2s. Od., 5 gallypots, Is. 8d., 
quicksilver, 6 oz., lOd., aloes, 2oz. 2d., Salve, diackylon, Srf.ja Physick book — 
Salmon £1, 5s. Do.-Hartman, (3s." 

To us of tlie present day, who swallow whole drug stores as a 
matter of course, five shillings eight pence worth of " Physical 
Drugs," with two ounces of aloes, and eight pence worth of salve, 
would seem rather a limited allowance, for nearly a whole town, es- 
pecially, when we consider, that on account of bad roads and defec- 
tive modes of conveyance, the practitioner could not easily replenish 
his " stock in trade," in an emergency. Doct. Atwood died January 
1st, 1732-3, leaving a widow and four children, of whom informa- 
tion will be found in the genealogies. 



GARWOOD H. ATWOOD, M. D., 

Son of Harvey Atwood, was born in Woodbury, December 4th, 
1818, graduated at Yale College in 1840, and in the medical depart- 
ment of the same coUege in 1844. lie commenced the practice of his 
profession in his native town in 1842, where he has continued to re- 
side in full practice till the present. On the 1st of May, 1848, he 
was united in marriage to Henrietta E. Judson of Woodbury. They 
have two children. 



JABEZ BACON, THE RICH MERCHANT. 

Persons of distinguished, useful characteristics have a right to be 
signally named for the benefit of posterity. One such was Jabez 
Bacon, Esq., whhout qualification the most eminent and successful 
merchant that this town or portion of the state had ever known, or 
has known, down to this day. Some of the facts, indeed, that exhibit 
his remarkable business characteristics, are almost beyond credence. 

He was born at Middlefield, a parish of Middletown, July 16, 
1731. He was a dii-ect descendant (a great-grandson) of Nathaniel 
Bacon, who was evidently the ancestor of all, or nearly all, of the 
Bacons of this state. This Nathaniel was the son of Wilham Bacon, 
of the town of Stretton, Rutland county, England, and the nephew 
of Andrew Bacon, Avho was one of the leading men of the colony 



V 



352 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

that settled Hartford under Haynes and Hooker, but who died at 
Hadley without male issue. 

The subject of this notice was the son of Nathaniel, who was the 
third child of Andrew, who was the sixth child of Nathaniel. He 
seems to have been very poor, as was doubtless his father before 
him ; for that father came in later life to visit his son in his after- 
wards great lorosj^erity at Woodbury, where he died and was buried. 
A plain red sand-stone slab marks the place of his deposit. 

Jabez in early life exhibited the qualities that afterwards secured 
his great prosperity. He was first apprenticed to a tanner and cur- 
rier, — there is no evidence however, that he continued at this voca- 
tion beyond his apprenticeship, but he early betook himself to the 
business of selling needles, pins, tapes, &:c., &cc. — in short, all the 
paraphernalia of a pedlar's box ; from which, by his indomitable per- 
severance and business ability, he soon stepped into a lucrative posi- 
tion, and became the very first man in business, mercantile credit 
and wealth, in this section of 'the state. Royal R. Hinman, Esq., 
in his valuable statistical work compiled from the colonial records at 
Hartford, says he died worth nine hundred thousand dollars. This 
is a mistake, his estate having been inventoried at about one-half that 
sum. 

As a man he was one to make an impression on every one 
that came near him. The energy of the man was amazing, and, this 
directing all his powers to the single business of accumulation, wealth 
flowed into his coflTers on every side. He was for years the sole 
merchant of this town and all the neighboring towns ; and so large 
at times was his stock in trade, that, it is credibly reported, merchants 
from New Haven sometimes visited Woodbury, and purchased from 
Jabez Bacon goods to retail afterwards in that city. 

His way of doing business was often rash, apparently, and seem- 
ingly no safe rule for others. An aged merchant of New York told 
the writer of this many years ago, that he (Mr. Bacon) would some- 
times visit his store, make him a bid for a whole tier of shelf goods 
from floor to ceiling, amounting in value to thousands of dollars, and 
have the whole boxed and shipped ii) an hour to the sloop at the foot 
of Peck Slip bound for Derby. His vast Avealth also, together with 
his business skill, sometimes gave him the command of the New 
York market so that, to a degree moderns can hardly credit, he could, 
with a turn of his hand, " put the screws" on an article, and make 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 353 

its price in the great metropolis rise and fall like a barometer. An 
anecdote, an unqnestionable fact, illustrates this. He was a large 
dealer in pork, this being the " circulating medium," it would seem, 
for this region, judging from the vast quantities of it that found their 
way to " the old red store in the hollow," as it was called, thence 
down to " Darby Na7-rors" where it was shipped to New York. The 
old gentleman had once shipped an exceedingly fine lot of this arti- 
cle for the city, but when he arrived there he found his purchasers 
indisposed to his price, as two immense ship loads were that day ex- 
pected from Maine. The old gentleman merely set his teeth firm, 
an ominous trick of his in a bargain, and left the store. He in- 
stantly took a horse, rode some six miles up the East River shore, 
to about what is now Blackwell's Island, boarded the sloojis as they 
came along, and purchased every pound of their cargoes, staking his 
whole fortune for it. This at that day put the whole New York 
market in his hands, and tradition says he cleared forty thousand 
dollars by this single operation. 

He Avas kind-hearted, open and generous, though in a bargain 
close to a fault. His hospitality was unbounded. A long table was 
kept set forth in the west parlor of what is now the residence of 
Daniel Curtiss, Esq., the whole year round. This might haye 
been policy, but it was also a part of a large heart, that took pleas- 
ure in giving in this form. As a citizen he was public-spirited and 
useful for his day. As a husband and father his atFections were en- 
deai'ing and indulgent, and he Avas the centre of a large circle of 
relatives and friends. But it was as a business man where he de- 
serves to be noted ; where he deserves signal mention for posterity. 
He was the centre of a great commotion ; the main-spring of a 
mighty watch, such as we in this day almost consider apocryphal ; 
and with him has passed away a business era, such as shall not 
soon be seen in this valley again. 

The old store, in which his vast wealth was accumulated, still 
stands. And if a man has nothing else to do, it may be instructive 
to pass into it, look up at its old beams, its huge, old-fashioned door, 
and wind through its j)assages up and down, thinking of the great 
past that once existed there, and feel it impressed on his whole na- 
ture — " what shadows we all be." 

He died September 10th, 180G. 



354 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKT. 

HON. DANIEL N. BRINSMADE 

"Was the son of Rev. Daniel Brinsmade, second pastor of the 
church in Judea society, and graduated at Yale College, in 1772. 
He read law with Samuel Canfield, Esq., of Sharon, and settled in 
the practice of his profession in his native place, which had now 
become the town of Washington, where he continued to reside till 
his death in 1826, at the age of seventy -five. He was justice 
of the quorum, an assistant judge of the county court for sixteen 
years from 1802, ten of which he sat on the bench. He was longer 
in public life than any other man in that part of the ancient territory 
of Woodbury. Gen. Daniel B. Brinsmade of Washington is his son. 



REV. WILLIAM THOMPSON BACON.' 

Wm. T. Bacon was born at Woodbury, in Litchfield county, 
August 24th, 1814. At the age of twelve he was sent to the "Epis- 
copal Academy," at Cheshire, to be fitted for college, but, after two 
years, he determined to engage in a mercantile life, and became a 
clerk in the city of New York. After three years, at the age of 
seventeen, he established himself in business in New Haven, Conn. 
In a short time, however, he withdrew from his mercantile connec- 
tion, and devoted himself to study. He entered Yale College, in 
1833, where he was regularly gi'aduated in 1837, and was appointed 
by his class to deliver the valedictory poem, at the time of leaving 
the institution. During the following autumn, he entered the divin- 
ity school at New Haven, and, after the usual term of study, was 
licensed as a minister in the Congregational denomination. On leav- 
ing that institution, he was married to a daughter of Prof. Jonathan 
Knight, of the medical department of Yale College, and, in 1842, 
was settled over the Congregational church and society in the town 
of Trumbull, where he remained till 1845, when ill health compelled 
him to ask a dismission. He subsequently became one of the edit- 
ors of the " New Englander," a quarterly magazine of great ability. 
He was also for a few years the editor and proprietor of the New 
Haven daily and weekly " Journal and Courier," which he conducted 
with marked ability and success. He subsequently supplied the pul- 

1 This sketch is taken principally from Kilbonrue's Litchfield Biographies. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. oOO 

pit in South Britain for a time, and is now engaged in liis ministe- 
rial labors in his old church at Trumbull. But he is not settled 
there. He resides in the old " Bacon Homestead," in his native 
town, having repaired and greatly improved it. 

Soon after leaving college, Mr. Bacon published a volume of 
poems from a Boston press, which, in 1840, passed into a third edi- 
tion, revised and enlarged. In 1848, a new volume of poems from 
his pen, was published by Mr. Putnam of New York, containing 
two hundred and seventy-five pages. His lighter poems possess 
much simplicity and grace. He has a fine perception of natural 
beauty, and his graver productions are pervaded by a current of 
deeply reflective, moral and religious sentiment. They have received 
the examination, and elicited the general commendation of severe 
critics. It would be pleasing to introduce some specimens of his 
poetry, but the limits of this work forbid. 



HON. JOSEPH II. BELLAMY. 

Joseph Hart Bellamy was the only child of David Bellamy, Esq., 
and grandson of Dr. Joseph Bellamy, the first pastor of the Congre- 
gational church in Bethlehem. 

He was born in Bethlehem, graduated at Yale College in 1808, 
was admitted to the bar of Litchfield County about 1812, after 
which, in connection with the superintendence of a farm, he prac- 
ticed law in his native town till the time of his decease. 

Mr. Bellamy possessed qualities, and sustained a character, which 
secured the confidence and respect of all who knew him, and the 
warm affection of his chosen friends. Although his political princi- 
ples were often opposed to those of the majority in the town, yet such, 
in the view of all, was the integrity and uprightness of his character, 
that he was permitted uniformly to retain some of the most imjiortant 
and responsible offices in the gift of the town, and was repeatedly 
called to represent it in the legislature of the state. He was also 
honored with a scat in the senate, in 1841, and had been county com- 
missioner for Litchfield county, two years earlier. 

In his profession he was esteemed a wise, judicious counselor, and 
held a fair standing as an advocate. A distinguished member of the 
bar atTirmed, that " had Bellamy been exclusively devoted to the law, 
he might have gained a position in the first class of lawyers." 

He possessed a fund of knowledge of men and things, and a strik- 



35G niSTORT OF ancient WOODBURY. 

ing orifrinality in his illustrations and anecdotes, which rendered his 
society and conversation jicculiarly interesting and instructive. 

His general character is briefly given in the following, extracted 
from an address at his funeral. 

" Much as I loved and respected Mr. Bellamy," said the speaker, " I ain not 
about to claim for him perfection : he did not claim it for himself. No man 
knew his imperfections and infirmities better than himself. He made no pub- 
lic profession of piety, and I supposo doubted whether he possessed and en- 
joyed it. 

•' Notwithstanding his own views on the subject, we think those who knew 
him best, might find some evidence of its existence. Favored from early life 
with the best literary and religious advantages, among other things he studied 
the Bible. He also read intelligently the works of the best theological writers, 
and was an habitual, attentive and intelligent hearer of the gospel. He was a 
firm believer in what are distinctively known as the doctrines of grace. The 
great doctrine of the reformation, justification by faith in the merits of the Lord 
Jesus Christ, was with him (as we well know) a favorite, a cardinal topic, and 
one of the last topics which in broken accents escaped his lips, while they were 
yet quivering in the agonies of death. That he was a man of strict moral hon- 
esty and integrity, has never, we believe, been for a moment doubted. Nay, 
it has been fully demonstrated in the unlimited confidence reposed in him by 
individuals and public bodies. 

" He was a firm friend of good morals; ' a terror to evil doers, and a praise 
to such as do well.' 

" He ever maintained a firm and unyielding adherence to that which he was 
convinced was right; and no motives of personal or selfish interest, of party or 
political favor, could divert him from his course. 

" He was preeminently a patriot, a lover of his country, and ever manifested 
a deep, absorbing intt-rest in her peace, purity and prosperity And we fear 
not to ask, were not the blessings of the peace-maker his } When irritated and 
contending parties sought his aid, while he was ready to administer relief to 
the injured and oppressed, he was not willing to embark even as a professional 
man, in the unrighteous cause, for the sake of personal, party or pecuniary in- 
terest. Rather would he strive to allay the unruly passions, to suggest and rec- 
ommend the ' things which make for peace,' which tend to secure harmony 
and right. 

" We have intimated, that like a true son of New England lie was the firm 
friend of the Bible, the Sabbath, the public worship of God, and the ordinances 
and institutions of his house ; this he manifested by his continued and untiring 
efforts to sustain these institutions. We fear no contradiction when we say, 
that his counsels, influence and exertions, were ever regarded by the members 
of the ecclesiastical society to which he belonged, as highly conducive to its 
best interests. Said a plain, unlettered man, lamenting his departure, ' when 
we have come together as a society, with different views and divided feelings, 
Bellamy would get up and tell us what was right, and make us see and feel 
that it was right, and straighten us out.' 

" A little before his death he remarked, ' This society, in its business meet- 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 357 

ings, is never characterized by discord or unkind remarlcs.' We may add, if it 
ever should be thus characterized, it may be more apparent to whose influence 
its former harmony should be in part attributed. If we mistal^e not, its records 
will show, that a single vote, which M'ith much care and skill he prepared, vir- 
tually erected and completed tlie commodious house of worship which the so- 
ciety now enjoys. When its members came together to deliberate and decide 
upon a great subject, one which has divided and distracted many ecclesiastical 
communities, the vote, previously prepared, vi'as presented and ex]jlained, and 
the members had only to raise their hands, which they did with entire unanim- 
ity, and the deed was done, or committed to hands in which all had confidence 
that it would be satisfactorily done. 

" Being a direct descendant of one of the most able and useful ministers of 
the gospel with v/hich this land was ever blessed, Mr. Bellamy loved and re- 
spected all accredited ministers of Christ. While he was an active member of 
the society, it had five ditl'erent individuals as its ministers — men dili'ering as 
much in their general character, disposition and temperament, as it is possible 
perhaps for five good nien to dill'er. Yet Iw m-,niifestly loved and respected 
them all. They all recognized him as a valuable and faithful friend. Though 
there are many who have heard him sjieak IVeely in regard to them all, they 
do not recollect ever to have heard him utter an unkind, disrespectful, com- 
plaining word or insinuation ui regard to any one of them. 

" He well understood that trials and embarrassments tended to hinder the 
minister of the gospel in the performance of his arduous work; hence, instead 
of endeavoring, like some, to multiply and increase his burdens, it was his 
pleasure to do what he consistently could to relieve them. 

" He had confidence in God as a prayer-hearing God. Often and in differ- 
ent ways did he manifest his confidence in the ellieacy of prayer. Even down 
to the last hour of life he expressed his desire to be interested in the jorayers of 
God's people. His standard of piety was higher than that of many others. 
This was probably the ground of his doubts in regard to his own personal in- 
terest in the religion of the gospel. 

" It is an interesting fact that the day, and probably the hour on which Mr. 
Bellamy died, Nov. 2d, 1S4S, completed the exact term of one hundred and ten 
years, since Dr. Joseph Bellamy, his grandfather, commenced his labors in the 
parish of Bethlehem. During that period the name of Bellamy has always 
been somewhat prominent in the place; by the renioval of the subject of this 
sketch, in the male line, it became extinct."! 



HON. NOAII B. BENEDICT. 

Noah B. Benedict was the son of Rev. Noah Benedict, and was 
born at Woodbury, April 2, 1771. He graduated at Yale College 
in 1788, and was admitted to the bar in Litchfield county in 1792. 
He was appointed judge of probate in 1805, and resigned in 1816, 



1 This sketch is extracted from the minutes of Eev. Fosdick llamson. 



\ 

358 HISTOEY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

on being elected an assistant, or member of the council, which office 
he filled two years. He was elected a member of the House of Rep- 
resentatives in October, 1796, and was reelected to ten sessions Sub- 
sequently, between this date and May, 1827. He was clerk of the 
House in 1809, and May, 1810. 

In the third week in June, 1831, Mr. Benedict came to Litchfield, 
to argue, among other cases, that of Fairman v. Bacon, 8 Conn. Rep., 
418. Just before that case came on, he was taken ill at his lodgings, 
and could only send in tlie brief he had prepared. He was carried 
home, but survived only a few days. Judge Daggett, in giving the 
opinion of the court, in the case referred to, says, he made " great 
use of the brief furnished by Mr. B., because he found 'it presented 
the argument in that dense, yet luminous view, for which that gen- 
tleman was so conspicuous, and by which the court were so often in- 
structed and enlightened ; and rarely more so than in this, one of his 
last efforts.'" His death occurred July 2, 1831, at the age of sixty 
years. He was twice married, but died without issue. His last con- 
sort still survives, and resides in the " old homestead." " He was 
honorably distinguished in his profession, courteous, atlectionate and 
kind in his feelings, and endeared to the circle of his relatives and 
friends by his numerous virtues." Such is the modest record on his 
tombstone. 



DOCT. ANTHONY BURRITT. 

The subject of this notice was the son of Benjamin and Mary Bur- 
ritt, and born in Newtown, Conn., Dec. 4, 1752. He studied medi- 
cine with Doct. Joseph Perry, of Woodbury, and commenced the 
practice of the profession in Southbury society, a short time before 
the Revolution. During a part of that period, he acted as surgeon's 
mate in the service. He Avas taken prisoner, and carried to Long 
Island. Jabez Bacon, of Woodbury, a friend of his, happening to 
come where he was, and finding in what condition he was there held, 
interceded with the British authorities, and induced them to release 
him. He was of respectable attainments, and had good success in 
his practice. He died April 12, 1839. 



1 In this sketch of Mr. Benedict, the author has restricted himself to a mere statist- 
ical account, at the request of the one most nearly interested in him. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 359 



ANTHONY B. BURRITT, M. D., 

Son of the preceding, was born in Southbuiy, January 12, 1810 ; 
studied medicine with his father, and Docts. Abraham L. Smith and 
Joseph L. TomUnson, and graduated at the medical department of 
Yale College, in 1832. Commenced })ractice in his native town im- 
mediately, and is now in practice there* 



ZACIIERIAII BEERS. 



"VYoodbury has not been prolific in poets. About the time of the 
Revolution, however, the subject of this sketch was in full life, and 
possessed a decided talent for versifying. He would with the great- 
est ease and fluency, turn an account of any or all the ordinary inci- 
dents of every-day life into rhyme. He never had the opportunity of 
improving his mind by culture, and therefore most of his productions 
were of an exceedingly crude nature, wanting all the finish of gram- 
matical construction, and true poetical polish. Accordingly, his 
rhymes were all of the Hudibrastic order, but there were frequent 
specimens of high poetic ability, which, if it had been preceded by 
proper culture, would have enabled him to rival the McFingal of 
John Trumbull. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and entered 
heartily into the spirit of the times. As a mediocre specimen of his 
powers, the following is given, entitled by its author, 

"THE INDEPENDENT BANK." 

" Come, freemen, come, assist to sing 

The blessings tlint surround us ; 
'Tis true we've lost a sapient king, 

But liberty has found us. 

Chorus. 
Then join your voices from the heart, 

A heavenly chorus lend us ; 
We never but with life will part 
"^ With glorious Independence. 

Let idiots talk of state and rank, ' 

And bend to those who care it; 
Our freedom is a common Bank, 
And equally we'll share it. 



360 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUET. 

In seventy-six, 'twas founded here, 

And has this wondrous tally ; 
The oftener divide our share, 

The greater is its value. 

God gave the charter first to Man, 

But Priests and Kings concealed it ; 
Columbia's sons regained the plan, 

And with their l^lood they sealed it. 

Let us, who share her stock look in, 

And frequently inspect her ; 
'Twill please the Cashier, Gallatin, 

And Jefferson, director." 

A Doct. Enos Weed, of Stamford, some fifty years ago, published 
a long advertisement, setting forth that he, as an itinerant physician, 
would travel through the Country, and cure all diseases " that flesh is 
heir to," by a long list of patent medicines, of which he possessed the 
right. Mr. Beers paraphrased the whole of his long and bombastic 
notice, with inimitable sarcasm, too long, and too free in its details, 
to be admitted into these pages, but a few passages are given as a 
specimen of the style. It was printed in a Danbury paper. 

" Pandora long a pest to human ease, 

Mother of ills, and mistress of disease, 

Slipped, one by one, from her envenomed chest, 

Till mortals all were near dejirived of rest; 

Until the namesake of old Jacob's son. 

Enters the list, and bids distress begone ; 

Lays in of antidotes so large a store. 

That De'il shall rage and reign no more ; 

And by a long detail their virtue shows. 

With patent right, just brought from Lee & Co's. 

Oh ! happy land where remedies will cure, 

And, legal made, infallible and sure ! 

The exulting muse without Poetic fame 

Delights to call each Antidote by Name; 

And as she sings their efficacy o'er. 

Without a Patent — blesses Baltimore, 

Whence Hamilton's Elixir must arrive 

To keep the people of these states alive — 

From thence to here, consigned to Doct. Dar — 

Who dares infection to begin the war ! " 

After going through the whole advertisement, characterizing each 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. Obi 

antidote on liis way, and giving by fav the best description of a pill, 
extant, he closes as follows : 

"At last the Patent riglitis made so sure, 
It helps his purse — it" it perfonns no cure. 
This we believe — Oh! Faith, what ib thy power 
To help ])oor mortals in a (huiy;erous hour ! 
An Anted iUivian race will soon arrive. 
And peojile here for many centuries live ; 
And then, by patent rights, all crimes forgiven. 
Wear out at last — and gently go to Heaven !" 



WILLIAIM COTHREN, 

Son of William and Hannah Cothrcn. was born at Farmington, 
Maine, November 28, 1819. lie fitted for college at the Farmington 
Academy; graduated at Bowdoin College, Maine, in 1843; received 
his second degree in course at the same institution in 1846, and the 
degree of Master of Arts, ad enndem, from Yale College, in 1847. 
He studied law imder the direction of Hon. Robert Goodenough, of 
Farmington, Me., late member of Congress from his district, and with 
the Hon. Charles B. Phelps, of Woodbury. He came to AVoodbury in 
1844, taught school for a Avhile, and was admitted to the Litchfield 
county bar, 1845. He commenced the practice of his profession in 
Woodbury, immediately after, and has there continued in the per- 
formance of its duties till the present time. He was electei corres- 
ponding member of the New England Historic, Genealogical Society 
at Boston, INfass., May 5, 1847, and a member of the Connecticut 
Historical Society, November 23, 1852. He was also elected a 
county commissioner for Litchfield county, at the May session of the 
General Assembly, 1851. 



CONANT CATLIN, :\r. D., 

Was a practicing physician and surgeon in the town of Bethlem 
nearly twenty years. He came there about 1818, when what was 
called the " New Milford fever," was extensively prevailing, and very 
fatal. He was the immediate successor of Dr. Fowler, wlio had him- 
self fallen a victim to the epidemic. Seldom has a physician, a 
young man, an entire stranger, risen so rapidly in the esteem and 
confidence of the community, and obtained so permanent and exten- 
24 



362 HISTORY OF ancient woodburt. 

sive a practice as tlie subject of this notice. The immediate cause 
of this, was, doubtless, his success in the treatment of the prevailing 
epidemic, and the favorable influence of Dr. Perry, of Woodbury, 
but the continuance and increase of this confidence must have de- 
pended on something more. This may be found not only in his gen- 
eral skill and industry in the practice of his profession, but in his 
sterling worth as a man and a citizen. Few men ever possessed in 
a higher degree those rare virtues in their intercourse with others, 
which command respect, confidence and esteem. 

Left penniless at the age of fourteen, by the death of his father, 
Daniel Catlin, of Harwintou, he succeeded by untiring zeal, in securing 
a fair academic education, and then paid his way through five years' 
study of medicine, commencing practice at the age of twenty-one. 
Dui'ing all this time, he was one of three sons, who supported an in- 
firm and feeble mother. He commenced practice fifty dollars in 
debt, for his horse and saddle. Notwithstanding an expensive family, 
and a connection in mercantile business which met with frequent and 
heavy losses, his heirs received nearly $2,500 from his estate, while 
about the same amount in worthless debts was found upon his books. 
His practice was universal in the town of Bethlem, and extended 
largely into the adjoining towns. If he was successful in winning 
the confidence and esteem of his patrons and the public, he was emi- 
nently so in securing that of his medical brethren in the county and 
state. The records of the Litchfield County Medical Society fully 
attest this. His mind seemed wholly absorbed in his profession, often 
to the neglect of his pecuniary aifairs ; and few men, it is believed, 
have contributed more largely than he, both by his pen, counsel and 
practice, to elevate the dignity of his profession in this county. Per- 
haps no paper has contributed more to this end, than his truthful 
yet sarcastic and scathing treatise on " Quacks and Quackeiy," read 
before the county society, about the year 1820. Its peculiar adapt- , 
ation to the existing state of tilings at the time, as well as its correc- 
tive influence, is within the memory of all the older phj'sicians now 
living in the county. The honorary degree of M. D. was conferred 
on him by Yale College, in 1828, and at the time of his death he was 
corresponding in regard to a professorship in that institution, which 
was about to be tendered to him. 

In private life, in the social circle, he was beloved by all. Unas- 
suming in manners, remarkable for the paucity of his words, calm, 
clear and dispassionate, yet Jirm in the expression of an opinion, his 
remarks were always instructive, and commanded a powerful though 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. oG3 

often a quiet influence. Usually sedate, lie was nevertheless apt to 
arouse the mirth of the company by an unexpected though opportune 
joke. Naturally quick in temper, he had succeeded in obtaining an 
almost perfect control over it, and scarcely an instance is remembered 
where his anger found vent in Avords. lie was ■a consistent Chris- 
tian, warmly attached to the Congregational church, of which he was 
a member, but liberal in his sentiments toward all denominations. 
At the age of twenty-one he was seriously attacked, several times, 
with hemorrhage from the lungs, and during the remainder of his 
life he was troubled with consequent infirmities. lie often remarked 
in liis last years that " horseback riding had prolonged his life many 
years." He died in June, 1830, beloved and esteemed by all, and his 
memory is still cherished by his cotemporaries in Bethlem. They 
feel that his loss has never been supplied. His disease was called 
consumption, though not well defined. He icorc himself out by years 
of laborious practice. His age was forty-one. 



DOCTOR JOHN CALHOUN, 

"Was for many years a practitioner of medicine in Washington. 
He was a very respectable man, and an ajiproved physician. He 
was much engaged in the public business of the town, and died leav- 
in"- a somewhat numerous posterity, many of whom have become 
noted in the various professions of life. His children were, Daniel, 
Calvin, Jedediah, Joseph and Philo. 



DOCTOR AZARIAH EASTMAN, 

"Was the son of Azariah Eastman, and born at New Fairiicld, now 
Sherman, Conn., August 5th, 1746. At the age of twenty, he com- 
menced the study of medicine with Doctor James Potter, of his na- 
tive place, and was licensed to practice the profession, October, 17G8. 
He removed to Roxbury, a parish in "Woodbury, and entered into 
practice, in which he continued fur many years with great success, 
and obtained a high eminence not only in his profession, but as a firm 
supporter of those principles which elevate and ennoble man. lie 
died May 27th, 1818, and was buried in the old burial ground near 
the place where the first meeting-house stood. 



364 HISTORY OF ANCIENT AVOODBURY. 



DOCTOR JOSIAH R. EASTMAN, 

Son of the preceding, was born in Roxbury society, February 14th, 
1771, and in the nineteenth year of his age, lie commenced the study of 
medicine and surgery, with Dr. Nathaniel Thayer, a physician of his 
native parish. He studied two years with him, and the rest of the 
time spent in preparatory studies, he passed under the tuition of Dr. 
James Potter, of Sherman. He was licensed to practice. May 2d, 
1793, by the Medical Society of Fairfield county, at a meeting held 
in Danbury. 

Previous to his license, he had intended to settle in East Haven, 
but the scarlet fever being at this time very prevalent in his native 
place, he returned there, and immediately entered into the practice of 
his profession. The skill and judgment which he manifested in the 
management of the prevailing epidemic, laid the foundation for his 
permanent residence and future usefulness in Roxbury. lie was the 
only permanently settled physician in his native society for nearly 
thirty-four years. During all this period he was called to practice 
extensively in the adjoining towns, and frequently to meet his pro- 
fessional brethren in council, in difficult cases. His success in his 
profession may not be traced directly to his early acquirements in 
medical science, but to an inherent, native genius. In 1813, when an 
epidemic fever prevailed in the southern part of Litchfield county, 
and nearly all who were attacked fell before it, under the treatment 
of the most eminent physicians, he introduced a mode of treatment 
not recognized by any author, with such marked success, that he 
gained for himself an extended reputation. 

He became religious in early life, and connected himself with the 
Congregational church in Roxbur3\ He remained during his whole 
life one of its most efficient and useful members. He was also elected 
to various civil offices in his town, and in all his ministerial and judi- 
cial acts was traceable the divine precept, " Do xnito others as you 
would that they should do unto you." 



DOCTOR SYLVANUS FANSHER. 
Dr. Fansher was a native of Plymouth, Conn., but resided for 
many years in Southbury. He devoted more than fifty years of his 
life to the extension of the vaccine orkine pock inoculation, as a rem- 
edy against that scourge of the human race, the small-pox. For his 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 365 

discoveries in expediting the kine pock, he I'eceived ti diploma from 
the "Royal Jennerian Society of London." About the year 1802, 
when the kine pock had become apparently extinct in this country, it 
was found that a number of })ersons in Danbury and Goshen had 
taken the infection, or riras, from milking cows. Dr. Fansher sta- 
ted that he took the virus from the pustule on the milkmaid's arm, 
and inoculated an infant with it, which proved to be the genuine kine 
pock. He also stated that he had known several instances where 
the infection was taken witliout any connection with the cow ; and it 
was his belief that the infection is taken from some shrub or plant, 
from which, when discovered, we shall know something of the origin 
of the small pox, and have a sovereign remedy against it, at hand. 
Dr. Fansher died two or three years ago, after a long life devoted to 
the investigation of this subject.^ 



PARLEMON B. FOWLER, M. D., 

Was the immediate successor, in the parish of Bethlem, of Doctors 
Z. Hull and John Meigs. He was a very skillful physician, and a 
highly respectable man. 



WARREN R. FOWLER, M. D., 

Studied the profession of medicine with Dr. Sheldon, and com- 
menced its practice in Judea society, in Washington, about the year 
1810. He continued in the practice of his profession till his death in 
182G. He was of excellent repute, both as a man and a physician. 
In 1818, he received from Yale College tlie honorary degree of doc- 
tor in medicine. He married Polly Hanford, and had two children, 
Henry, a respectable physician at South ]jend, Indiana, and George, 
who died young. 



REMUS M. FOAVLER, M. D., 

, Is a brother of the preceding, and studied medicine with him. He 
also settled in Washington, and still continues there in full {)ractice, 
respected as a man and a })hysician. In 1834, Yale College confer- 
red on him the honorary degree of doctor in medicine. He has been 
twice married, and has had tlu-ee children, Maria, who married Doc- 

1 Barber's Historical Collections of Connecticut. 



366 HISTORY OF ANCIENT "VVOODBURY. 

tor Setli Porter Ford, and resides at the Sandwich Ishands ; Jane, 
who married William W. Leavitt, and Harriet, who also resides at 
the Sandwich Islands. 



DOCTOR stephp:n b. fairchild, 

Is a native of Newtown, Conn. He studied medicine the usual 
length of time, and after taking a course of medical lectures, was 
licensed to practice. Immediately after this he removed to Wood- 
buiy, and is now engaged in the active duties of his profession. 



DOCTOR ANDREW GRAHAM, 

Was the son of Rev, John Graham, the first minister of Southbury 
society, and born at Stafford, Conn., in 1728. Having prepared him- 
self for the practice of medicine, he settled in that profession in South- 
bury jiarish, about 1750, and continued in its practice till his death, 
June 17th, 1785, at the age of fifty-seven years. He resided in the 
house next south of the White Oak school-house. He obtained a 
fair reputation as a physician, and an unsullied reputation as a man. 
He was much employed in the public business of the town, especially 
during the period of the Revolutionary War. He was for a time 
surgeon's mate in the army. He was a jovial, agreeable and com- 
panionable man, much endeared to his neighbors and friends. John 
A. Graham, LL. D., a lawyer of New York, was his son, and erected 
a plain monument over his grave some years ago, on which is the 
following inscription : 

"Andrew Graham, M. D., a descendant of the Duke of Montrose, departed 
tliis for another and better world, in June, 1785, aged 57 years. Out of respect 
to the memory of an honest man, this marble is placed by his son, John A. 
(Iraham, LL, D. 

" New York,1805, Ne oublic." 

DOCTOR ZEPHANIAH HULL, \l)V'^ 

Was born in Cheshire, Conn., in the year 1728; studied the pro- 
fession of medicine at an early age ; married Hannah Cook, March 
28th, 1749, and soon removed to Bethlehem, in AYoodbury, probably 
on account of the influence of Dr. Bellamy, who was a native of the 
same town, and a few years his senior. He died November 10th, 
1760, the same day with his wife, in the " Great Sickness." They 



HISTOKY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY 



567 



were buried in one grave, and two of his children, and a young man 
living in his house, died a few days later. Soon after these deaths, 
and while others were sick in the house, a Deacon Strong going by> 
raised a flock of eleven quails, which flew over the house and dropped 
in the garden. Immediately after three of them rose and flew into 
the bushes, but the other eight were found dead, and in an hour after 
putrefied, became olfensive and were buried.* As a physician, and 
as a man, he ever sustained a high character in the place of his 
adoption. 



DOCTOR TITUS HULL, 

Son of the last, was born in Bethlehem parish, March 25th, 1751 ; 
was the eldest of his surviving children, and lived with an uncle at 
Cheshire, some six years. After this he studied medicine with Doc- 
tor Seth Bird, an eminent physician of Litchfield ; settled on the 
farm owned by his father, now occupied by Benjamin T. Lake, and 
resided there till 1805. He then removed to Danbury, Conn., where 
he resided two years, when he removed to the state of New York. 
He was a respectable physician, and perhaps more celebrated in 
treating diseases of the bowels, particularly every variety of colic, 
than any other man in the state, in his day. 



SAMUEL EUGENE HARTWELL, ESQ., 

Is a native of Strong, Maine. He prepared for college at Far- 
mington Academy, Maine ; entered Wesleyan University, at Middle- 
town, Conn., in 1837, for the purpose of taking the "scientific 
course" in that institution, and graduated as bachelor of science, in 
1841. He studied law with Hon. William W. Ellsworth, at Hart- 
ford, a judge of the superior court ; commenced the j»ractice of his 
profession at Suffield, Conn., in 1843, whence he removed to Wood- 
bury, in 1845. In 184G, being engaged in the invention of a ma- 
chine for the making of cigars, he removed to the city of New York, 
where he has since continued to reside. He realized some S15,000 
from his invention, and is now a land broker in New York. 



1 This fact is taken from a letter written at the time, datc'l December 20tli, 1700, 



368 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

DOCTOR DANIEL HUNTINGTON, 

Studied medicine with Doctor Joseph Perry, and commenced the 
practice of his profession in Woodbury about the year 1767. He 
was the first postmaster of the town, from 1797 to 1814, when he re- 
signed his office. For several years before the close of his life, he 
relinquished the active duties of his profession, and confined his at- 
tention to his drug store. He was a very celebrated chemical com- 
pounder. He died February 19th, 1819, aged seventy-four. 



ASAHEL M. HUXLEY, M. D., 

Came to Woodbury about the year 1834, and settled in the prac- 
tice of his profession. He was married to Mary L. Minor, daughter 
of the late Matthew Minor, Jr., Esq., July 14th, 1837. After some 
years spent in practice in this town, there being a vacancy in Go- 
shen, Conn., he removed there, where he has since remained in an 
extensive practice. 



DOCTOR BENJAMIN IIAWLEY, 

Commenced the practice of the medical profession in the parish of 
Bethlehem, some time preceding the date of the Revolution. He was 
distinguished as a physician in his time. He died September llth, 
1813, during the time of the "New Milford fever," at the age of 
seventy years. 



WILLIAM HAWLEY, ESQ., 

Was born at Redding, Conn., and was a graduate of Yale College, 
class of 1789. He acquired his professional education under Thad- 
deus Benedict, Esq.; w^as admitted to the bar in 1791; and soon 
after commenced the practice of law at Greenwich, Conn., and sub- 
sequently at Redding, where he continued until 1798, when he re- 
moved to Woodbury, and there continued in practice until 1803, 
wliich he then relinquished for other pursuits, chiefly of a mercantile 
character. He was a member of the House of Representatives, in 
1802 and 1805. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKY. 3G9 

GIDEON HIRAM IIOLLISTER, ESQ., 

Was born in Washington, December 14th, 1817, and graduated 
at Yale College in 1840. lie immediately commenced the study of 
law under the direction of lion. David Daggett, afterward pursued 
the same in the office of Hon. Origcn S. Seymour, and was admitted 
to the bar of Litchtield county in April, 1842. He then opened an 
office in Woodbury, and continued the practice of his }>x'ofession with 
good success for about two years, when he was induced to remove to 
Litchfield, where he immediately entered into a highly successful 
and lucrative practice, in which he is at present engaged. Few men 
in the legal profession have been favored with a more steady and 
unvarying success. Within the last two years he has prepared two 
works for the press, one of which has already been given to the 
world, and elicited the warm commendation of critics as well as of 
friends. This is a historical novel entitled "Mount Hope," and the 
other about to be published is of a similar character. He is also 
engaged in wi-iting a history of Connecticut, a work very much needed, 
and one which will be awaited with eager interest and curiosity by 
all. He is a writer of marked ability, and in the opinion of his 
friends, he would do well for the world, and for his own fame, to de- 
vote himself entirely to this field of labor, notwithstanding his suc- 
cessful efibrts at the bar. 



EDWARD HINMAN, ESQ., 

A\'as the son of Dea. Noah Ilinman, and was born in Woodbury, 
about 1740. He was one of the first two lawyers in the town, and 
resided in White Oak. It is believed that he studied his profession 
with Col. Walker of Stratford, though it is not now certainly known. 
Soon after his establislunent in practice he became familiarly known 
to his fellow-townsmen by the appellation of " Lawyer Ned," an 
a})pellalion which he retained during life, though he lived to a good 
old age. He was a man of clear and strong intellect. Nathan Pres- 
ton, Esq., once said of him, that " he was a greater man than Wash- 
ington." This was, of course, an exceedingly extravagant statement, 
but tends to show the estimation in which he was held by members 
of his own profession. In one particular, he was a much greater 
man than Washington, and that is in corpulency. He was one of 
the most fcorpulent men of his day. When he was seated his abdo- 



370 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

men projected entirely over his knees. He was accustomed to use 
great brevity of speech, but always spoke to the point. His voice 
was not good — he spoke with a strong, nasal twang. He was much 
addicted to the use of hyperl^olical expressions. It is said, that when 
in court his brevity of speech was as great as elsewhere, but a few 
words from him had more weight with the court and jury, than a 
multitude from his comjietitors.^ 



HON. EDWARD HINMAN, 

Is the son of Timothy Ilinman, and the grandson of " Lawyer 
Ned" on the side of his mother, who was his daughter. He pre- 
pared himself for the practice of law, and took up his abode in his 
native town, Avhere he has continued to practice his profession. He 
has borne various public offtces in the town, and has been for two 
years judge of the county court for New Haven county. He is 
Avealthy, and has passed on thus far to a respectable age in a " state 
of single blessedness." He wae a member of the State Senate in 
1843. 



HON. ROYAL R. HINMAN, 



Was born in Southbury, and graduated at Yale College in 1804, 
in the class with Hon. John C. Calhoun and other distinguished men. 
He studied law with Hon. D. S. Boardman, Hon. Noah B. Benedict 
and Judge Reeve, practiced his profession in Roxbury about twenty 
years, and about two years at Southington in Hartford county. He 
represented the town of Roxbury, four years in the General Assem- 
bly, between 1814 and 1831, was elected Secretary of SfUte, as 
successor of Hon. Thomas Day, in 1835, and was annually re-elected 
for seven years after that date. While he was secretary in 183G, he 
published a volume of the correspondence of the kings and queens 
of England, which had remained on the shelves of the office for two 
hundred years, entitled " Antiquities of Connecticut." In 1842, he 
published a volume of six hundred and forty-three pages, large octavo> 
entitled " A Ilistoi'ical Collection, from Official Records, Files, &c., 



iFor the facts in this ami several other sketclies, the author is indebted to George 
Uinman, Esq., of Sullivan, Maine, a native of the ancient territory. 



niSTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 371 

of'the part sustained by Connecticut during the War of tlie Revo- 
lution," with an appendix containing very important matters, veritied 
from the records. This is a very valuable book, and does both the 
state and the author great credit. In 184G, he published a cata- 
logue of the names of the first Puritan settlers of the colony of 
Connecticut, extending to five numbers, and containing three hundred 
and thirty-six pages. He is at the present moment publishing under a 
similar title, a large and extended work of a similar character. In 
1835, he was appointed chairman of a committee consisting of him- 
self, Leman Church, Esq., and lion. Elisha Phelps, to revise the 
public statutes of Connecticut, which they accomplished in a book of 
about six hundred pages. In 1835 and 'G, the same committee was 
appointed to compile and publish the private or special acts of the 
state, partictdarly those of a date later than 1789, up to the time of 
publication. This duty was performed, and a book of sixteen hun- 
dred and forty pages was published for the use of the people of the 
state. In 1838, Mr. Ilinman and Thomas C. Perkins of Hartford 
were appointed to make a revision of the statutes of the state, Avhich 
duty was accom})lished, and the '' Revision of 1838," containing 
seven hundred and seventeen pages, was the result. It is said, that 
no man in the state has prepared and published so large a number of 
pages for the state as Mr. Ilinman. He was one of the original in- 
corporators of the revised charter of the "Connecticut Historical 
Society" in 1839, and is also an honorary member of the New Jer- 
sey Historical Society, and of the Massachusetts Historical Society. 
In his various antiquarian woiks, he has done a gi-eat work for pos- 
terity by rescuing a multitude of interesting facts from oblivion. 
On the 18th day of September, 1844, he was appointed collector of 
customs for the district of New Haven, which office he held until March 
4th, 1845, and was also supervisor ofthe light-houses in the district^of 
New Haven during the same period. He was admitted as a coun- 
selor in the siqireme coutt of the state of New York, in Albany, at 
its February term, in 1827. He now resides in Harlem, N. Y. 



COL. BENJAMIN HINMAN, 

Was born in the town of Woodbury, in this state, in the year 
1720. His ancestors came from England, in the early settlement of 
this colony. He served against the French in Canada, as early as 
1751, under a commission as quarter-master of the troop of horse in 



372 UISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

the thirteenth regiment, in this colony, under the hand of Roger 
Wolcott, then governor of the colony. On the 19th day of April, 
1755, he was commissioned by Gov. Fitch, at Norwalk, a captain of 
the sixth company of foot, in Col. Elizur Goodrich's regiment, 
being a part of the forces raised in the colony for the defense and 
protection of His Majesty's territories from any further encroach- 
ments by the French, at Crown-Point, and upon Lake Iroquois, (call- 
ed at that time by the French, Lake Champlain,) and to remove en- 
croachments then made there ; of which forces William Johnson was 
commander-in-chief. During the French war in Canada, on the 1st 
of October, 1755, Col. Ilinman being stationed near a lake, walked 
out alone about three-fourths of a mile from his men, and stopped 
near the lake in the woods. He heard a noise behind him, and turning 
briskly around, with his gun at rest, he found a French soldier with- 
in six yards of him. The soldier was as much surprised at his com- 
pany as was Col. Ilinman. The soldier at once cried for quarter, 
and held out to the colonel the helve of his hatchet in token of his 
submission, which Col. Ilinman took from him, and marched him 
into camp, as a prisoner. 

On the oOth day of May, 1751, he was commissioned major of 
said thirteenth regiment of foot and horse, by John Fitch, Esq., then 
governor of the colony. In the year 1758, he was commissioned 
lieutenant-colonel of the third regiment of foot, in the forces raised 
in the colony for invading Canada, to proceed under the supreme 
command of His Majesty's commander-in-chief in North America ; 
and also a captain in the second company in said regiment; which 
commission was signed by Tliomas Fitch, governor of this colony. 
On the 31st day of October, 1767, he was commissioned by William 
Pitkin, governor of the colony, a lieutenant-colonel of the thii'teenth 
regiment of horse and foot, " under and in the eighth year of the 
reign of Lord George the Third, King of Great Britain, &;c." 

On the 1st of November, 1771, he was commissioned colonel of 
the tliirteenth regiment of foot and horse, by J. Trumbull, governor. 
Early in the war of the llevolution, on the l?t day of May, 1775, he 
was appointed colonel of the fourth regiment of enlisted and assem- 
bled troops for the defense of the colony ; and was ordered, by Gov. 
Trumbull, on tlie 20th day of May, 1775, forthwith to march with 
five companies, to rendezvous at or near Greenwich, in this state, 
and to send three companies, to take post at Salisbury, under Major 
Elmore, to be in readiness to march with them under such orders as 
Maj. Elmore should receive from the General Assembly, or the 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 373 

governor. During the same year lie was ordered to Ticonderoga, 
"wliere he remained in command of a regiment for some time. In 
the year 1776, he was ordered, with his regiment, to New York ; 
and was at New York at its capture by the British ; after which he 
was stationed at Horse Neck, and other jilaces on the Sound, but re- 
turned home in ill health, in January, 1777, and did not again join 
the army. He died at Southbury, on the 22d day of March, 1810, 
at the ripe old age of ninety years.' 



SIMEON IIINMAN, ESQ. 

This gentleman was intimately and favorably known in "ancient 
Woodbury," as a shrewd and talented man. He was the son of 
Edward Ilinman — "Lawyer Ned," as he was familiarly called. 

Simeon commenced his legal practice about 1793, and continued 
it until about 1809, when he abandoned all business, and rusted out. 
Had he been goaded by necessity to exertion he Avould probably 
have attained a high character. Native talent of a high order he 
certainly possessed. He was never married, and died in 1825. He 
was a graduate of Yale, and lived and died at Southbury, in the 
mansion house occupied by his father. 



HON. ROBINSON S. IIINMAN. 

Robinson S. Ilinman Avas born in South Britain, a parish of South- 
bury, in 1801. 

His father, Jonathan Ilinman, was of the Southbury family of that 
name. His mother was a Jennings, who derived her descent remotely 
from an Englishman of the same name Avho migrated to Stratford, 
about the middle of the sixteenth century. Men of this name have 
within the last twenty years, entertained exalted hopes of the acqui- 
sition of wealth by inheritance of an estate in the English chancery 
standing in that name, but as has been uniformly the case were chill- 
ed by disappointment. 

Simeon Ilinman, the elder brother of Robinson, about 1847, was 
sent to England as the family agent. He returned, having acquired 
neither money, knowledge or hope by the voyao^e. 

No i)articular opportunities were afforded Robinson for attaining 



1 R. R. Hinman's War of the Revolution. 



37-4 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

an education beyond those found in a district school of that period, 
save a village library, and an earnest and inquiring spirit that rose 
with the opposing circumstances. 

Gen. Ephraim Hinman, of Roxbury, discovered mind and capacity 
in his kinsman of no ordinary grade. In 1821, at his request, he be- 
came a member of the family at Roxbury. " Gen. Ephraim" was 
in many respects, eminently beneficial to young men advancing to 
manhood ; his familiar intercourse Avith the affairs of the Revolution- 
ary War, his gentlemanly deportment, elevation above low objects, 
and his varied experience with men and things, gave him a salutary 
influence over t4ie young. In this year Robinson entered the office 
of Hon. Royal R. Hinman, then a practicing lawyer at Roxbury, 
and studied, not read, law. In 1824:, he changed his domicil, and en- 
tered the office of Charles B. Phelps, Esq., of Woodbury, and 'was 
clerk in the probate office, then a large district. In February, 1825, 
he entered the office of Judge Chapman, who had established a law 
school in New Haven. 

In June of this year he offered himself for an examination, but was 
refused by the force of an obsolete rule of that court requiring a resi- 
dence in that county of six months next previous to the examination. 
This rule was brought to notice by Judge Bronson, then on the county 
court bench in that county. He returned to Woodbury and re-en- 
tered the office of Mr. Phelps. Mr. P. being thrown from a buggy 
in Au"-ust of that year and greatly injured, Mr. Hinman conducted 
his business until September, 1825, when he was admitted at Litch- 
field. A partnership with Mr. P. immediately followed, which contin- 
ued nearly two years. During the year 1827, he removed to Utica, 
New Yoi-k, and entered the office of John Jay Ilinman, then high 
sheriff of Oneida. Among the Hinmans, there has always existed 
a clannish spirit. Robinson was the protege of Col. Hinman. He 
subsequently was admitted to practice in New York, removed to 
the city of New York, formed a partnership with a professional 
"•entleinau there, and held a tolerable practice in tlic marine court. 
Robinson felt he was made for higher objects than a practice in that 
jurisdictiou then afforded, and in 1828 removed to Naugatuck in 
New Haven county. Here his habits of order, industry and punctual- 
ity soon secured to him an extensive practice, and he had the consola- 
tion of witnessing the advancement of his reputation, and the rapid 
growth of confidence in his integrity and intellectual pursuits. In 
1830 he was appointed postmaster at that village, in 1831 he re- 
moved to New Haven, was appointed clerk of the county and 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. o i O 

superior court, and continued hi?; professional habits. la 1838, a 
change of political power occurred, and he retired to private life with 
a practice diminished by tlie interference of his official duties. In 
1842, he w\as appointed judge of probate for New Haven district, 
the most lucrative office in the gift of the state authorities, and was 
reap})ointed in 1848. During the summer of that year, that insidious 
enemy of human life, the consumption, asserted its dominion over his 
constitution. Struggling against its progress, hope gave strength while 
life was sapped at its foundation. He died November, 1843, at New 
Haven. A monument to his memory may be found in the beautiful 
cemetery in that city erected by the society of Odd Fellows, of which 
association he was a prominent member. He was never married. In 
1836, he entered military life a brigade major, and by gradation 
rose to the place of brigadier general. 

The prominent traits of his character were constitutional honesty, 
veracity, benevolence, order, industry and an untiring desire to do 
good. He possessed strong attachments to his friends and no hostil- 
ity to those who chose to make themselves his enemies. He scru- 
pulously avoided evil speaking and never imputed a bad motive, un- 
less compelled to do so by irrefragable evidence. He was prompt and 
accurate in all his dealings. 

With quick and rapid perceptions and a retentive memory, he inves- 
tigated eHectively, and followed the sequence in all its ramifications. 
When at Naugatuck and New Haven, he evinced strong tendencies 
for public improvement. At the former place, he projected the estab- 
lishment of the public square, the erection of the houses of pub- 
lic worship thereon, and the sui'vey of the public avenue passing by 
them. The Episcopal church of tliat parish was at Gun Town, some 
two miles west of its present location, but was taken down and re- 
erected in its present location. 

At New" Haven he essentially aided in the erection of the Lan- 
casterian school tliere, and also in the grading of the streets. 

His love of order was evinced in many improvements in the clerk's 
office, which have remained to tliis day, and are gratefully remem- 
bered by the court and bar. He enjoyed the reputation of an experi- 
enced druaghtsman of legal paj^ers. He was attached to the democrat- 
ic party in politics, and his efforts wei'c sometimes important. He 
worshiped in the Episcopal church, and was sincerely devoted to 
its advancement. Few men have deceased more lamented by ail 
classes with whom he had intercourse. 

There is something inexpressibly melancholy in witnessing the 



376 HISTORY OF ancient WOODBURY. 

death of one gifted by nature, and trained to the capacity of accom- 
plishing ends beneficial to himself and his fellow-men. 



GEN. EPHRAIM HINMAN. 



Among the distinguished characters of Ancient AVoodbury, the 
name of Gen. Ephraim Ilinman claims a prominent place. 

The individual who undertakes to write the history of one so un- 
like all other men, must enter upon the work under the conviction 
that it is not an easy task. The peculiarities of his eccentric charac- 
ter can not be well delineated. Some of the outlines will be attempt- 
ed ; but to know him, one must have seen and heard him. 

He was born April oth, 17.j3, in that \rM't of the town now called 
Southbury. His ancestors were among the early emigrants from 
Stratford. Edward Hinman, the first of the name in New England, 
and the only one, settled in that town about 1G50, and died there in 
1681. Benjamin, his second son, was born in 1G62, and married 
Elizabeth Lumm, of Woodbury, in 1684. He lived in the district 
now called Bullet Hill, in Southbury, where numbers of his descend- 
ants still remain. He had six sons and six daughters, one of whom, 
Benjamin, born 1692, married Sarah Sherman in 1718. They resi- 
ded in Southbury until 1727, Avhere they both died in the same 
month, leaving three children. 

The oldest son. Col. Benjamin, was of some eminence in the French 
war, and in the war of the Revolution. 

David, their second son, born 1722, married Sarah Hinman, a lin- 
eal descendant of the first Edward. These being the parents of the 
subject of this memoir, he was truly a Hinman of the Hinmans. He 
married Sylvania, daughter of William French, of Southbury, Feb. 
3d, 1779, by whom he had two sons and two daughters. His eldest 
son died in infancy. His second son, R. R. Hinman, graduated at 
Yale College, and afterward pursued the practice of law in Roxbury, 
Ct., until he became secretary of state, which office he retained for 
several years. 

Gen. Ilinman removed to Roxbury about the year 1784, and built 
a house in the center of the village, which for a country residence at 
that period, was regarded as belonging to the first class. For about 
thirty years he was engaged in mercantile pursuits. During this 
time he became an extensive landholder, having in his possession at 
one time, about one thousand acres. He was not a practical farmer, 



n I S T O R T OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 377 

but lii.s love of real estate induced him to retain it, until the interest 
he paid, connected with losses he sustained, greatly embarrassed him 
in his declining years, and thus oiierated disastrously on the pecun- 
iary interests of his son, who became involved in attempting to re- 
lieve his father. 

All who know the history of that period, " when Ephraim was a 
child," are aware that the means for the attainment of even a common 
education were very limited. In addition to this, the subject of this 
memoir, by the death of his father, at the early age of four years, 
was deprived of those restraints and instructions which a mind of his 
temperament peculiarly needed. Some of the circumstances in Avhich 
he was unfortunately placed in his youth, were most skillfully adapted 
to darken his mind, depress his energies, and corrupt his morals. To 
a mind of a diiferent cast, they might have proved more disastrous. 
If he Avas not through life a sufferer in consequence of these things, 
it was apparent to those who knew him best, that he did not attain 
that distinction to which he might otherwise have arisen. Not hav- 
ing the advantages of an early education, he of course possessed but 
a limited knowledge of books ; but he was endowed with a vigorous, 
active mind, a quick, discriminating perception of men and thin"-s. 
Few men could read the character of a stranger so readily and cor- 
rectly as he. A young lady, an intimate friend, called on him on 
her bridal tour, to show her husband. The general walked with him 
into his garden and fruit-yard, which were among the best in the vi- 
cinity. On his return to the house, the bride inquii-ed privately, 
what he thought of her husband. lie replied, " H., he Avill always 
cut off his pigs' tails, because it will require one ear of corn extra to 
fat the tail.'' The young bride ultimately learned that his judgment 
was correct. 

He was also blessed with a retentive memory. Hence by obser- 
vation, conversation, and constant intercourse with the world, (if not 
by intuition,) he acquired a fund of knowledge. Had he in addition 
to these endowments, been favored with a classical education, he 
would doubtless have been in many respects, one of the most distin- 
guished characters of his age. As it Avas, he was a man of rare 
qualities. 

In a])pearancc, he Avas peculiarly dignified and imposing ; above 
the medium height, of portly dimensions, a symmetrical form, fine 
countenance, and stately movements. Until a few of his last years, 
his dress was that of gentlemen of an earlier period, termed small 
clothes ; and he uniformly followed his early custom of wearing his 
25 ' 



378 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

hair braided, turned up, fastened upon the top of his head and pow- 
dered. 

One had only to see him, to be impressed with the conviction that 
he was one of nature's noblemen, born to command. In his deport- 
ment he was a gentleman. He appeared familiar with, and a careful 
observer of all the rules of etiquette common in his day ; nor did he 
regard advancing years as any apology for their neglect. He could 
readily accommodate himself to all classes, and render himself inter- 
esting to all, by an unusual amount of wit and humor, and by the 
originality of his anecdotes and illustrations. 

He was ardent in his attachment to his friends, and could long re- 
member an act of kindness ; but was somewhat vindictive toward 
his enemies, and could not readily forget an injury. Concerning 
some by whom he felt himself sorely abused, he was heard to say, 
" If the Lord should see fit to take them away, he should be very 
much resigned to his will." 

He had a peculiar fondness for society, and was apparently restive 
when alone. The night to him was sometimes long. Few of his 
neighbors ever rose so early, but they might see him walking in the 
ojien air with uncovered head. 

He felt a strong aversion to every offense against neatness, and in 
regard to food and drink, might have been called fastidious. It was 
annoying to him to see persons come to his well upon the Sabbath, 
and drink directly from the bucket, an act which he considered vul- 
gar and unkind. He therefore sunk a well on the opposite side of 
his house, for the use of those ill-bred people, and forbade their com- 
ing to his family well. 

Not only his conversation, but many other things, exhibited marks 
of eccentricity and originality. Even the staff on which he leaned 
in his advanced years, indicated his taste and character, being a bam- 
boo, some five feet in length, and of Herculean size. Similar to this 
in strength and dimensions, were various implements about his prem- 
ises, as also the stone wall which inclosed his dwelling. An unwieldy 
plow and crow-bar are recollected, and in connection with the latter, 
an anecdote which may be wortli inserting. He applied to a careful 
neighbor for the loan of a flax-brake. The owner declined having it 
removed from his barn, but consented that the general should carry 
his flax there, and use the instrument. In process of time, this neigh- 
bor had occasion to move some heavy rocks, and applied to the gen- 
eral for the use of his crow-tar, as well adapted to the object. The 
general replied, that " he did not like to have the bar removed from 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT W O O D P. U R Y. 379 

liis premises, but would be glad to have Ins neiglibor bring to it all 
the rocks he pleased, and pry them up." 

In regard to Jiis political character, he was originally a stanch 
federalist of the old school. Such he continued until Gen. Jackson 
became a candidate for the presidency. He had a chai'acter, pos- 
sessed qualities, and had performed services, which secui'ed the ad- 
miration and hearty support of Gen. Hinman. From that period, it 
is believed his politics were what were then known as of the Jackson 
stamp. He held some offices in the gift of the town. He was one 
of the principal agents appomted by the parish of Roxbury, to secure 
its incorporation as a town. In 1798, and in subsequent years, he 
represented it in the state legislature. It was, however, apparent to 
all wlio knew him, that military office, honors and services, were 
more congenial to his feelings, and better adapted to his genius, than 
those of a civil character. Here he uniformly shone to the best ad- 
vantage, and found full scope for his commanding powers. While 
he was yet young, and the post of corporal in the militia of the state 
was regarded as more honoraljle than that of colonel at the present 
day; when men who obtained office in the liigher ranks, ordinarily 
rose by a regular and protracted gradation ; the ascent of young Hin- 
man was more rapid and irregular. While he was yet a private in 
a military company in his native town, the captaincy became vacant. 
His father-in-law, by whom he was not very ardently beloved, was 
lieutenant. But instead of adhering to the ordinary routine of ele- 
vation, Hinman was taken from the ranks, and placed in command of 
those who were his seniors in age and olRce. 

Although he was but thirty years of age when the war of the llev- 
olution closed, for four or five previous years, he had sustained vari- 
ous important and responsible offices, principally connected with the 
commissary department. That he faithfully and satisfactoi'ily dis- 
charged the duties assigned him, is manifest from numerous letters 
still in existence, designating the service required, written by vari- 
ous officers of distinction in the army. That he enjoyed the confi- 
dence of the appointing power, is also manifest from the fact, that he 
was continued in office, with an occasional promotion, from the date 
of his appointment in 1778, until the close of the war rendered fur- 
ther service unnecessary. Ai'tcr the war, he received the office of 
major in the thirteenth regiment of Connecticut militia, and was soon 
advanced to the rank of a colonel of the same regiment. In May, 
1S05, he received the appointment of brigadier-general of the eighth 
brigade of Connecticut infantry. His jurisdiction at that time, ex- 



380 H I S T O 11 Y OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

tended from Southington, in Hartford county, on the east, to the line 
of the state on the west ; and most of the time he was in office, inclu- 
ded the cavalry in that section of the state. 

This office he held at a period Avhen something more was required 
than merely to gain a military title and retire. lie performed its 
duties annually, and we believe faithfully, for thirteen years. It may 
be truly said of him that he " magnified his office." The prosperity 
of the military cause under his long and successful administration, 
tells all that need be said in commendation of its presiding genius. 

It may be asked, what were his religious principles ? And some 
who saw and hea^'d him only in particular circumstances, as with 
liis military associates, or when his peculiarly ardent temperament 
was under strong excitement, might conclude that he had little re- 
gard for religion, and but little fear of a supreme power. And al- 
though men of this stamp, men adopting liberal principles, might 
have claimed him as one of their class, such was not the fact. He 
was a member of no church, nor is it known to the writer that he laid 
any claim to experimental piety ; yet he was a believer in the essen- 
tial doctrines of the gospel, as they were believed and taught by the 
orthodox clergy of that period, in the Congregational church of New 
England. He believed in the entire native depravity of the human 
heart, in the necessity of a radical change in the afl'ections and life. 
in order to enter heaven. He had gi'eat confidence in the efficacy of 
prayer, and sought the prayers of God's people when himself or fam- 
ily Avere in circumstances of danger. At one period when there was 
some special religious interest in the town, a morning prayer-meeting 
was held in a little factory in the village. This at first drew from. the 
general some remarks of disapproval. Ere long, as the pastor was 
on his way to the meeting, he saw the general approaching him, and 
was fearful that something unpleasant might ensue. Judge of his 
surprise when he saw the tears coursing down the cheeks of the im- 
agined opposer, and learned from a choked utterance, that he had 
come out to ask that a little grandchild, w^hich he supposed to be at 
the point of death, might be remembered in the prayers to be offi:n'ed 
that morning. 

He well understood the distinctive marks of Christian character, 
and abhorred hypocrisy in every form. 

At one time when alone with his pastor, he was speaking of some 
individuals in the vicinity, and in terms of high commendation as to 
their morality, uprightness, kindness, «Scc. But said he in a subdued 
tone, laying his hand upon the pastor, " After all they are down- 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODRURY. 381 

country Cliristians : the Holy Spirit never touelied their hearts, any 
more tiian tliunder lias struck the birds. of the air. AVhat yon can 
do I know not. It will not do to tell th(>m Avhat you know to be 
true. Oh ! I tell you it's a dreadful tiling to be a minister." 

One who knew him vrell has said, " He made more practical, com- 
mon-sense remarks, than almost any man I ever knew." The follow- 
ing, illustrating an important principle in human conduct, ai'e worthy 
of being preserved, and applied where they are needed. 

Being at one time in a neighboring town, where the people were in- 
volved in a bitter contention about tlieir minister, and meeting a 
number of individuals who were talkiJig upon the subject, after hear- 
ing their various complaints and criminations, he said to them, " Gen- 
tlemen, your conduct is unreasonable and ridiculous. How can you 
expect one person to satisfy so many discordant minds ? In our town 
all is the reverse of this ; we are all united and harmonious. True 
we do not expect that everything our minister says and does will 
please every individual. Sometimes we have the doctrine of elec- 
tion, hot as we can bear it ; but Deacon T. wants all that and much 
more ; and Deacon T. has as good a right to his portion as I have to 
mine. If one sermon out of five suits my case, it is my portion ; I 
am bound to be satisfied." AVho does not see that this principle, car- 
ried out, would ]n-event inuch evil speaking and unkind feeling ? 

Gen. Hinman considered it the duty of all men to attend upon the 
public worship of God in his house ; and was himself a regular at- 
tendant in the Congregational church until age and infirmity some- 
times prevented. He then kept an account with his pastor, admit- 
ting that among other motives, resj)ect to him demanded his attend- 
ance. If at any time, any preacher failed of pleasing him, he charged 
one day, or half a day, according to his estimation, claiming for him- 
self leave of absence on this ground. So also, if the preaching rose 
above his standard, he was careful to give credit. 

He Avas quick-sighted to detect error in those who ministei-ed at 
the altar, and ever abhorred the withholding, or letting down of truth 
from sinister motives. 

A Congregational clergyman in a neighboring parish had become 
heretical, and had inculcated the doctrine of universal salvation ; but 
so smoothly and guardedly as to be suspected but by few of his hear- 
ers. He spent a Sabbath in Roxbury, and preached his favorite 
sentiments. After the service, the general invited him to his house. 
He might have felt bound to administer some reproof, or at least, 
that his own reputation was involved in letting the man know that 



382 HISTOKT OF ANCIENT WOODBUKY. 

lie understood wlmt he had heard. In his sarcastic, ironical style, he 
said to him, " Mr. G., this is the kind of preaching that meets my 
case. Mr. A. and Dr. B. come here, and make the gate of heaven so 
narrow tliat a humble-bee could not enter, but you have opened it 
wide enough for one as large as I am to walk in without difficulty." 
This cutting reproof was felt by Mr. G., who was soon after deposed 
from the ministry for heresy. 

That Gen. H. was no friend to the doctrine of universal salvation? 
is farther shown by the following fact. When the " Grand Erie Ca- 
nal" was completed, he made a tour to the then far west. On his re- 
turn, a Universalist preacher was found on board thesame boat, bois- 
terously advocating his doctrines. His boasting in regard to the 
prosperity of his cause in vai-ious places, became quite annoying to 
many of the passengers, and especially to some good old ladies, as the 
general regarded them. He therefore felt it incumbent on some one 
to endeavor to silence the mtruder. Looking about he saw none 
much older than himself, and concluded that the duty might devolve 
upon him. Hence he entered into conversation with the individual, 
and soon secured his confidence as he had the power to do. He then 
remarked to him, that the facts he had stated in regard to the pros- 
perity of his cause were very cheering ; but added, that in his travels 
he had known of a place where a much greater number of its friends 
had been gathered in, within a very brief pex'iod. " Where ? where ?" 
said the man in apparent ecstacy. " In hell," responded the general. 
The poor wight was thus unexpectedly brought to a dead pause, and 
the company relieved from further annoyance. 

Gen. H. uniformly adhered to the denomination which he had 
chosen, while he was willing that others should enjoy their appropri- 
ate rights. Still he believed that the multiplication of sects, as well 
as the propagation of error, might in a small community tend to 
weaken and destroy the whole. This he repeatedly took measures 
of his own devising to prevent. 

At one time a small number of unquiet spirits procured a Univer- 
salist minister to preach in the public house, in the center of the town. 
The general, for a specific reason, felt himself impelled to attend the 
meeting. According to his own account, he stopped by the way and 
said to himself, " Gen. II., you are too much of a man to go there." 
But on he went and entered the meeting. " There," said he, naming 
certain individuals, " were seven devils to begin with, to make up the 
congregation. And there was the preacher ridiculing the doctrine of 
eternal punishment, and those who taught it." " That, he sard, " he 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 383 

could not endure,"and soon retired from the audience chamber to the 
bar-room, where in little time he was followed by the preacher, and 
most of his hearers. " Then," said he, " I felt that my turn had come." 
With his most stern and imposing countenance, he stood before the 
preacher and said to him, " Sir, we can not endure such doctrine as 
you have been advocating. It might have answered forty years ago, 
when we were better men, but if as you teach, there is no place of 
future punishment, there will be hell upon earth ; hell everywhere. 
If this be so, old F. and old G. will come back, and H. will never go? 
and where can a good man live ?" Thus by pouring upon him a 
shower of scathing sarcasm, sustained by unanswerable argument, 
the hearers were mortified, truth was triumphant, and the disconcerted 
preacher, mounting his horse, made good his retreat and never re- 
turned. 

On another occasion, the town was visited by two preachers be- 
longing to a denomination which had no existence there, at the time. 
Gen. H. soon found them, invited them to his house, and treated 
them with marked politeness and attention, requesting them to make 
his house their home while they remained in the town. After a 
more intimate acquaintance, and the gentlemen began to feel at home, 
he remarked that he supposed they had some object in view in visit- 
ing the place, and if it was not impertinent he would beg leave to 
ask what this object was ? They replied, that they had in view what 
they regarded as a very important object, and that was, the salvation 
of souls. "True," said the general, "a very important object ; but 
allow me to say I think you have entirely mistaken it in coming here ; 
the people in Roxbury have no souls." The preachers found them- 
selves in the wrong spot to prosecute their object, and soon left the 
town. 

A year or two before his death. Gen. II. was brought low by pam- 
ful and protracted disease. Himself and his friends believed that the 
hour of his departure was at hand. During this sickness, his mind at 
times was strongly exercised in view of the prospect before him. It 
seemed for a time, that the prayers of a sainted mother, and a pious 
companion, were about to receive an answer in his saving conversion 
to Clirist. lie sought the daily counsels and prayers of his pastor, 
and sent a public request for the prayers of all his Christian friends. 
His pastor said to him, " I suppose that I have understood your views, 
although for certain reasons, I have said but little on this great sub- 
ject. I have supposed that your conscience was on the side of truth, 
though you have not told me so." " Yes," said he, " you are right, 



384 n I s T o r'y of ancient woodbury. 

perfectly riglit. I have known my Master's will, but have been such 
a hardened wretch, I would not do it." 

Some of the liberal and skeptical in the vicinity, were much troub- 
led that such a man as Gen. H. should manifest any solicitude in 
view of death. For if a man of his courage and fortitude trembled, 
why should not they ? At one time his pastor was absent a few 
days, and calling on his return, he found him much distressed both in 
body and mind. " Oh !" said he, " I have had a man here to com- 
fort me since you left, who supposed he could administer the consola- 
tion I needed. He told me he expected I must die, but this was the 
common lot of mortals, and it was of little consequence when the event 
took place. There was nothing to fear after death, nothing in all the 
blue-skin stuff about future and eternal punishment." " Oh," said 
he, " my very blood ran cold to think that any wretch could talk 
thus to a dying man." " But," added he, in his characteristic style, 
" I determined to give him old shillelah, live or die. So when he 
had finished his discourse, I told him plainly, I ha.d no expectation of 
being saved without a new heart. I had no hope of heaven, without 
obedience to that Great Being who made me ; and if there was no 
hell, there ought to be one made for such a Avretch as he was." 

Here was testimony given in circumstances when all men are said 
to be honest. 

When his last sickness came, his vigorous mind failed with his 
body. Near the close of his life, his pastor was sitting by, preparing 
the way to ask some plain questions in regard to his views in that 
trying hour. This he at once perceived, and to relieve him of all 
embarrassment, began a dialogue with himself, asking such questions 
as he might suppose a faithful friend would wish to ask, commencing 
thus : Gen. Hinman, are you willing to die ? Sir, I am not. When 
he came to answer the question which related to his prospects after 
death, though he expressed some hope in the mercy of God, his voice 
faltered, and his mind seemed to wander. Shortly after his spirit 
departed to God who gave it. 

He died December 11th, 1829, aged seventy-six years and eight 
months. His remains, according to his own request, were interred 
in the north cemetery of his native parish, Southbury. 

Though he has long been buried, the remembi'ance of him is yet 
fresh in the vicinity where he lived. Many of his anecdotes and re- 
marks are still quoted, and will not be forgotten wdien the present 
generation has passed away. His manner of uttering them, which 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. OSS 

added much to their impression, can not be written. Yet only by 
inserting some of them, could we begin to show him as he was.' 



DOCTOR SETH HASTINGS, 

Came to Ju4«a society in Woodbury, from Ilattield, ]\rass. ; re- 
mained there many years, and then removed to Paris, near Roches- 
ter, N. Y. He was a respectable and approved physician. His 
children were Seth, M. D., distinguished in his profession, and father 
of sixteen children, Betsey, who married Dr. Judd, Thomas, professor 
of music in New York, Orlando, a distinguished lawyer in Rochester, 
N. Y., Eurotus, president of a bank in Detroit, Michigan, and Charles. 



JAMES D. KEESE, ESQ., 

Was born in the city of New York ; entered Yale College, but did 
not finish his course of studies there ; studied law Avith Hon. Origen 
S. Seymour ; was admitted to tlie bar of Litchfield county, in April, 
1852; immediately set up for practice in Woodbury, but the location 
not proving favorable, after a sojourn of a little less than a year, he 
removed to Birmingham, Conn. He has now gone to Europe. 



DOCTOR THOMAS IvNOWLES, 

Was early a physician in the territory, certainly as early as 1730, 
and probably several years earlier than that date. Neither authen- 
tic records, nor tradition, inform us in regaixl to his excellence as a 
physician, nor his character in the various relations in life. The 
entire extent of his history, so far as we can glean it is, that here he 
lived and died, and was returned to the " clods of the valley." Such 
is the brief record that will be made of most of us, if indeed our 
names survive at aJl. 



HON. INCREASE MOSELEY, 

Was born in Norwich, Conn., May 18th, 1712, removed to Wood- 
bury, society of Judea, about 1740, certainly after 1738, as his sou 



1 For the foregoing sketch the author is indebted to Rev. Fosdick Harrison, of North 
Guilford, Conn., who was for many years pastor of the church Gen. Hinmau attended. 



386 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



Abner was born at Norwich, in May of that year. He removed to 
Clarendon, Vt., in 17B1. He was one of the first representatives of 
the town of Washington, in 1779, and had previously been repre- 
sentative of Woodbury, thirty sessions. He was the first deacon, 
first justice, and first militia captain in Washington. He was justice 
of the quorum from 1755 to 1780. After his removal to Vermont, 
he was a judge of the court in Rutland county. He died May 2d, 
1795. 



COL. INCREASE MOSELEY, JR., 

Was son of the preceding, and born in Judea society, October 13th, 
1740. About the year 1768, he removed to Sou'thbury, and resided 
there till his death in 1810, at the age of seventy years. He was 
appointed colonel of the thirteenth regiment of militia, in the latter 
part of 1776, on Col. Hinman's joining the continental army. He 
remained in this responsible position, being often called into actual 
service, till October, 1780, when he resigned his oflice. He was 
obliged to resign on account of ill health, and the embarrassed state 
of his financial affairs. He was a useful, brave and laborious othcer. 
In his letter of resignation he says he was induced to accept the 
office 

" Out of Affection to my Country, and an Ardent desire to render my best 
Services for promoting the Good of the Same; which Office I have Sustained 
for about three years &; a half, during which time, I have devoted the greatest 
part of my time to the duties of said Office ; and have been often ordered out on 
Tours of duty, wliich I have Cheerfully Obeyed, being ever willing to Serve my 
Country to the utmost of my Power; but being of an infirm Constitution ; not 
able to endure the Fatigues commonly incident to a Military Life :' And my 
Worldly Circumstances far from being Opulent; that attention to the duties of 
my said Office, and to those of my private affairs, which their several Exigen- 
cies require, is wholly incompatible." 



DOCTOR JOHN MEIGS, 

Was a physician in Bethlehem society, contemporary with Dr. 
Bellamy. He was a man of good reputation, skillful in his profes- 
sion, and was favored with an extensive practice. He died in 1770, 
leaving a widow, Rebecca, and children, Abner, Rebecca, Phineas, 
Jesse and Irene. In' his will he gave his " medical and surgical 
books" to his son. Abner. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 387 



DOCT. PIIINEAS MEIGS, 

Son of tlie above, was born in Bethlehem society, July 11, 17G0. 
lie commenced the study of medicine with his lather, but finished it 
at Norwalk. He settled in his native parish, and became much es- 
teemed as a physician of skill and judgment. 



REV. JOHN R. MARSHALL, 

Was born in the city of New York, June 13, 1743, prepai'cd for 
college under the tuition of Rev. Dr. Bellamy, of Bethlem, and hav- 
ing engaged for a time in business at Stratford, Conn., entered King's 
(now Columbia) College, where lie graduated in 1770. He had prob- 
ably intended to have entered the ministry of the Dutch Reformed 
Church, but on account of a change in his religious sentiments, he 
joined the Church of England, and began to prepare for her ministry. 
He embarked for England, May 20, 1771 ; was ordained deacon, 
July 25, 1771, and priest, by the Rt. Rev. Richard Terrick, D. D., 
Bishop of London, on the 28th of the same month. On his return 
from England, he came to Woodbury, as a missionary of the " Soci- 
ety for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts," and commenced 
the organization of the parish of St. Paul's Church. He went on 
quietly in his labors till the period of the Revolution, when, on ac- 
count of the excited state of feeling among the people toward all 
who did not heartily fall in with all the movements projected for ob- 
taining our country's independence, his position became one of diffi- 
culty and danger, and even of personal violence, which more than 
once was oiFered him. lie however remained with his people, while 
many other pastors of his denomination left the country during that 
struggle. At the close of the Revolution, the customary allowance 
by the society to the Episcopal ministers was withheld, and Mr. Mar- 
shall Avas obliged to preach in more places than one, both on this ac- 
count, and also on account of the scarcity of ministers. Accordingly, 
we find him officiating a part of the time at the churches in Redding, 
Newtown, Milford and West Haven. In this manner he continued 
to officiate in one or more of the surrounding parishes, in connection 
with his own, until the date of his death. He died January 21, 1789, 
and Avas burled near the Episcopal church in Woodbury. He was 
cut off in the full vigor of his manhood, and in the midst of his use- 
fulness, having attained only the forty-sixth year of his age, and the 



388 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

eighteenth of his ministry, having lived during the whole of this pe- 
riod with his people, presenting a solitary instance in the history of 
his church, of a ministei', who has lived and died Avith the people of 
his charge. His autograph follows : 

/ 



PHILO MURRAY, ESQ., 

Was born at Woodbury, in 1760, where he resided fifty-nine years. 
On his maternal side he was connected with the Orton family, his 
mother being the sister of Doct. Samuel Orton, of Woodbury. He 
was a man of a sound and sagacious mind, a great reader, and clear 
thinker. He was an active politician, being what was termed a re- 
publican, and identified as one of the first founders and promoters of 
that party in town. He is celebrated as the first man, who under 
the " stand-up law" of Connecticut, rose up as a voter on that side of 
the question, and in process of time, (1815,) was chosen a member 
of the General Assembly by his constituents, as the successful and 
dominant party. Thus had it increased from one to a majority. In 
1819, Mr. Murray removed to the Western Reserve, Ohio, where he 
soon died, honored and respected by all. His three sons, Jamieson, 
Philo and Abner, still reside there, and are respectable, thriving 
farmers. 



DOCT. SAMUEL S. MASTERS, 

Was educated as a physician, and practiced his profession in sev- 
eral places for a number of years, with good success. But the great 
blight and curse of society, the demon of intemperance, laid his with- 
ering hand upon him, and he fell from his position of respectability 
and usefulness. He has for several years been the tenant of the 
poor-house in this town. His case furnishes a warning to others to 
take' heed, that they do not, in like manner, offend against the laws 
of decency and their own good. It is a sad sight to behold any man, 
made in the image of his Maker, descend from a position of sobriety, 
respectability and usefulness, to a level beneath the l)rutes that per- 
ish ; but when we see those of superior education and abilities, stand- 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 380 

iiig in professional and responsible relations to their fellow-nien, hav- 
ing their lives, character, or happiness in their keeping, walking in the 
ways of drunkenness and iblly, and perhaps giving themselves up to 
kindred vices, we see a spectacle that angels might shudder at. A 
thinking soul must ever be affected with sympathy, not umningled, 
[)erhaps, with reproachful feelings, toward one who thus debases the 
glorious image of God in his better nature, when he beholds him giv- 
ing himself up a willing captive to a diseased appetite for which liim- 
self alone is responsible. God help such infatuated men — there is 
no aid in an earthly hand. 



DOCT. DANIEL MUNN, 

Was born in Woodbury in IGS J. Ilis name does not appear in 
the tax lists as doctor, till 1738, but he was probabl}- in practice some 
years earlier. No records remain to tell us of his standing as a phy- 
sician in this community, and none are living to give us even legend- 
ary information in regard to him. lie died June 11, 1761, leaving 
a widow, Elizal)eth, and children, Daniel, John, Anna Allen, Mary 
Walker and Sarah Sherman. 



DOCT. NATHAN MUNN, 

Came to Woodbury about the same time with the preceding, and 
the same remarks will apply to him as to the former. lie was a 
nephew of Doct. Daniel. He died, February, 17G5, leaving a widow, 
Mary, and children — all minors — Thomas, Abigail, IMary, Hannah, 
and Lois. 



HON. MATTIIEV*^ MINOR, JR., 

Was the son of Dea. Matthew Minor, and born at Woodbury ; was 
a o-raduato of Yale College in the class of 1801 ; studied law under 
the direction of Hon. Noah B. Ik'uedict, and was admitted to the bar 
in 1804. He commenced practice in his native town, and continued 
in his profession until his death, Dec. 11, 1831}, at the age of fifty- 
eight. He was a member of the House of Repi'csentatives, in 1830 
and 1832. II(; was also a member of the Senate, in 1837. He was 
always much engaged in the public business of the town, having a 



390 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

large share of the confiflcnce of his fellow-citizens. He was a man 
of great uprightness of character, and discharged all the duties of life 
^Yith scrupulous lidelitj. 



SAMUEL MINOR, ESQ., 

Son of the preceding, was horn at Woodbury, Mar. 27, 1823, gradua- 
ted at Yale College in 1844, studied law in the offices of two or three 
dilfcrent practicing lawyers, and at the law school connected with Yale 
College, and was admitted to the bar of New Haven county, in March, 
1847. He immediately commenced the practice of his profession in 
Woodbury, occupying the office formerly occupied by his father. He 
remained here six months, when not finding practice in this town cor- 
responding with his qualifications, he removed to Sandusky City, 
Ohio, where he continues to reside, engaged in an extensive and lu- 
crative practice. 



LOOMIS NORTH, M. D., 

Received liis medical education at Cherry Valley, N. Y., and re- 
moved to Bethlem in 1830, on the death of Lymar. Catlin, M. D.,and 
continued there in the practice of his profession till 1848, when he 
removed to Bristol, Conn., where he now resides. He is considered 
a skillful physician. He was born at Cornwall, Conn., where his 
father practiced as a physician. He has also two brothers, who are 
physicians. 



SHADRACII OSBORN, ESQ., 

Son of Timothy Osborn, was born in tlie parish of Sontlibury, 
April 14, 1747. Nothing of note beyond the ordinary occurrences 
in the life of other men, in a retired country place, is known of him 
till the period of the Revolution. His services during that eventful 
period were laborious in the extreme. He was engaged during most 
of the war in the purchasing and issuing commissary departments, 
one of the most important and useful posts during the war. In the 
early part of the year 1775, he went north with the army to Ticonde- 
roga, in a twofold capacity, as commissary and sutler. In November, 
177G, he was in the service as a quarter-master of a regiment of mi- 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 391 

litia, stationed at Tvye, in the state of New York, under the command 
of Major-Gen. Wooster. While there, Joseph Trumbull, then com- 
missary-general, and Jeremiah "WadsAvorth, afterward appointed to 
the same office, returning from the head-quarters of the army, visited 
the post at Rye, and employed him to act as purchasing commissai-y 
to provide provisions for the army, giving him orders to apply to Col. 
Peter Colt, of New Haven, for farther directions.X He accordingly 
obtained a discharge from the service, and continued a purchaser un- 
der this and a subsequent appointment, till the spring of 1780, when 
the continental currency became so much depreciated, that many 
people would not take it for their provisions. At this critical junc- 
ture, the General Assembly held a special session, and resolved to 
emit a paper currency, redeemable in specie, and to take the purchas- 
ing of provisions for the army within the state, into its own hands. 
IMost of the old commissaries were appointed state purchasers, 
among whom Mr. Osborn was one, and so continued during the war. 
Though he had thus become a state purchaser, his duties as an as- 
sistant commissary, under the authority of the United States, did not 
cease. He had provisions and other public property on hand, and 
large unsettled accounts remaining, some of which were not closed 
till the final termination of the wai\ He also served, as stated, as an 
issuing commissary within liis district, by particular directions, from 
May, 1777, till February, 1781 ; and as the principal route from 
Boston to the western posts of the army, passed through his district, 
he was engaged in issuing provisions to many marching parties, to 
conductors of teams, to parties stationed in various places on partic- 
ular duties, and to other bodies of troops in winter quarters. Fre- 
quently, parties were stationed for the protection of the supplies that 
had been purchased for the army. After the British forces burned 
Danbury, military stores were kept further inland for their protec- 
tion. A party of soldiers were thus stationed in a hollow, south-east 
of Soulhbury meeting-house, for the protection of a large quantity of 
})ork, which was there concealed. The locality has been known by 
the name of " Pork Hollow," ever since. Mr. Osborn died August 
27, 1838, in the ninety-first year of his age. Besides his military 
offices, he had borne many others of a public character, and possessed 
to the day of his death, the unbounded confidence of his fellow- 
citizens. 



392 HISTORY OF ANCIENT AVOODBURY. 

DOCTOR SAMUEL ORTON, 

vSon of Jolm Orton, was born in Woodbury, December 8th, 1738. 
He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Joseph Perry, at an 
early age, and having completed his education, settled in his native 
town, in the pi'actice of his profession. He became a useful and skill- 
ful physician, and was also much employed in the public business of 
the town. He was a member of the state convention for the ratifi- 
cation of the constitution of the United States. A large number of 
medical students received their instruction from him. He had five 
sons and three daughters. All the sons were educated by him as 
physicians. John settled at Sherman, Conn. ; Samuel, at Bridgewa- 
ter, a society in New Milford; Henry T., in Washington, Duchess 
Co., N. Y. ; David J. resides in Woodbury ; and James settled at 
Caldwell, N. J. Doctor Orton departed this life at Woodbury, in 
1819. 



DOCTOR JOSEPH PERRY, 

Was born about the year 1727, and died April 29th, 1793, in the 
sixty-sixth year of his age. He prepared himself for the practice of 
medicine, and settled in his native town for that purpose, about 1750. 
He built the house where Hon. N. B. Smith resides, which was his 
homestead for a number of years. His name first appears in the tax 
list as a landholder in 1755. For more than forty years he was the 
leading physician of. the town and vicinity. He was frequently called 
into the neighboring towns in critical cases.. In this manner he was 
once called to visit Rev. Thomas Davies, at New Milford. He fitted 
many, during his long practice, for the practice of the profession he 
so much adorned. He also had much intei'est in the civil affairs of 
the town, and was frequently engaged in its public business. He 
died at a good old age, leaving a numerous and respectable posterity. 



NATHANIEL PERRY, M. D., 

Was the son of the preceding, born February 8th, 17G1 ; studied 
medicine witli his father, and commenced the practice of the profes- 
sion shortly after the Revolutionary War. Yale College conferred 
on him the honorary degree of doctor of medicine, in 1810. He con- 
tinued practice for about forty years, till his death, June 18th, 1820. 
He was a man of plain, sound, practical common-sense. He had no 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AV O O D B U R Y. 393 

concefilments, but spoke plainly though kinilly to his patients, and 
indeed to all. An instance of this is thus related. A Mr. Hitchcock 
once applied to him for advice, and after an examination of his symp- 
toms, Dr. Perry said to him, *' You do not need that I should tell you 
how you have lived; you know that yourself. But if you wish to 
know how you will die, I Avill tell you. When you and I die, it will 
be instantaneously." Time proved the correctness of the prophecy 
in both cases. He was very much respected as a man and a physi- 
cian, and spent a useful life among his fellow-townsmen. 



HON. NATHANIEL PERRY, 

Was a son of Doctor Nathaniel, mentioned above, and born at 
Woodbury. He read law with the late John Strong, Esq., of his na- 
tive place, for about eighteen months, and completed his studies with 
Asa Chapman, Esq., then a practitioner of law at Newtown, Conn., 
and afterward a judge of the superior court. He was admitted to 
the bar in Fail-field county, in April, 181G. Soon after his admis- 
sion, lie commenced the practice of law at Woodbury, and continued 
there until the year 1823, when he removed to New Milford, where 
he remained in practice till his death, a few years since. He was 
elected a member of the C4eneral Assembly in 1832, and was once 
clerk of the House of Representatives. He was appointed judge of 
probate for the district of New INIilford, in 1832, '83, '38 to '41, '44 
and '45.' 



HON. NATHAN PRESTON, 

Was born at Woodbury, April 20th, 1756, and graduated at Yale 
College in 177 G. Impelled by a patriotic desire to serve his country, 
he entered the army of the Revolution, and about 1780 was trans- 
ferred to the commissary dcjpartment. He was admitted to the bar 
in Litchfield county, in 1782 ; opened an ofiicein his native town, and 
there continued to practice his profession till about the year 1796. 
He was town-clerk thirty -nine years ; was elected a member of the 
House of Representatives in October, 1791, and for eleven sessions, at 
intervals, afterward. He was appointed judge of probate in 1795, 
and continued to discharge the duties of that office until 1805. In 



1 13 Connecticut Reports, Appendix, p. 11. 
26 



394 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

1818, he was again ajipointed to that office, and performed its duties 
till his death, September, 1822. 



HON. CHARLES B. PHELPS, 

Was born at Chatham, now Portland, Conn., in May, 1788 ; pur- 
sued his professional studies under the direction of Judge Reeve and 
Hon. Noah B. Benedict, and was admitted to the bar of Litchfield 
county, in September, 1800. He entered into the practice of his 
profession soon after his admission, and has continued to reside here 
in an extended and lucrative practice till the present time, a period 
of more than forty years. He was appointed judge of probate, in 
May, 1823, and was annually reappointed until May, 1834. He was 
reappointed in 1835, '36, '37, '42, '43, '4G, and has held the office 
from 1849 to the present time — a period of twenty-one years. He is 
celebrated as a probate judge, and is much consulted in that capacity. 
He was a member of the House of Representatives, in 1831, '37 and 
'52. In the latter year he was elected speaker of the house. He 
was also elected to the Senate of the state in 1843, acted as president 
pro tem. of that body most of the session, and was postmaster from 
1831 to 1841. In 1850, he was appointed judge of the county court 
for Litchfield county, was reappointed in 1852, and still continues to 
perform the duties of that office. He was many years since admit- 
ted to the bar of the supreme court in the state of New York. He 
has b^en noted during his long and somewhat eventful career, as a 
keen and sagacious lawyer. He has a good knowledge of human na- 
ture, in its several varieties, and a quick perception of the character 
and intent of men. He is ardent in his temperament, strong in his 
attachments, kind as a neighbor, and ready to relieve the disti'cssed, 
when occasion offers. Possessing strong common-sense, and good 
mother-wit, he is noted for an unlimited fund of mirth, humor and 
withe|ji]ig sarcasm, when the occasion demands it. He has great 
command over his temper, and " keeps good-natured to the end of 
the chapter." He possesses striking and original traits of character, 
which distinguish him in a marked degree from every other man ; 
but as most readers of this volume are well acquainted with the 
original, portraiture Avould be useless. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUUY. 395 

JOSEPH M. PALMER, ESQ., 

Was a native of New Milford, commenced the study of law in 
1808, under D. S. Boardman, Esq., and subsequently under Noah B. 
Benedict, Esq., and Judge Chapman. He was admitted to the bar in 
Fairfield county, in 1809, and commenced practice at Woodbury, 
where he continued till 1816, when he removed to Fredericktown, 
Md., and now sustains a high character in his profession. He has 
been a member of the Mai-yland legislature, and was nominated as 
candidate for governor, in 1851, which he declined, choosing to ad- 
here to his professional labors. 



BENJAMIN STILES, ESQ., 

Was a native of that ]->art of Woodbury now included in the town 
of Southbury, and was born February 11 th, 1720. He graduated at 
Yale College, in 1740, studied law and settled in the practice of the 
profession in his native town immediately, where he continued to re- 
side and to enjoy an extended practice, for the times, till his death. 
He was frequently engaged in important and difficult causes, and 
attained a very respectable position at the bai*. During the Revolu- 
tion, he was suspected of being somewhat conservative in his views in 
regard to the mother country, and some inconvenience to him arose 
from it. He was cited before the General Assembly on one occa- 
sion for " contempt of Government," the complaint charging him 
with having said that the " three Colony representatives in the Con- 
tinental Congress were three good-for-nothing dogs, and no more fit 
for the place than his sick negro JelF."' 



BENJAMIN STILES, JR., ESQ., 

Son of the preceding, was born in Southbury parish, August 28th, 
175G, graduated at Yale College in 1776, studied law with his father 
and commenced practice in his native town, where he continued to 
reside till his death, February 12th, 1817. He was much relied up- 
on in the preparation of cases, and did a large amount of office busi- 
ness. 

1 State Archives, Rev. War, vol. 1, p. 428. 



396 HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 



DOCTOR DANIEL SHELDON, 

Son of Doctor Daniel Sheldon, of Litchfiekl, was a most excellent 
man and physician. He practiced his profession in Judea for many 
years, after which he was appointed secretary of legation, at France, 
where he died. 



DOCTOR HENRY SKILTON, 

Was born in the parish of St. Michael's, Coventry, England, No- 
vember 19th, 1718, and baptized in the established church, Decem- 
ber 3d, 1718. He removed with his parents to Rumsey, Hampshire 
county, when eight years of age, with a younger brother and sister. 
At Rumsey another sister was born, and his mother died. His father 
having obtained a place in the British navy soon after, Henry left 
home March olst, 1734, and England, April 1st, 1735, in a gunship. 
He left the ship the same year at Boston, remained awhile in Rox- 
bury, and is next heard of in Preston, Conn., whei-e he married Tab- 
itha Avery, July 9th, 1741. He removed to Southington about the 
year 1749, or 1750, where he bought lands. Having procured some 
medical books, he commenced the study of medicine as early as 1748, 
and having fitted himself for the duties of the profession, he com- 
menced practice as the first physician in Southington. He sold 
lands to Samuel Smith, in Southington, but did not sell all he owned 
till several years after his removal to Woodbury, which took place 
about 1760, as his name first appears in the tax list of this town the 
next year. Li Woodbury he practiced medicine many years. While 
here he took the place of his son Aveiy, who had been drafted into 
the service about the period of the battle of Bunker Hill. The de- 
tachment which he joined, and in which he was a commissioned offi- 
cer, was stationed at Roxbury Neck, Mass. His purchases of land 
in Woodbury extend from 1761 to 1773. In old age he made his 
last change of residence by removing to Watertown, in 1788. He 
died at the latter place, June 7th, 1802, aged eighty-four. His resi- 
dence in Woodbury was near Rock House Hill, which is a round 
hill a little west of Hermon Judson's dwelling-house. 

Dr. Skilton's preferences in religion were for the Congregational 
or Calvinistic doctrines, but he did not approve some of the disci- 
plinary customs of his brethren, nor did he accept the form of chui'ch 
government in use among them. Hence he became a " Separate," 



HISTOKT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 397 

and held meetings at various places, teaching his followers in the 
" things of religion." In Prospect, Conn., the remnant of a church 
of his organizing existed as late as 1831, in the person of an aged 
lady who still revered her former pastor's name. 



HON. JOHN STRONG, 

Was a son of Lieut. John Strong, of Revolutionary memory, and 
was born at Woodbury. He graduated at Yale College, in 1806> 
read law with Hon. Noah B. Benedict, and was admitted to the bar 
of Litchfield county, in December, 1808. He opened an office in 
Woodbury, and continued in the active discharge of his professional 
duties till his death in November, 1834. He was a member of the 
House of Representatives, in May, 1813, in 1825 and 1826. He was 
judge of probate in 1816, 1817 and 1834. 

His death was an irreparable loss to his family and friends, to the 
society to which he belonged, to the profession of which he was an 
ornament, and to the public at large. Few men have occupied a 
higher place in the confidence and affections of the community. He 
was a man of sti-ict integrity and unsullied purity. He possessed a 
mind clear, acute, respectably imbued with legal science, fitted to 
grapple with any subject to which his attention might be called in 
the exigencies of his profession. His arguments were in many in- 
stances very successful, and received commendations from the bench 
of which any man might be justly proud. But in consequence of an 
innate modesty, and unobtrusiveness of manners, Mr. Strong was one 
of those men who did not do entire justice to himself in the eyes of 
the world, by seizing with a species of violence, upon that eminence 
which more daring but less able men often occupy. No man ever 
gave more disinterested advice to a client. The confidence that was 
reposed in him in this respect was unbounded. His head was cool, 
his heart pure, his hands clean, and his whole life regulated upon the 
principle of doing good.' 



THOMAS T. SEELYE, M. D., 

Came to Woodbury from Daubury, Conn., commenced the prac- 
tice of medicine about the year 1842, and closed his medical la- 

1 Manuscript letter. 



398 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

bors in 1848. Having changed his views of medical science, he 
removed to Cleveland, Ohio, and took charge of a water-cure estab- 
lishment, where he still remains. 



HARMON W. SHOVE, M. D., 

"Was born in Warren, Conn. He commenced the study of medi- 
cine under the instruction of J. G. Beckwith, M. D., of Litchfield, 
continued it under Charles H. Webb, M. D., of Woodbury, and John 
J. Abernethy, M. D., United States Navy surgeon, at Brooklyn, N. 
Y., heard two courses of medical lectures at one of the medical 
schools in New York, and one in the medical department of Yale 
College, where he received the degree of doctor of medicine, Janu- 
ary, 1853, and is now practicing his profession in Woodbury. 



DOCTOR ISRAEL STODDARD, 

Grandson of Rev. Anthony Stoddard, the second minister, was born 
in Woodbury, prepared himself for the practice of medicine, and set- 
tled in Judea, He was a jovial, good-natured man, somewhat ad- 
dicted to free living, and died young. 



HON. LEMAN B. SPRAGUE, 

Studied law under the direction of Hon. Truman Smith, of Litch- 
field, and was admitted to the bar in the year 1842. He immediate- 
ly opened an office in Litchfield, for the practice of his profession, 
where he remained a few months, when he removed to Woodbury. 
He continued to practice in this town till his death in August, 1845. 
In May, 1844, he was appointed judge of probate, which ofiice he 
held till a short time before his death. 



HON. NATHANIEL SMITH. 



We come now to the consideration of the life and character of by 
far the most distinguished native of the territory of " Ancient Wood- 



1 HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 399 

bury ;" an ornament and a glory to the town that gave him birth, to 
the profession which he adorned, to the bench on which he sat with 
unsulKed purity, rectitude of purpose, and unbending devotion to the 
demands of justice, and to his friends who clustered thickly around 
him. Perhaps the history and character of no other man could be 
more profitably studied by the youth of ardent aspirations, feeling the 
fire of genius burning within him, and struggling under the frowns of 
adverse circumstances for an honorable position in society, than that 
of Mr. Smith. lie furnishes a brilliant example of what the innate 
force of a mighty intellect can accomplish, though surrounded by difh- 
cultics and obstacles. 

The father of Mr. Smith was poor, and like other men of small 
means, he was frequently removing, and lived in several parts of the 
ancient town after his fii'st emigration to it. Thus a part of his fam- 
ily was born in Judea, and a part in Roxbury society. Nathaniel, 
the subject of this sketch, w\as the son of Richard Smith, and born in 
Judea society, in what is called " Calhoun Street," January 6, 1762. 
For the reason stated above, his means of education were extremely 
limited, and he w^as left to seek his fortune at an early age. He and 
a brother of his engaged in peddling and trading between Philadel- 
phia and the northern parts of New England. On one occasion they 
went from Philadelphia toward the north by different routes, agree- 
ing to meet at the court house in Rutland, Vermont, on a day named. 
Nathaniel arrived at the place agreed on before his brother, and as 
court was in session, he went in to see what was going on. A cause 
was on trial, and it struck him that the case was not well managed 
by either of the opposing lawyers. On meeting his brother, he rela- 
ted the circumstance, and remarked to him that this "was the last 
time he should go to Philadelphia to sell new rum," — his mind was 
decided and he should be a lawyer ; that if it took no more sagacity 
to practice that profession than had been displayed in the court-house, 
he had no doubt he should succeed, for he believed that uninformed 
as he then was, he could have managed the case better than either of 
them. This simple incident changed the whole plan of his life. 
During a part of the Revolution he had been engaged in the service 
as a teamster. After that period he had made some money, and he 
now applied to Judge Reeve, of Litchfield, for admission to his ofiice 
as a student of law. Judge Reeve having entered into an examina- 
tion of his qualifications, and perceiving the defectiveness of his edu- 
cation, endeavored to dissuade him from the undertaking. But he 
persisted with such decided energy in urging hun to receive him as a 



400 HISTORY OF ANCIENT AY O O D B U R Y . 

student, that the judge gave him a copy of some historical work, 
directing him to read that with care, and come again at the end of a 
week, when lie would converse with him further on the subject. At 
the time appointed he returned, the judge gave him a careful exam- 
ination on what he had I'ead, and discovering the native strength and 
vigor of liis intellectual powers, he gave up his objections, and re- 
ceived him into Ins office. Here his progress was so rapid that with- 
in a period short of what was allowed by the rules of the bar, in con- 
sequence of the representations of his instructor, and the favorable 
opinion entertained of him by the members of the bar with whom he 
had become acquainted, he was admitted into the profession in 1787. 
He immediately after commenced the practice of his profession in 
Woodbury, where he continued to reside till his death, March 9th, 
1822. 

He married Ruth, only daughter of Rev. Noah Benedict, third 
pastor of the first church in Woodbury, and had one child, Hon. Na- 
thaniel B. Smith, now residing in this town. 

Ahnost immediately after entering upon the practice of his profes- 
sion, he rose to eminence in it. Some of his first arguments were 
masterly forensic efforts. At that period the bar of Litchfield was 
second to none in the state. It was furnished with a large number 
of men of distinguished ability. Notwithstanding this competition? 
he soon found himself favored with a large and successful practice, 
and rose more rapidly to the highest grade of his profession than 
perhaps any other man before him. His powers of thought and elo- 
cution gave him almost unlimited dominion over his audience. 
Whenever he spoke, there was a breathless silence. All eyes were 
upon him, and all eai's heard. In October, 1789, less than two years 
after his removal to this town, he was elected a member of the Gen- 
eral Assembly, and was i-e-elected four times previous to 1795. By 
this means an opportunity was afforded him of becoming more gen- 
erally and widely known. In the house he was a distinguished 
member, and took a leading part in the deliberations. To him this 
state is indebted in no inconsiderable degree, for some of the leading 
measures of those times. Among these may be mentioned the grad- 
ual extinction of slavery, and the permanent system of common 
school education, connected with the disposal of the public lands be- 
longing to the state. In the year 1795, Yale College bestowed upon 
him the honorary degree of master of arts. In the same year he was 
elected a member of the congress of the United States, in which office 
he served four years, when he declined a second re-election. That 



niSTOKY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 401 

body then embraced the fir.-t talents in this country. Amid such a 
consteUation of able and distinguished men, though his course was 
less brilliant than that of a few others, yet such were his strong com 
nion sense, and his clear and comprehensive views on every subject 
which he discussed, and such his precise and original mode of think- 
ing and of expression, that his speeches were always heard with 
marked attention, and his opinions highly regarded. He particularly 
distinguished himself in the discussions iu the house, relating to the 
ratification of tlie British treaty. 

On his making known his intention to decline a third election to 
Congress, in the fall of 1798, he was placed in nomination for a seat 
in the council, or upper house of the legislature of this state, elected 
in 1799, and on his return from Philadelphia, in the spring of 1800, 
took his seat as a member of that body. He remained a member of 
this body till May, 1805. In October, 1806, he was elected a judge 
of the supreme court, and it is not too much to say, that though this 
state has frequently had more learned judges in her courts of justice, 
it is much to be doubted whether, on all accounts, she ever had a bet- 
ter one. Of the distinguished al)ility and impartiality with Avhich he 
discharged his duties while on the bench of this court, too much can 
scarcely be said. 

It was while occupying this station that he first began to experi- 
ence the latent causes of that disease, which finally terminated his 
life. It did not, however, become veiy alarming till the fall of 1817. 
Then he began to feel the necessity of leaving the bench, and had. 
come to the resolution to do so, but from some improvement in his 
health, in the coui'se of the winter, and from the state of public affairs 
in relation to the court and other matters, he was induced to change 
his purpose, and consented to stand or fall with his brethren. This 
was the period called " toleration times," and much bitterness of party 
spirit existed. He accordingly remained in office till 1819, when the 
new organization took place under the present constitution of the 
state. This was the last year of his public sei'vices, and for him it 
was fortunate that it was so, as a longer continuance in them might 
have hastened the termination of his life. He left the bench with a 
high and unsullied reputation, followed by the regrets of his fellow- 
citizens, even of those whose political opinions did not accord with his 
own. Of the views of his sovmd, practical good sense, entertained by 
his contemporaries, a single instance only, among many, will be no- 
ticed. This was his appointment, in conjunction with Chancellor 



402 HISTOKT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Kent, of New York, and a, distinguislied divine of New Hampshire, 
to establish a new site for Williams College. 

Perhaps it is proper to say a few words more of the intellectual 
and moral powers of one who so successfully concentrated the admi- 
ration and respect of his fellow-citizens. As we have seen, he owed 
little to education and the force of early training. He held his powers 
by a higher diploma than any university could furnish. Pi-ovidence 
bestowed upon him original, native powers, rai'ely equaled, certainly 
not surpassed by any of his compeers, save perhaps Oliver Ellsworth. 
For keenness of discernment, accuracy of investigation, adroitness in 
argument, and energy in delivery, it was difficult to find his equal 
anywhere. His jiowers of elocution were more effective than those 
of any other public man of the state except Pierpont Edwards. 
His mind had an unusual power in penetrating every subject submit- 
ted to its analysis. He saw them at a glance in all their connections 
and ramifications. Such conclusions as subordinate minds attain by 
patient labor and reflection, he knew by intuition. He possessed the 
rare power of being equal to the emergency, whatever it might be. 
Like other strong minds, his powers were not enfeebled by divei'sion 
to a multiplicity of objects. He could, at any and all times, concen- 
trate his whole mental power upon the subject under examination ; 
and while seeing a thing clearly himself, he possessed the faculty of 
so vividly presenting the subject to the minds of others, that they 
could see it in the same clear light. He read human nature with 
great accuracy, and was rarely deceived in the estimates he made of 
men. To the exercise of judicial functions he was eminently adapted. 
He generally reasoned without much consulting authorities, and by a 
comparison of his reasoning with that in books he had never read, it 
often appeared that he had arrived at the same results, and by the 
same processes of reasoning, that Mansfield or Ellenborough had 
done before him. In fine, as a " man of mind — of exalted capabili- 
ties and pure aspirations, few of his generation might be compared 
with him." After his death. Judge Reeve remarked, " I Avill not say 
that Judge Smith has not left his equal, but I Avill say he has left no 
superior living." A distinguished ex-governor of the state, now liv- 
ing, lately said of him, " Connecticut never produced a greater intel- 
lect than Judge Smith possessed." 

It still remains to speak of a most interesting part of the history of 
Judge Smith. Reference is made to that part in which he appears as 
a Christian. He was never an infidel. He possessed too much 
sense, candor and fairness of mind to allow of that. His conduct was 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 403 

po far frosn this that he always entertained a high respect for the 
Christian religion. Yet he, at one period of his life, had doubts re- 
specting that important change which is wrought by the spirit of God 
in the hearts of men, as a necessaiy preparation for a better world. 
For many years he felt a strong desire to prove the reality of such a 
change in his own experience, if, indeed, such a change were a real- 
ity. At length, at the age of forty-six, in the full vigor of his under- 
standing, at a time of life when his imagination, never the controlling 
faculty of his mind, could not be supposed to have deceived him, and 
in the hour of calm, deliberate reflection, such a change was wrought 
upon him. Certainly some great and remarkable change took place 
in his experience. Of it he was conscious, and frequently spoke to 
his Christian friends. Under its continued and prevailing influence, 
through many years, he afterward lived, and under the same influ- 
ence he appeared, at last, to die, full of those calm, steadfast, cheer- 
ing hopes beyond this life, to which such a change, and nothing else, 
is wont to give birth. The circumstances of this change were such 
as usually mark it in great and earnest minds. Of its reality, as the 
work of a divine agent, he appeared to entertain no doubt. These 
views and feelings were for some time kept concealed from his most 
intimate friends, from a perhaps mistaken regard to considerations of 
prudence, and even of duty. Placed as he was, in an office of high 
responsibility, and at that day, of some delicacy and difficulty, t(5o, 
through the violence "of party strife and animosity, and fearing that 
in this situation, a public avowal of his change might be attributed 
to unworthy motives, and made use of for improper purposes, he, for 
a time, retained the important secret within his own heart. His 
feelings on these subjects are alluded to in a letter to his son, then a 
student in Yale College, dated April 18th, 1813, as AviU be seen by 
the following extract : 

" You may well .suppose, that I have not formed a very high opinion of the 
outward forms of religion, and in that respeet, perhaps, I may have erred. I 
have, indeed, latterly entertained doubts of the correctness of my conduct in 
that particular. Cut whatever importance may be attached to the outward 
forms of religion, I entertain no doubt of the high importance, and the absolute 
necessity of that internal principle, implanted by regeneration. The doctrine 
oi spiritual birth, whatever ridicule and contempt the world may cast upon it, 
is, nevertheless, the life and soul of the Christian scheme, and whoever denies 
it altogether, or what is worse, because more insidious, denies its spirituality, 
and places the change in something in \i4liich it does not exist, may as well 
deny the whole Christian religion, and form one altogether of lus own, better 
adapted to his natural disposition. Since I have begun, I should delight in 



404 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



writing much on the subject, did not my strength in some measure faU nie, and 
did not I fear, that your patience would fail you. Perhaps, indeed, I have 
written enough unless you should wish to have more, in which case I have no 
objection to correspond further. Your present age is of all others best adapted 
to these inquiries and pursuits. And surely the solemn truths which all agree 
in— that the continuance of life is short and uncertain— that death and a never- 
ending eternitij of happiness or woe, are awfully certain, are sufficient to call up 
the attention of any rational being to the subject, and at least lead him to search 
the Scriptures. Though I am willing you should keep this letter, I would not 
have you show it, or mention its contents to any one. I have had my reasons, 
and still have, for not wishing to become the object of remark on this subject. 
Perhaps they are not sufficient— be that as it may, you must allow me to be the 
judge. 




c/r2f.J^:z^ ^4^7^f^..^^^~ 



From other sources, as well as from the above, we learu that he 
was not altogether satisfied that the course of conduct he had adopted 
on this subject was the correct one ; for upon the taking place of a 
settled state of things in the society and church, and when his situa- 
tion in regard to public aifairs became such as to preclude any mis- 
construction of his motives, he hesitated no longer to speak freely of 
his change, and to make a public profession of his faith in the Re- 
deemer, and of his high hopes of a glorious immortality growing out 
of that faith. His only and latest regrets seem to have been, that he 
had not before declared his attachment to his Lord and Saviour, and 
. been more openly and actively engaged in his service. In his last 
sickness, from the nature of his disease he had many distressing hours, 
but his confidence in those great truths never forsook him. To an 
uncommon degree they alleviated his sufferings. By them his path 
through the valley of death seemed illumined. The day before his 
death, as his brother Nathan, of New Haven, stood by his bedside, 
he remarked, " I have had a hard day's work, brother, but I hope it 
will end peacefully before morning." While resting on these bright 
hopes of immortality, so animating and comforting, he was enabled 
to commit his family as well as his own future and eternal destiny, to 
Him whom he believed to be the Author and Finisher of his faith, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AVOODBURY. 405 

and his spirit took its peaceful depai-ture for the KukI of rest, on the 
9th of March, 1822.' 



HON. NATHANIEL B. SMITH, 

Son of the preceding, was born at Woodbury, Dec. 7, 1795, and 
graduated at Yale College in 1815. He read law in company with 
Hon. Truman Smith and Hon. John M. Clayton, in the oHice of Hon. 
Noah B. Benedict, and with them and others at the law school of 
Judge Reeve, at Litchfield. They were together admitted to the bar 
of Litchfield county in 1818. He immediately engaged and fitted up 
an ofiice in the " Glebe Building," at New Haven ; but his father, be- 
ing at this time in infirm health, induced him to change his purpose, 
and open an office in "Woodbury. He continued the practice of his 
profession for two or three years, when the care of his father's estate, 
(he having a large landed property,) engrossed his time and atten- 
tion, and he has since remained in agricultural pursuits. He repre- 
sented the town in the General Assembly in 1828, and again in 1847. 
He was appointed judge of probate, May, 1838, and held the office 
by successive appointments till May, 1842. 



HEZEKIAII THOMPSON, ESQ., 

Was one of the first lawyers in Woodl)ury, having commenced 
practice about the year 1757. For a sketch of his life, the reader is 
referred to the genealogy of the " Thompson Family," near the close 
of the volume . 



DOCT. EBENEZER THOMPSON, 

Was a physician in Bethlehem society for a number of years. 
Tradition is silent in regard to his standing in community, and his 
attainments as a physician. He died in 1750, leaving a wife, Mary 
(Judd,) and three daughters, Lois, Esther and Mary. His widow 
died in 1752. 



1 The author has derived valuable aid in the foregoing sketch, from minutes fur- 
nished him by Rev. S. R. Andrew and Hon. Charles B. Phelps. 



40G HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

DOCT. ABRAHAM TOMLINSON, 

Resitled in Judea society, and was there as early as 1758, his name 
appearing in the tax list as early as that year. He remained there 
some years, but finally removed to Milford, Conn. 



DOCT. LEMUEL WHEELER, 

Settled early in Southbury society, in the practice of the medical 
profession. He was res2)ectable in his profession, and stood well 
among his neighbors as a man and a citizen. He espoused the cause 
of his country, in the Revolution, and served for a time as surgeon's 
mate. He died in August, 1782, leaving a widow, Abiah, and one 
son, Obadiah, the same who has been mentioned in connection with 
the applicants for salt at the " Hollow store," and a daughter Pru- 
dence, who married a Baldwin. 



CHARLES H. WEBB, M. D., 

Is the son of Charles L. Webb, Esq., of Litchfield, and was born 
in that town. He studied medicine under the direction of Dr. Abbe, 
of Litchfield, and took the degree of Doctor of Medicine, at the Uni- 
versity of New York. He settled in the practice of his profession in 
Woodbury soon after his graduation, remained liere some years, when 
he removed to the state of New York, where he remained a few years, 
whence he returned to this place, and still resides here in the full prac- 
tice of his profession. He married Miss Jennette Moody, daughter of 
James Moody, of Sharon, and has three daughters. He had a son, a 
very promising lad of ten years, who Avas drowned while bathing in 
the Pomperaug River, Aug. 5, 1844. 



DOCT. EBENEZER WARNER. 

The subject of this sketch has been,i perhaps, suflficiently noticed in 
a former chai)ter of this volume, but he is introduced here again to 
show an unbroken chain of physicians for four generations, all bear- 
ing the Christian name of Ebenezer, and all practicing their profes- 



HISTOKY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 407 

sion and ending their lives in the place of their birth, except the first. 
The latter died in 1755, and left three sons, Ebenezer, Benjamin and 
Thomas, and six daughters, Martha, Margaret, Rebecca, Lydia, Fran- 
ces and Rachel. He had a daughter Tamah, who married Remem- 
ber Baker, and was the mother of Capt. Remember Baker, of Revo- 
lutionary memory. Benjamin was the father of Col. Setli Warner, 
of the Revolutionary army. Mary, the sister of Capt. Baker's father, 
married Joseph Allen, and became the mother of Col. Ethan Allen, 
the hero of Ticonderoga. Baker was therefore cousin to both Allen 
and Warner, but they were not related to each other. Ebenezer, 
mentioned above, became the second Doct. Warner, and ftither of the 
third Doct. Ebenezer, who was the father of Doct. Ebenezer War- 
ner the fourth. There were also a Doct. Reuben and a Doct. Ben- 
jamin Warner from these families. They were men of that stamp, 
who are said to " take up their profession in their own head," which 
means that they were not regularly bred jihysicians. They used, 
principally, coml)inations of roots, herbs and other domestic medicines 
in their practice, and sevei'al of them became distinguished for their 
success in treating disease. They are also said to have used freely 
the '' gall of rattlesnakes." The descendants of these men are nu- 
merous in the original territory, and elsewhei'c, at the present day. 



COL. SETII WARNER. 



All readers of our country's history are familiar with the exploits 
of the Green Mountain Boys, and it is agreed on all hands, that Ethan 
Allen, Seth Warner and Remember Baker, mentioned in the pre- 
ceding sketch, were, to say the least, among their most efficient lead- 
ers, and among those who suffered most for their cause. The char- 
acter of Col. Warner has been ably drawn by Daniel Chipman, 
LL. D., of Vermont, in a little book published by him in 1848, and 
all that is intended in this sketch is to give a brief statistical account, 
drawn principally from that memoir. It is not proposed to go over 
the same ground again, and give a full memoir, though it would be a 
pleasing task, did the limits of this volume allow it, to give a full his- 
tory of this so honorably distinguished son of ancient Woodbury. 

He was born in Roxbury parish, in the year 1743. Without any 
advantages for an education beyond those which were to be found in 
the common schools of those times, the nearest of which, at the date 



408 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

of his birth, Avas in the present limits of Woodbury, nearly six miles 
from his birthplace, he was early distinguished by his energy, sound 
judgment, and manly, noble bearing. In 1763, his father, Dr. Ben- 
jamin Warner, son of the first Dr. Ebenezer Warner, removed to 
Bennington, in the New Hampshire grants, the second year after the 
first settlement of the town. The game with which the woods 
abounded at once attracted the attention of young Warner, and he 
was soon distinguished as an indefatigable, expert and successful 
hunter. He was also a skillful botanist, and often alleviated the 
sufferings of the settlers, by the skillful applications of " roots and 
herbs." About this time a scene began to open, Avhich gave a new 
direction to the active and enterprising spii'it of Warner ; the contro- 
versy between New York and the settlers upon the New Hampshire 
grants had commenced. New York claimed jurisdiction to the Con- 
necticut River, and New Hampshire also claimed jurisdiction to with- 
in twenty miles of the Hudson River. The crown decided in favor of 
the claim of New York, and established the western bank of the Con- 
necticut as its eastern boundary. All this would have been well 
enough if it had been a simple change of jurisdiction, but New York 
claimed that the decision in its favor invalidated the patents of the 
settlers' lands, granted to them by the government of New Hamp- 
shire, and proceeded to grant the lands to others. Hence arose the 
contest, the settlers refusing to leave the lands they had bought and 
paid for in good faith. They therefore determined to resist the ex- 
ercise of the authority of New York within the grants. When a 
sheriff undertook to serve any process, he was resisted by force. 
This course was not adopted until after the trial of several suits at 
Albany, under the direction of Ethan Allen, it was found that no jus- 
tice could be obtained at court. During the whole contest with New 
York, Warner was the commander, or rather the leader, for all put 
themselves under his guidance, and in all their conventions and con- 
sultations, he was looked up to as the able, prudent and safe counsel- 
or. In 1771, the governor of New York issued a proclamation 
offering a reward of twenty pounds each, for the arrest of Ethan 
Allen, Seth Warner, Remember Baker, and some others. Under 
this proclamation. Baker was early next year seized in the night, and 
hurried with the greatest speed toward Albany, but was rescued by 
Warner and his party before reaching that place. Still later, the 
governor of New York offered a reward of fifty pounds each, for the 
arrest of Warner, Allen and Baker. 

Having been thus engaged as a prominent leader of the Green 



HISTO-UY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 409 

Mountain Boys, in their contests with the authorities of New York, 
the subject of this sketch was well fitted to engage in the arduous 
struggle of the Revolution. Accordingly we find him in tlie very 
commencement of tliat contest, engaged in the enterprise against the 
enemy's posts on Lake Chainplain. Allen commanded the party 
that took Ticondcj'oga, and Warner commanded that which took 
Crown Point. After Col. Iliiniian's regiment reached Ticonderoga, 
Allen and Warner set off on a journey to the Continental Congress> 
to procure pay for their men and liberty to raise a regiment on the 
New Hampsliirc grants. In both these objects they were successful. 
The regiment was raised, and Warner was ajipointed its lieutenant- 
colonel, by a vote of forty-one to five. In September, 1775, Warner 
was found at the head of his regiment, during tlie siege of St. John's, 
by ]Montgomery. Gen. Woostcu* wrote hiui a letter in January, 
177G, asking him to raise a body of men in the middle of winter, and 
march tliom into Canada. In an incredibly short time, AYarner, in 
answer to the summons, ap})eared in Canada with the required num- 
ber of men. On the fjth of July, 177G, Congress again resolved to 
raise a regiment out of the troops that had served with so much rep- 
utation in Canada, and Warner was again appointed lieutenant- 
colonel, lie raised his regiment, and repaired to Ticonderoga. Avliere 
he remained till the close of the campaign. lie was in service ao^ain 
in 1777, and was present at the battles of Ilubbardston and Benning- 
ton. 

Soon after the battle of Bennington, Warner was advanced to the 
rank of colonel, but was unable to, perform much active service after 
this. His constitution naturally strong and vigorous, gave way under 
the fatigues and hardsliips which he endured in the service, particu- 
larly in his winter campaign in Canada. In a return of his regiment, 
made November lOtli, 1777, Col. Warner was returned "sick at IIoo- 
sick." He recovered from this sickness, but was never afterward 
able to perform any active service, and, of course, received no further 
promotion. He was, however, continued in the command of his 
regiment, residing witii his family at Bennington, to the end of the 
year 1781. In 178'2, Warner removed to his native parish, in hopes 
of obtaining relief iVom the painful disorders under which lie was 
suffering, but his hopes proved fallacious, and he gradually Avasted 
away till the 2Gth of December, 1784, when death put an end to his 
sufferings. 

He was rising six feet in height, erect and well-proportioned, his 
countenance, attitude and movements indicative of great strength and 
27 



410 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

vigor of body and mind, of resolution, firmness and self-possession. 
His commanding appearance, and known cbai-acter, undoubtedly 
saved bim from many an attack by tbe " Yorkers." In one instance 
only did any one attempt to arrest bim single-banded. An officer 
from New York attempted to arrest bim by force, and Warner con- 
sidering it an act of lawless violence, attacked, wounded and disarmed 
him, but witb tbe spirit of a soldier, saved bis life, and permitted bim 
to return to New York. He pursued bis public and private business 
among the settlers in the different towns, with apparent unconcern, 
and yet he was always prepared for defense. He seemed to be en- 
tirely unconscious of fear. He was distinguished for his cool cour- 
age, and perfect self-possession, on all occasions. He was so much 
engaged in public affairs that he almost entirely neglected his own, 
and tbe moderate property which he inherited, he spent in the ser- 
vice of his country, and left his family destitute. The proprietors of 
several townships gave him tracts of land, of considerable value, as a 
reward for his services in defense of the New Hampshire grants, but 
the greater part, if not all of them, were sold for taxes, and his heirs 
never received any considerable benefit from them. In October, 
1787, the legislature of Vermont generously granted to his heirs 
2,000 acres of land, in the north-west part of the county of Essex. 
When that section of the state was explored, this land was found to 
be of little or no value, and it yet remains unsettled. 

From the following extract from an obituary notice iiublisbed soon 
after his decease, the reader may learn how he was estimated by his 
contemporaries : 

'' This gentleman, from an oarly period of his life, took a very decided part 
in the defence of the rights of man, and rendered essential services in the ex- 
alted command which he held over the Green Mountain boys, in the defence 
of the New Hampshire grants. He also distinguished himself, and maintained 
the character of a brave officer, in his command of his regiment, during the 
late war. His ability in command, few exceeded. His dexterity and success 
were uncommon. His natural disposition was kind, generous and humane. 
His remains were interred with the honors of war, which were justly due to his 
merits. An immense concourse of people attended his funeral, and the whole 
was performed with uncommon decency and aflection. He has left an amia- 
ble consort, and three children, to mourn their irreparable loss." 

Col. "Warner struggled long witb complicated and distressing mal- 
adies, which he bore with uncommon resignation, until deprived of 
his reason, after which he was constantly fighting his battles over 
arriiin, not in imagination only, but by the exertion of a preternatural 
physical strength, so that it required two or three persons to take 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AV O O D H U R Y . 411 

charge of him. Thei-e was a guard of about thirty men kept at his 
house, fi'om the time of his decease, December 2Gth, to the 29th, 
when his funeral was attended, and a sermon preached by Rev. 
Thomas Canfiehl, from Samuel i. 27. " How are the mighty fallen, 
and the weapons of war perished." 

The following inscription is on the tablet placed over his grave : 

" In memory of 

COL. SETH WARNER, ESQ., 

Who departed this life December ^r.ih, A. D. 178-1, 

la the forty-second year of his age. 

Triumphant leader at onr armies' head, 
Wliose martial glory struck a panic dread. 
Thy warlike deeds engraven on this stone, 
Tell future ages what a hero's done. 
Full sixteen battles he did fight, 
For to procure his country's right. 
Oh! this brave hero, lie did fall 
By death, wlio ever conquers all. 

When this you see, remember me." 

This epitaph is with some difRculty deciphered on a dilapidated 
stone, which lies sadly neglected by the inhabitants of his native 
parish. It is a crying reproach to the inhabitants of his native town, 
that they should allow the remains of one of its most distinguished 
sons to lie within its borders, with no suitable monument to mark the 
place of his sepulture. It is greatly to be hoped, tliat for their own 
honor, the citizens will allow the hero to sleep no longer without a 
monument suited to his fame. 



CHAPTER XX. 

Shokt Biographical Sketches of Natives of Woodbury, who have Emi- 
grated FROM THE Ancient Town, and become distinguished in the places 
OF their adoption. The najies will be found in alphabetical order. 

GEN. ETHAN ALLEN. 

In placing the name of Etlian Allen in the list of natives of Wood- 
bury, the author is well aware, that the honor of having been his 
birthplace has been claimed by several other towns. Litchfield, 
Cornwall and Salisbury, have been competitors in this contest. And 
now in renewing the claim of ancient Woodbury to this honor, no 
disrespect is intended toward other claimants, the design of this arti- 
cle being simply to state the evidence on which the claim is founded, 
the author having given much attention to the investigation of the 
question. It is certainly somewhat singular that there should be any 
question at all about the matter, Gen. Allen, and one or more of his 
brothers, h.iving been the authors of several publications, a part of 
them of a historical and biographical nature. But no allusion to the 
subject in hand is made in either of these works, so far as the writer 
is informed. 

The first fact to be mentioned in support of the claim of Wood- 
bury, is the testimony of the aged people of the territory, all of 
whom (and the author has conversed with many on the subject) 
assert, so far as they pretend to have any knowledge or infoi-mation 
on the subject, that Allen was born in the vicinity of Mine Hill, in 
the parish of Roxbury, then apart of Woodbury. The writer held a 
conversation with the late Deacon Amos Squire, at the age of ninety- 
seven, a very intelligent and well-informed old gentleman, and with 
the late Abiather Squire, a very aged man, who possessed the most 
remarkable memory of any man he has ever met, in reference to this 
question, and other matters of interest. The information from them, 
as from others, establishes the same fact, Gen. Allen's nativity in 
Roxbury parish. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKY. 4l3 

As nearly as can be gleaned from the records, Mercy Allen, a 
widow, with one adult son, Nehemiah, and several sons and daugh- 
ters, who were minors, removed from Coventry to Litchfield, Conn., 
about the year 1720. The names of some of the other children were 
Daniel, Joseph, Ebenezer, Lydia, who married Benjamin Smallej^, of 
Lebanon, Conn., and Lucy. Nehemiah moved a few yeai's after to 
Guilford, Conn. Widow Mercy Allen, mother of these, died at 
Litchfield, February .5th, 1727-8, and her son Daniel was appointed 
executor on her estate. Joseph Allen, father of Gen. Ethan, received 
his first piece of land from Daniel, as executor on his mother's estate, 
March 1, 1728-9, which consisted of one-tliird of her real estate. 
His age at this time is not known, but he had attained his majority 
in 1732, as he was gi'antor in a deed to his sister Lydia, in Novem- 
ber of that year, and to Paul Peck, Jr., in March of the next year. 
These deeds covered 100 acres of land each. By these two deeds he 
had parted with all his cultivated lands in Litchfield, though he still 
retained his right to some wild lands as late as 1742, several years 
after he had removed to Cornwall, which he sold to Thomas Harri- 
son, describing them as " being the whole of my rights in lands in 
Litchfield." The Aliens formed a migratory family, and if the ac- 
counts we have are to be believed, Joseph shortly after the sale of 
his interest in the "old homestead," in 1733, removed, and took up 
his abode in the " Baker neighborhood," in the parish of Roxbury. 
Here he became acquainted with Mary, daughter of Pemember Ba- 
ker, to whom he was married March 11th, 173G-7. The entry on 
the record is : 

" Joseph Allen and Mary Baker were joined together in Marriage by yc Ht;v- 
erend Mr. Anthony Stoddor, Marcli ye litii 17:^6-7." 

Mr. Stoddard Avas the pastor of the first church in Woodbury, 
Roxbury not being at this time organized into a separate parish. It 
is to be noted here, that in the foregoing entry, no place of residence 
is given to either party. This was the customary entry, where both 
parties were residents of the town, while the recoi'der v/as particular 
to enter the fact, if either, or both parties belonged to another town. 
If therefore, Joseph Allen had not been a resident of Woodbury, as 
well as the other party, the fact would, in all probability, have been 
noted. Here he continued till about the year 1740, when he remov- 
ed to Cornwall, Conn., and purchased lands of " Samuel Robbards," 
as appears by his deed to Allen, dated April 28th, 1740. Mean- 
while, Ethan, son of Joseph and Mary Allen, had been born at 



414 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUET. 

Woodbury, January 10th, 1737-8. ITeman the next son, was born 
at Cornwall, October loth, 1740, Lydia, April Cth, 1742, Heber, 
October 4th, 1743, Levi, July 16th, 1745, Lucy, April 2d, 1747, 
Zimri, December 10th, 1748 ; but the date of the birth of Ira, the 
youngest child, is not found on record. Joseph Allen, father of 
these, died at Cornwall, April 14th, 1755. 

Joseph Allen was not a rich man, and having, as is seen, a large 
family to support, his son Ethan from an early age resided with his 
mother's relatives in Roxbury parish, till after the early years of his 
manhood^ when he returned again to Cornwall, where he resided till 
the twenty-fourth year of his age, when, in January, 1762, he re- 
moved to Salisbury, Conn., and, in company with three others, en- 
tered into the iron business, and built a furnace. Li June of this 
year, he returned to Roxbury, and was married to Mary, daughter 
of Cornelius Brownsou, by Rev. Daniel Brinsmade of Judea parish, 
Woodbury, for which service he paid him a fee of four shillings. 
The entry on Mr. Brinsmade's record reads 

" Ethan Allen of Cornwall and Mary Brovvnson of Roxbury, were married 
June 23, 17G2, • 4s. " 

Mr. Brinsmade kejit a record of the fee paid, as well as of the 
date of the marriage. This entry also throws light on the entry in 
the case of his father's marriage. Here the place of residence of 
the parties is mentioned, they not being residents of the parish where 
the ceremony took place. So we may well infer, in the former entry, 
that both parties resided in Woodbury, from the silence of the record 
in that particular, especially as it is undisputed, that one party was 
a resident. Besides Allen. had long before his marriage sold his 
place of residence in Litchfield. 

Confirmatory of the opinion, that Ethan Allen was a native of 
Woodbury, and resided there during the early years of his life, there 
is in possession of the author, an original letter from Ethan Allen to 
the first Benjamin Stiles, Esq., of Woodbury, which throws much 
light on this inquiry. He must have been more than twenty years 
the senior of Gen. Allen. A copy of this letter follows : 

" Bennington, 16tli Novemr 17S5. 
" Sir, I received your favour of the 9th instant, and thank you for your kind 
remembrance of me, am glad to hear you are in health, and with an opjiortu- 
nity of conversing with me, the sociability that I have been honored with, from 
you, was always pleasing to me, and also edifying, wliether on historical, phil- 
osophical, or political subjects. Am apprehensive, that in tlie succession of the 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AYOODBURY. 415 

next year, I sliall do myscirtho honor to visit you, and othor friends at Wood- 
bury, and in the mean lime, let you Icnow, I retain a grateful sense of your 
advice and friendship to me in tlie tender and early years of my manhood, 
and shall ever be happy, to continue that early friendshiiJ, and intercourse of 
good olflces, and regret it, that our respective local situations in life, must in 
great measure, deprive us of such hajijiincss. 

" As to my Philosophy, that ypu mention, forty of the Books ;ire bound, and 
will be sent to New York to-morrow, 1500 are printed, ;ind contain 487 pages, 
in large octavo. The curiosity of the jiublic is much excited, and there is a 
great demand for the books, they will in all probability reach Woodbury, in 
the course of the winter. In one of them you read my very soul, for I have 
not concealed my opinion, nor disguised my sentimenls in the least, and how- 
ever you may, as a severe critic, censer my performance, I presume you will 
not impeach me with cowardise. I expect, that the clergy, and their devotees, 
will proclaim war with me, in the name of the Lord, his battles they eflect to 
fight, having put on the armour of Faith, the sword of tlie Spirit and the Ar- 
tillery of Hell fire. But I am a hardy Mountaineer, and have been accustomed 
to the dangers and horrors of War, and captivity, and scorn to bo intimidated 
by threats, if tliey fight me, they must absolutely produce some of their tre- 
mendous fire, and give me a sensitive scorching. 

" Pray be so good as to write to me, and in the epistolary way maintain a 
corresiDondence with your Old Friend and Humb'o Servt, 



/{ 




" Benjamin Stiles, Esq." • 

This does not seem to be such a letter as a man born in Litchfield, 
nurtured in Coniwall, and removed to Vermont, unconnected with 
Woodbury, would be likely to write. 

In 1764, while residing in Salisbury, he purchased two and a half" 
acres of land on Mine Ilill, or one-sixteenth part of the mining title 
in that locality, and in 1771, he still owned land in Judea society, 
near Capt. Gideon Ilollister's. Before his removal to Vermont, by 
an execution in his favor against Abram Brownson and others, 
bi'others of his wife, we learn that he was residing in Northampton, 
Mass. This was probably a mere transition stage in his journey to 
Vermont, whither he removed about the year, 1772, having been for 
several years previous engaged in surveying lands in that territory 
in company with his brother Ira. After his removal to Vermont he 
resided at Bennington, Sunderland, Arlington, Tinmouth, Winooski, 
and perhaps other places. 

We come now to incpiire what there is to raise a doubt whether 



41 6 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Ethan Allen was a native of "Woodbury, or not, It consists in the 
simple, unexplained fact, that the date of his birth appears also on 
the records of Litchfield. On the first page of the first volume of 
the Litchfield town records, appear four entries in the handwriting 
of John Bird, the first town-clerk of that town, viz., the dates of 
the marriages of Daniel Allen, and his brother Joseph, and the date 
of the birth of Ethan, Joseph's first-born, and that of Mary, Daniel's 
first-born. The face of the record bears unmistakable evidence, that 
these entries were made with the same pen, the same ink, and at the 
same time. They occur in the midst of other entries of the Allen 
name. There are only two entries, however, in the name, subse- 
quent to this — the dates of the birth of two other children of Daniel 
Allen. All the family had removed from Litchfield except the 
latter. Daniel's marriage in Litchfield, performed by Rev. Mr. 
Collins, and Joseph's marriage in Woodbury, by Mr. Stoddard, oc- 
curred within forty-eight days of each other, and the births of their 
first children within fourteen days of each other. The names of 
both wives were Mary, and the children were of opposite sexes. 
The author's theory of these entries is, that they were all made at 
one time by the clerk, after the birth of Daniel's child, (wliich was 
latest in point of time,) at his solicitation, to commemorate these coin- 
cidences. As no further entries in the name were made except the 
date of birth of Daniel's two remaining children at a subsequent 
period, the opinion is strengthened. On the theory that Ethan Allen 
was a native of Woodbury, his sympathies with the people of that 
town, his friendly acquaintance with Mr. Stiles, the marrying of his 
wife there, his continuing to hold an interest in lands in that town, 
and numerous other circumstances, receive a satisfactory explanation. 
For all these reasons we have come to the firm conclusion, that 
" Ancient Woodbury" justly claims the honor of having been the 
birthplace of the "hero of Ticonderoga.'.' 

As there are several good memoirs of Gen. Allen extant, it is 
not judged necessary to introduce an extended notice of his life and 
services in these pages. The brief account which follows, is extract- 
ed chiefly from a memoir of his life, by Jared Sparks, LL. D., and 
another by De Puy, lately issued from the press. 

Ethan and three or four of his brothers emigrated to the territory 
west of the Green jNIountains, among the first settlers, and were 
prominent members of the social and political compacts into which 
the inhabitants gradually formed themselves. Bold, active and en- 
terprising, they espoused with zeal and defended with energy, the 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 417 

cause of the settlers against wliat were deemed the eneroaching 
schemes of tlieir neigldjors, and, Avith a keen interest, sustained their 
sliare in all the border contests. Four of them were engaged in the 
military operations of tlie Kevohition, and, by a hazardous and suc- 
cessfid adventure at the breaking out of the war, in the capture of 
Ticonderoga, tlie name of P^than Allen gained a renown, which 
spread widely at the time, and has been perpetuated in history. 

A brief account of the contest in relation to the New Hampshire 
grants, was introduced into the preceding sketch, and will not be 
repeated here. When the actions of ejectment came on at Albany 
to tiy the title of the settlers to their land, the management of the 
business was intrusted to Ethan Allen. Daring, ambitious, and 
having extreme confidence in his powers, both of body and mind, he 
entered zealously upon the task. His aid was rendered the more 
valuable, by reason of his extensive acquaintance in New England 
and New York. Although laboring under the disadvantages of a 
defective early education, he possessed considerable general informa- 
tion, and could write a letter or an argument in strong and intelligi- 
ble, if not accurate and j^olished language. He could also address a 
multitude, and, when occasion required, a court, with skill and eftect. 
He immediately prepared the defense, employed Mr. Ingcrsol of 
Connecticut, an eminent counselor, to try the cases, but the result 
was foreordained, and they were therefore lost. After Allen retired 
from the court, several gentlemen, interested in the New York 
grants — one of whom was the king's attorney for the colony — called 
u[)on him, and urged him to go home and advise his friends to make 
the best terms they could with their new landlords ; intimating that 
their cause was now desperate, and reminding him of the proverb, 
that " Might often 2>}'evails against right." Neither admiring the 
delicacy of this sentiment, nor intimidated by the threat it held out, 
Allen coolly replied, " The gods of the valleys are not tlie gods of the 
hi /is." This laconic figure of speech he left to be interpreted by his 
visitors, adding only, when an explanation was asked by Kemp, the 
king's attorney, that if he would accompany him to the hill of Ben- 
nington the sense should '' be made clear." Resistance to the execu- 
tion of process next followed. A military association was formed, 
Allen was appointed colonel, and Seth "Warner, Remember Baker 
and others were made captains. Proclamations were issued by the 
governor of New York offering at first £20, and soon after £50, 
each for the arrest of these persons. Allen and his friends sent out 
a coimter-proclamation, offering a reward for the arrest of the attor- 



418 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 



ney-general and others. Allen, Avho Avas brave even to rashness, 
was in no degree intimidated by the rewards offered for his appre- 
hension, and this he designed that those who had advised that meas- 
ure should fully understand. He even went so far as to go to Alltany 
and take a bowl of punch, in presence of his enemies, on a bet. The 
attorney-general happened to be present, and Allen, after drinking 
his punch, and giving a hearty " Huzza for the Green Mountains," 
departed unharmed. During these contests, the adherents of New 
York, among the settlers on the grants, on due conviction before a 
proper tribunal of Green Mountain Boys, were usually punished by 
whipping and banishment — the whipping was quaintly denominated, 
" the application of the beech-seal," or, as Allen sometimes expressed 
it, " a castigation with the twigs of the wilderness." 

The American Revolution called forth the latent energies of 
many individuals, who would, in a more peaceable state of political 
affairs, have slumbered in obscurity, and gone down to the grave un- 
honored and imknown. True-hearted volunteers rallied at the calls 
of the brave and wise men of our country, imbued with a spirit wor- 
thy of the little band which defended the pass of Thermopyla3. 
Perhaps no individual, of equal advantages, and in the station he 
occupied, contributed more toward establishing the independence of 
our country, than Ethan Allen. Tlie mass of the people among 
whom he resided, were rude and uncultivated, yet bold in spirit and 
zealous in action. It consequently followed that no one but a man 
of strong natural endowments — of much decision, energy and brave- 
ry — could control their prejudices and inclinations. Upon Allen, 
whose courage was undoubted, and Avhose zealous devotion to their 
interests was universally acknowledged, they implicitly relied. They 
had known him in adversity and prosperity. They had weighed 
him, and found nothing lacking. To friend or foe, he Avas ever the 
same unyielding advocate of the rights of man and universal liberty. 
From the commencement, therefore, of that struggle until its final 
close, Ethan Allen proved a zealous and strenuous supporter of the 
cause, whether in the field, or council — whether at home, a freeman, 
or loaded with the chains of despotism in a foreign country. Ilis spirit 
never quailed beneath the sneer of the tory, or the harsh threats of 
insolent authority. A stranger to fear, his opinions were ever given 
without disguise or hesitation ; and, an enemy to oppression, he sought 
every opportunity to redress the Avrongs of the oppressed. It is not 
to be supposed that he was faultless. Like other men, he had his 
errors and his follies ; yet he was not willfully stubborn in either. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AVOODBURT. 419 

When convinced of an eiToncons position, he was ever willing to 
yield ; but in theory, as in practice, he contested every inch of 
ground, and only yielded, when he had no weapons left to meet his 
antagonist. This trait in his character serves, at least, to prove that 
he was honest in his conclusions, however erroneous the premises from 
which they were deduced. 

The period at which we have nov.^ arrived in the life of Gen. Allen 
places him in a more conspicuous and interesting position before the 
reader. Previous to this he has been seen only as the zealous friend 
of the section in which he resided — as the champion of the humble 
citizen, contending for the rights of individual property, and private 
justice. In these offices of friendship and duty, however, he had ever 
the confidence and esteem of his neighbors. He had evinced a love 
of freedom, and a spirit of patriotism, which warmly i-ecommended 
him to the notice and the admiration of the most determined and able 
advocates of American liberty. That he should have been selected, 
therefore, as the leader in an enterprise of the highest moment to the 
cause of liberty, was alike due to his principles, his services, and his 
position. 

The battle of Lexington aroused the whole country, and i:)atriots 
flocked from all quarters to Boston. The General Assembly of Con- 
necticut Vi'as then in session, and a plan was there concocted for sur- 
prising Ticonderoga, and seizing the camion in that fortress for the 
use of the army then gathering in the vicinity of Boston. The whole 
plan and i)roceedings were of a i)rivate character, supported by a loan 
from tlie public treasury on the bond of private individuals, without 
the public sanction of the Assembly, but with its full knowledge and 
tacit ap}irobation. A few men went from Connecticut to Benning- 
ton, and were joined by Allen with about two hundred and thirty 
Green Mountain Boys. Allen was chosen commander of the expe- 
dition ; Col. Easton Avas appointed second in command, and Seth 
Warner, the third. The enterprise Avas conducted Avith the most 
profound secrecy, and sentinels Avere posted upon all the roads, 
to prevent any rumor of their approach from i^eaching the menaced 
point. A lad of the name of Nathan Beman Avas engaged as a guide 
to lead the advancing party to the fort. At dawn of day, only the 
officers and eighty-three men had crossed the lake. Delay was haz- 
ardous, and Allen resolved not to Avait for the remainder of the troops 
to cross, but immediately led his men quickly and stealthily up the 
height to the sally-port, and before the sun rose he had entered the 
gate, and formed his men on the parade betAveen the barracks. Here 



420 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

they gave three huzzas, which aroused the sleeping iuraates. When 
Col. Allen passed the gate, a sentinel snapped his fusee at him, and 
then retreated under a covered way. Another sentinel made a thrust 
at an officer with a bayonet, which slightly wounded him. Col. Al- 
len returned the compliment with a cut on the soldier's head, at which 
he threw down his muske% and asked for quarter. No more resist- 
ance was made. Allen demanded to be shown to the apartment of 
Capt. Delaplace, the commandant of the garrison. It was pointed 
out, and Col. Allen, with Nathan Beman at his elbow, who knew the 
way, hastily ascended the stairs, which were attached to the outside 
of the barracks, and called out with a voice of thunder at the door, 
ordering the astonished captain instantly to appear, or the whole gar- 
rison should be sacrificed. Started at so strange and unexpected a 
summons, he sprang from his bed, and opened the door, when the first 
salutation of his boisterous and unseasonable visitor, was an order 
immediately to surrender the fort. Rubbing his eyes and trying to 
collect his scattered senses, the captain asked by what authority he 
presumed to make such a demand. " In the 7iame of the Great Jeho- 
vah and the Co7Uinental Congress" replied Allen. Not accustomed 
to hear much of the Continental Congress in this remote corner, nor 
to respect its authority when he did, the commandant began to speak ; 
but Allen cut short the thread of his discourse by lifting his sword 
over his head, and X'eiterating the demand for an immediate surren- 
der. Having neither permission to argue, nor power to resist, Cap- 
tain Delaplace submitted, ordering his men to jiarade without arms, 
and the garrison was given up to the victors. This surprise was ef- 
fected about four o'clock on the morning of the 10th of May, 1775. 
As soon as the prisoners were secui*ed, and the bustle of the occasion 
had a little subsided. Col. Allen sent Col. Warner with a detachment 
of men to take Crown Point, which object he effected, and took pos- 
session of that post. 

Col. Allen was engaged in \arious public services till the 21th of 
September, 1775, when he and tliirty-eight of his men were taken 
prisoners in a rash and hazardous attempt to take Montreal. He 
was carried to England, and afterward brought back again to New 
York, when after enduring a cheerless captivity of two years and 
seven months, he was finally exchanged for Lt. Col. Campbell, May 
3, 1778. During much of the time he was retained as a prisoner, 
he, together with those with him, Avere treated with the greatest bar- 
barity. He was for eight months shut up in the provost jail, a con- 



HISTORY OF AXCIENT WOODBUIiT. 421 

fincmcnt of whicli the prisoners were ever accustomed to speak with 
disjiust and horror. 

"Wliile a prisoner in England, Ix'ing somewhat anxious as to the 
disposition that might be made of liim, especially as Gen. Prescott 
had threatened him "with a halter at Tyburn," he bethought himself 
of trying the effect of a stratagem. lie asked ^^crmission to write a 
letter to the Continental Congress, which was granted. He depicted 
in vivid colors the treatment he had received from the beginning of 
his captivity, but advised Congress not to retaliate, till the fate that 
awaited him in England should be known, and then to execute the 
law of retaliation, not in proportion to the small inliuence of his char- 
acter in America, but to the extent demanded by the importance of 
the cause for which he had suffered. The disi)atch was finished, and 
handed over for inspection to the oificer who had permitted him to 
write. Tliis officer went to liim the next day, and reprimanded him 
for what he called the impudence of inditing such an epistle. " Do 
you think we are fools in England," said he, " and would send your 
letter to Congress with instructions to retaliate on our own people? 
I have sent your letter to Lord North." This was precisely the des- 
tination for which the writer intended it, and he felt a secret satisfac- 
tion that his artitlce had succeeded. He wished the ministry to know 
his situation and his past sufferings, and to reflect that his country- 
men had it in their power to retaliate, in full measure, any acts of 
violence meditated against his person. A letter on these subjects, 
written directly to a minister b}^ a prisoner in irons, would not have 
been forwarded. 

While Allen was on his parole in JS^ew York, a British officer of 
rank and importance sent for him to come to his lodgings, and told 
him that his fidelity, though in a wrong cause, had made au impres- 
sion u[)on (ien. Ilowe, who was disj)osed to show him a favor, and to 
advance him to the command of a regiment of loyalists, if he would 
join the service, holding out to him, at the same time, brilliant pros- 
pects of promotion and )uoney during the war, and large tracts of land 
in Connecticut, or Vermont, at its close. Allen replied, "that if by 
faithfulness he had recommended himself to Gen. Howe, he should 
I)e loth by unfaithfulness to lose the general's good opinion ;" and as 
to the lands, he regarded his offer of them as similar to Satan's offer 
of large landed possessions to the Savioui", when he did not own a 
single I'ood, as he was by no means satisfied that the king would 
possess a sufficient quantity of land in the United States, at the end of 
the war, to redeem any pledges on that score. The officer sent him 
away as an incorrigible and hopeless subject. 



422 HISTORY OF ANCIENT -WOODBURY. 

Upon his release from captivity, notwithstanding the strong asso- 
ciations and tender ties, which drew him toward his home and friends, 
the impulse of gratitude was the first to be obeyed. The lively intei"- 
est taken in his condition by the commander-in-chief, and his efforts 
to procure his release, Avere known to him, and he resolved to repair, 
without delay, to head-quarters, and express in person his sense of the 
obligation. The army was at Valley Forge, and as he advanced 
into the country, on his way to that place, he was everywhere greet- 
ed by the people with demonstrations of strong interest, not unmin- 
gled with curiosity at seeing a man, the incidents of whose life had 
given him renown, and whose fate, while in the hands of the enemy, 
had been a subject of public concern. Gen. "Washington received 
him cordially, and introduced him to the principal officers in camp, 
who showed him many civilities. 

This duty discharged, he turned his face toward his long-lost and 
much-loved home in the Green Mountains. In the evening of the 
last day of May, he arrived at Bennington, unexpected at that time 
by his friends, and a general sensation immediately spread through- 
out the neighborhood. The people gathered around him, and with a 
delight, which could be realized only under circumstances so pecul- 
iar, he witnessed the joy that beamed from every countenance, and 
heard the accents of a hearty Avelcome uttered by every voice. It 
was a season of festivity Avith the Green Mountain Boys, and the 
same evening three cannon were fired, as an audible expression of 
their gladness. Next day. Col. Herrick ordered fourteen discharges 
of cannon, " thirteen for the United States, and one for young Ver- 
mont," as a renewed and more ample compliment to the early cham- 
pion and faithful associate of the Green Mountain Boys. 

Congress was equally mindful of the services and of the just claims 
of Col. Allen. As soon as he was released from captivity, a brevet 
commission of colonel in the Continental ai-my Avas granted him, " in 
reward of his fortitude, firmness and zeal in the cause of his country, 
manifested during the course of his long and cruel captivity, as well 
as on former occasions." The pay and other emoluments of a lieu- 
tenant-colonel were awarded him during the time he was a prisoner- 
He was also to be allowed seventy-five dollars a month from the date 
of his present commission, till he should be called into actual service. 
How long this allowance was continued is not now known. It does 
not appear that he ever joined the Continental army. 

Ethan Allen arrived at home just in time to buckle on his armor, 
and enter with renewed vigor into a contest with the authorities of 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKY. 423 

New York, iu which lie liad been so conspicnous and successful a 
combatant from its very beginning;, and with all the tactics of which 
he was so perfectly familiar. He was very efficient in numerous 
ways in the contest with tliat state, and was greatly relied on to pros- 
ecute the affair to a succe^ssful issue. 

Shortly after his return, he was ap[)ointed a general and command- 
er of the militia of the state. lie was not however entirely occupied 
with the duties of his military station. At the next election after his 
return, he was chosen a representative to tlie Assembly of his state. 
When peace was restored, he seems to have resumed his agricultural 
habits, and devoted himself to his private affairs. He was a practi- 
cal farmer, accustomed to labor wiih his own hands, and submit to 
the privations and hardships \vhich necessarily attend the condition 
of the pioneers in a new country. In his retirement he published a 
work on a series of topics very different from those which had hereto-- 
fore employed his pen. The wor'^ was entitled, " Reason the only 
Oracle of Man, or a Compendious System of Natui-al Religion." In 
its literary execution, it was much superior to any of his other writ- 
ings, and was evidently elaborated with great patience of thought, 
and care in the composition. It is nevertheless a crude and worth- 
less performance, iu which truth and error, reason and sophistry, 
knowledge and ignorance, ingenuity and presumption, are mingled 
together in a chaos, whicli the author denominates a system. Some 
of the chapters on natural religion, the being and attributes of a God, 
and the principles and obligations of morality, should perhaps be ex- 
cepted from this sweeping remark ; for although -they contain little 
that is new, yet they are written in a tone, and express sentiments, 
which may screen them from so heavy a censure. From this })ubli- 
cation and other circumstances, principles of infidelity have been very 
generally attributed to him. That he mistook some of the errors of 
the Christian sects for the true doctrines of revealed religion, and 
that his views, as to the reality and nature of the system itself, were 
perverted by this misapprehension, is undoubtedly true. But no per- 
son could declare more explicitly his belief in a future state of re- 
wards and punishments, and a just retribution, than he has done in 
the following passages : 

" We should so far divest oiirselvos of the incumbrances of this world, which 
are too apt to engross our attention, as to aequire a consistent system of tlie 
knowledge of our duty, and make it our constant endeavor in life to act con- 
formably to it. The knowledge of the being, perfections, creation and provi- 
dence of God, and the immortality of our souls, is the foundation of our religion.'' 



424 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

" As true as mankind now exist, and are endowed with reason and under- 
standing, and have the power of aj^ency and proficiency in moral good and 
evil, so true it is, that they must be ultimately rewarded or punished according 
to their respective merits or demerits; and it is as true as this world exists, and 
rational and accountable beings inhabit it, that the distribution of justice there- 
in is jKirtial, unequal and uncertain ; and it is consequently as true as that 
there is a God, that there must be a future state of existence, in which the dis- 
order, injustice, oppression and viciousness, which are acted and transacted by 
mankind in this life, shall be righteously adjusted, and the delinquents suitably 
punished." 

Only one edition of this work was ever published, and the greater 
part of that Avas destroyed by the burning of the office in which it 
was printed. It is now rarely to be met with, and the existence of 
the work upon which Ethan Allen confidently relied for enduring 
fame, is scarcely known to one in a thousand of those who remember 
with patriotic pride, the sturdy hero of Tieonderoga. 

Gen. Allen, who had at various times resided at Benninglon, Ar- 
lington and Tinmouth, at last took up his residence at Winooski. 
His first wife died during the war. His courtship of his second wife 
was characteristic. During a session of the court of Westminster, 
Allen a[)pearcd with a magnificent i)air of horses, and a black driver. 
Chief Justice Robinson and Stephen R. Bradley, an eminent lawyer, 
were there, and as their breakfast was on the table, they asked Allen 
to join them. He replied that he had breakfasted, and while they 
were at table, he would go in and see IMi-s. Buchanan, a handsome 
widow, who was at the house. He entered the sitting-room, and at 
once said to Mrs. Buchanan, " Well, Fanny, if Ave are to be married, 
let us be about it." "Very well," she promptly replied, "give me 
time to fix up." In a few moments she was ready, and Judge Rob- 
inson was at once called upon by them to perform the customary 
ceremony. 

We have thus sketched the principal events in the life of a man 
who holds a place of much notoriety in the history of his time. His 
character was strongly marked, both by its excellencies and its de- 
fects ; but it may safely be said, that the latter were attributable more 
to circumstances b(iyond his control, than to any original obliquity of 
his mind or heart. The want of early education, and the habits ac- 
quired by his pursuits, in a rude and uncultivated state of society, 
■were obstacles to his attainment of some of the higher qualities, which 
were not to be overcome. A roughness of manners and coarseness 
of language, a presumptuous way of reasoning upon all subjects, and 
his religious skepticism, may be traced to these sources. Faults of 
this stamp, and others akin to them, admit of no defense, though when 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 425 

received in connection with their canses, they have ehvims to a chari- 
table judirmcnt. Had liis understanding been weak, his temperament 
less ardent, his disposition less inquisitive, and his desire of" honora- 
ble distinction less eager, the world probably never would have heard 
of his faults ; the shield of insignificance would have covered them ; 
but it was his destiny to be eons[)icuous, without the art to conceal, 
or culture to soften his foibles. 

Yet there is much to admire in the character of Ethan Allen. He 
was brave, generous and frank, true to his friends, trne to his country, 
consistent and unyielding in his purposes, seeking at all times to pro- 
mote the best interests of mankind, a lover of social harmony, and a 
determined foe to the artifices of injustice and the encroachments of 
power. Few have suffered more in the cause of freedom — few have 
borne their sufferings with a firmer constancy, or a loftier spirit* 
His courage, even when apparently approaching to rashness, was 
calm and deliberate. No man probably ever possessed this attribute 
in a more remarkable degree. He was eccentric and ambitious, but 
these weaknesses, if such they were, never betrayed him into acts dis- 
honorable, unworthy or selfish. His enemies never had cause to 
question his magnanimity, nor his friends to regi'et confidence mis- 
placed, or expectations disappointed. He was kind and benevolent, 
humane and placable. In short, whatever may have been his ])ecu- 
liarities, or however these may have diminished the weight of his in- 
fluence and the value of his public services, it must be allowed, that 
he was a man of very considerable importance in the sphere of his 
activity, and tliat to no individual among her patriot founders is the 
state of Vermont more indebted for the basis of her free institutions, 
and the achievement of her indei)endence, than to Ethan Allkn. 

He died at Burlington, Vermont, February 12th, 1789, of apoplexy, 
while yet in the full vigor and maturity of manhood, and his I'cmains 
rest in a beautiful valley near the Winooski, where his grave is sur- 
rounded l>y many of his kindred. A plain marble tablet marks the 
spot, upon which is the following inscription : 

THE 

CORPOREAL TART 

OF 

GEN. ETHAN ALLEN, 

RESTS KKNEATII THIS STONE. 
HE DIED 

THE 12tii day of febrtjary, 1789, 

AGED 50 YEARS. 
HIS SPIRIT TRIED THE MERCIES OF HIS GoD, 
IN WHOM HE BELIEVED AND STRONGLY TRUSTED. 

28 



426 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



HON. SETII P. BEERS, 

Was born at "Woodbury, July 1st, 1781 ; commenced his profes- 
sional studies under the direction of N. B. Benedict, Esq., of Wood- 
bury, August 13th, 1800, where he remained till November, 1801, 
when he entered the office of Hon. Ephraim Kirby, of Litchfield, 
supervisor of the internal revenues of the United States for this 
state ; continued there as a clerk till February, 1803. He then at- 
tended the law lectures of Judges Reeve and Gould, till March 20th, 
1805, when he was admitted to the bar of this county, and settled in 
the practice of his profession in Litchfield, where he has since resided. 
September, 1807, he was married to Belinda, daughter of Reuben 
Webstei'. In November, 1803, he was appointed by President Mad- 
ison, collector of the direct taxes and internal revenues of the United 
States, for this county, which oflice he held until it was abolished in 
April, 1820. In September following, he was appointed state's at- 
torney for the county of Litchfield, and held that oflice five years. 
He was a representative in the General Assembly from the town of 
Litchfield, in 1820, 1821, 1822 and 1823. At the session of 1821, 
he was clerk of the House, and in May, 1822 and 1823, was chosen 
speaker. In 1824, he was elected a member of the Senate of the 
state, and while a member of that body, was appointed assistant com- 
missioner of the school fund, and upon the resignation of the Hon. 
James Hillhouse, he was appointed sole commissioner, June 1st, 
1825, which office he resigned to take effect December 1st, 1849. 
On receiving his resignation, the legislature, at its session of 1849, 
passed the following resolves, viz. 

"Resolved, unanimously, that the thanks of the people of this state be, and 
they are hereby tendered to the Hon. Seth P. Beers, for his long, laborious and 
faithful labors as Commissioner of the School Fund." 

" Resolved, unanimously, that the resignation of Mr. Beers be accepted with 
the sincere desire on the part of this General Assembly, that the residue of his 
life may be as happy as the past has been useful to the people of this state." 

Mr. Beers was an ex-officio superintendent of common schools 
from May, 1845, to September, 1849, and was one of the presiden- 
tial electors in November, 1836. 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 427 

CAPT. REMEMBER BAKER, 

Was son of Remember Baker, and born in Woodbury, June, 1737. 
The life of Capt. Baker was one of peculiar usefulness. At the age 
of eighteen he served in an expedition against Canada. He became 
a resident of the New Hampshire grants in 1764, where he at once 
became one of the most influential and useful of the leaders of the 
Green Mountain Boys. On one occasion he was seized by the offi- 
cers of New York, and hastened toward Albany, but his comrades 
pursued them, and rescued him without opposition. In the com- 
mencement of the Revolution, he was found at the post of duty, but 
he was destined to fall in the very opening of the contest, at the 
early age of thirty-iive. In IMontgomery's operations against St. 
John's, Canada, he had been sent forward to reconnoiter the enemy's 
position. When within a few miles of St. John's, he secreted his 
boat, -with the intention of marching through the woods. He had 
scarcely left the boat when a party of Indians took possession of it. 
He called to them to return it, and on their refusal to do so, attempt- 
ed to fire at them, but as he drew up his gun, he received a shot 
through the head. His companions then fled, and made their way 
back to the army with the sad intelligence. As an officer and soldier, 
he was cool and temperate in council, but resolute and determined in 
the execution of his plans. As a neighbor he was distinguished for 
his kindness, and his memory was held dear by many families whose 
distresses he had generously relieved. 



DANIEL BACON, ESQ.^ 

North Woodbury has been eminently prospered both as a religious 
and civil community, and it is well for those who now sit down in the 
" goodly land,'' to remember those who fought their battles and won 
their victories. Of these men Daniel Bacon was the acknowledged 
leader. It is not, however, as the leader, or man, of a section, that he 
is to be spoken of, if justice is done him, but as one who was widely 
and well knowai throughout this section of tlie state. 

He was the son of Jabez Bacon, elsewhere mentioned in this his- 
tory, and inherited a large share of his father's commanding energy. 



1 The appropriate place for this sketch is in tlic pi-eccding chapter, but having beea 
inadvertently omitted there, it is inserted in this place. 



428 nisTOKY OF ancient woodbuky. 

He wfi5 n plain, strong man — strong in every sense. Little polished 
in manner, educated at a common school, yet familiar with the world, 
he Avell filled the place by providence assigned him. 

In early life he was a merchant, as was his father before him, and 
in business added largely to his patrimony, already large ; but he 
subsequently relinquished this for a semi-public life of ease and inde- 
pendence, employing his leisure in the care of a large landed estate, 
on which he resided until his death. It was here providence assigned 
his place, and this place he filled. In the struggle whence originated 
the north church, he had a large share of responsibility and labor, 
which he cheerfully bore. In the community also, as an eminently 
useful citizen, he had his place, which he filled with credit to himself. 
Toward all ecclesiastical expenses he contributed a tenth of the sum 
to be raised, and said to others, " Come, fill the rest," and it was done. 
Such a man, one to take tlie lead, and mark out the way, occupies a 
position in community seldom appreciated till he is removed from it. 
He was the friend of every young man in the town. Did a boy, 
"just out of his time," in a trade, want a hundred dollars, Daniel 
Bacon gave it to him. Many of these, now first in society in point of 
wealth and character, leaned on Daniel Bacon's purse and counselin 
their " trial day." Many in political life, had to assemble first, in 
Daniel Bacon's "old counting-room," in the old store now demolished, 
and take counsel of his foresight, and catch a little of his vigor, be- 
fore they felt they were well prepared for the fray; and many, in 
different parts of the state, still remember him, pushed into the van 
and bearing the brunt of the fight in the legislature, at Hartford, in 
those somewhat Hudibrastic contests, for which our legislatures are 
making themselves eveiy year more and more remarkable. When 
he died, it was found that men of moderate means, all over the town, 
were indebted to him, in small sums from fifty to two hundred dollars, 
for which he had their paper. Some of it, though regularly renewed, 
had been outstanding nearly a quarter of a century. This was be- 
cause such persons found it inconvenient to pay, and he let the paper 
lie to accommodate them. Acts like this, in a man of large wealth? 
constantly dealing in public stocks elsewhere, where his money was 
worth double the legal interest, show the usefulness of the individual, 
and the sort of character he chose to make. It should be added, that 
he was a sincere Christian, and his monument has no epitaph but that 
consoling one of" Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord." 

In private life he was beloved by a large circle of relatives and friends. 
His doors were always open, his house always full, his tables ever 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOOUBURA'. 429 

groaning inidev the " old-fashioned profusion," His descendant, now 
occupying the " old homestead," said to the author the other day, " he 
could not but hear, almost every hour, as he walked about the grounds, 
the bustle, and almost roar of active life, that once swelled through 
the old mansion." Alas, these old-fashioned men of strength and 
girth, this ancient hospitality of country life, are they not passing 
from among us ? and do we not forget, in the hum and progress of 
the present, the old-fashioned, solid, country worth, that gave to such 
hospitality its greatest charm ? We live, indeed, in a progressive 
age. Society is hurrying on with great velocity to a state of the 
highest intelligence, and the most extended power. The autlior is not 
of those who fear this state of aflairs. He would, however, look back 
occasionally, receive the light of the past, and never forget the foun- 
ders of that edifice that is so rajjidly rearing its top in the sky. 

Daniel Bacon was born December 8th, 1772 ; he was married to 
Eebecca Thompson, daughter of Ilezekiah Thompson, Esq., else- 
where mentioned in this history, June 22d, 1793 ; he died July 
1828. 



JEREMIAH DAY, D. D.. LL. D.' 

Jeremiah Day, late President of Yale College, was born in New 
Preston, a parish of Washington, Conn., in 1773. His father. Rev. 
Jeremiah Day, who graduated at Yale College in 1750, was pastor 
of the Congregational church in New Preston, and lived to an ad- 
vanced age, much respected. President Day entered Yale College 
as a freshman, in 1780, but on account of infirm health, did not com- 
plete his collegiate course with the class to which he at first belong- 
ed. After an absence of several years, he rejoined college, and 
graduated in 1795. 

This was the year of Dr. Dwight's accession to the presidency of 
Yale. By the removal of Dr. Dwight from Greenfield, the school 
which he had established in that village, and which had flourished 
very greatly under his instruction, was destitute of a preceptor. Mr. 
Day was invited to take charge of this school, and continued in it a 
year, when he was elected a tutor in Williams College, INIass. 
Here he remained two years. In Yale College, he commenced his 



1 This sketch of President Day is taken from Kilbourne's Litchfield Biograplij. 



430 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

tutorship in 1798. He had chosen theology as a profession, and 
while officiating as tutor, began to preach as a candidate for the min- 
istry. On the resignation of Professor Meigs, who had been called 
to the presidency of the University of Georgia, Mr. Day was elect- 
ed in 1801, to succeed him as professor of mathematics and natural 
philosophy. At this time Mr. Day was in feeble health, and was 
obliged to suspend the business of instruction. By the advice of his 
physician, he passed one winter in the island of Bermuda. In 1803, 
bis health was so far restored, that he entered upon his professorship ; 
the duties of which he continued to discharge, till the death of Dr. 
Dwight, in 1817, when he was elected to the office of president. 
He was inaugurated in July of the same year. On the same day in 
which he was introduced into the presidency, he was ordained, by the 
clerical part of the fellows, a minister of the gospel. 

While President Day was professor, he published several mathe- 
matical treatises for the use of students in that department, Avhich 
are used in Yale College, and some, or all of them, are extensively 
used in other institutions. While he was president of the college, 
he published several occasional sermons, and " An Inquiry respect- 
ing the Self-determining Power of the Will, or Contingent Volition." 

In 1817, the college in Middlebury, Vermont, conferred on Presi- 
dent Day the degree of doctor of laws, and in 1818, Union College, 
in Schenectady, the degree of doctor of divinity. The degree of 
doctor of divinity was likewise conferred on him, in 1831, by Har- 
vard University. 

President Day occupied his station as president until 1846 — longer 
than any other head of the college. Yale College has been pecu- 
liarly fortunate in its presidents ; and it may be said with truth, that 
it at no time flourished more, than under the administration of Presi- 
dent Day. His learning and talent united to great kindness of heart, 
and urbanity of manner, have secured alike the respect and love of 
the thousands of pupils committed to his charge. 



HON. THOMAS DAY, LL. D.,' 

Was the third son of Rev. Jeremiah Day, and brother of the sub- 
ject of the foregoing sketch. He was a descendant, in the sixth 
generation, of Robert Day, of Hartford, who was born in England, 



1 Kilbourii's Litchfield Biography. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AV O O D B U R T . 431 

came to America among tlie first settlers in Massachusetts, and 
joined the company of one hundred persoUvS, who in 1G38, removed 
from Newtown, Mass., to Hartford, Conn., with th.e Rev. Thomas 
Hooker, tlie lirst minister of Hartford. Thomas Day was born in 
the parish of New Preston, July Gth, 1777. He passed his child- 
hood and youth under the pai'cntal roof, attending the common dis- 
trict school in winter, and laboring with his brotlicrs on a farm in 
summer. His father and elder brother first instructed him in Latin 
and Greek ; and he afterward spent some months under the tuition 
of Barzillai Slosson, Esq., in the neighboring tov^n of Kent. The 
winter of 1793-4, he passed at an academy in New Milford. Thus 
fitted for college, he entered the freshman class in Yale College in 
the spring of 1794, and graduated in 1797, at the age of twenty. 

During his first year after graduation, he attended the lavf lectures 
of Judge Reeve, at Litchfield. From September, 1798, to September, 
1799, he was tutor in AVilliams College, and at the same time, read 
law under the direction of Daniel Dewey, Esq., of Williamstown, 
afterward a judge of the suiweme court of Massachusetts. In Sep- 
tember, 1799, Mr. Day went to Hartford, read law with T. Dwight, 
Esq., about three months, Avas admitted to the bar in December, 
1799, and immediately entered on the practice of law in Hartford, 
where he has resided ever since. Li October, 1809, he was appoint- 
ed by the General Assembly, assistant seci-etary of state ; and in 
1810, he was elected secretary of state by the people, and re-elected 
for twenty -five successive years, or until May, 183.5. 

Li May, 1815, he was appointed associate judge of the county 
court, for the county of Hartford, and annually afterward, except 
one year, until May, 1825, in which year he was made chief judge 
of that court, and was continued in that office, by successive annual 
appointments, until June, 1833. Li March, 1818, as one of two 
senior aldermen of the city of Hartford, he became one of the judges 
of the city court, and continued such, by successive annual elections, 
until March, 1831. 

Mr. Day was one of the committee who prepared the edition of 
the statutes of Connecticut, published in 1808; and by him the 
notes were compiled, (lie index made, and the introduction written. 
He was also one of the committee, who revised the statutes in 1821, 
and likewise one of a committee to prepare and superintend a new 
edition in 1S24. 

In June, 1805, he began to attend the su})reme court of errors, for 
the purpose of taking notes, and reporting the decisions of that court; 



332 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



and he has attended it every year since for the same purpose, till the 
present year. Provision heing made by law for the appointment of 
a reporter, Mr. Day was appointed to that office, June, 1814, and 
was continued in it till his resignation in 1853. As a volunteer, he 
prepared and published reports of cases decided by the supreme 
court of errors, from 1802 to 1813, in five volumes, 8vo. ; and as 
official reporter, reports of cases decided by the same court, from 
1814 to 1853, inclusive, in twenty-one volumes, royal 8vo. He 
has also edited several English law works, in all about forty volumes, 
in which he introduced notices of American decisions, and sometimes 
of the later English cases, either by incorporating them in the text, 
or by appendhig them as notes in the margin, together with other 
improvements. 

Mr. Day's name likewise stands connected with many literary and 
benevolent institutions. He is, or has been, one of the trustees of 
the Hartford Grammar School, and clerk of the board ; one of the 
trustees of the Hartford Female Seminary, and pi'csident of the 
board ; one of the vice-presidents of the American Asylum for the 
education of the deaf and dumb ; one of the trustees of the Retreat 
for the Insane ; one of the directors of the Connecticut Bible Socie- 
ty ; president of the Hartford County Missionary Society, auxiliary 
to the Am. B. C. F. M. ; president of the Conn, branch of the 
American Education Society ; president of the Goodrich Associa- 
tion, &c., &c. He was an original member of the Connecticut His- 
torical Society, and aided in its organization, in 1825, being at that 
time its recording secretary. On the revival of the institution in 
1839, he became its president, a position which he still retains. 

Mr. Day was married, March 18tli, 1813, to Sarah Coit, daughter 
of Whecder Coit of Preston, (now Griswold,) who was a grandson 
of the Rev. Joseph Coit, of Plainfield, one of the first class of 
Yalensian graduates. They have had eight children, two sons and 
six daughters. One of the sons died in infancy. The other son and 
all the daughters but one are living. They are Sarah Coit, born in 
1814, residing with her father; Elizabeth, born in 181G, is wife of 
Prof. N. P. Seymour, of Western Reserve College, and resides at 
Hudson, Ohio; Thomas Mills, born in 1817, graduated at Yale, in 
1837, was admitted to the bar in Hartford, 1840, and is resident in 
Boston; Catherine Augusta, born in 1819, married two or three 
years since ; Harriet, born in 1821, is the wife of John P. Putnam, 
LL. B., who graduated at Yale in 1837, and now resides in Boston 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 433 

Robert, liora in 1821, and died the same year; Mary Frances, born 
in 182G, and Ellen, born in 1829, and died in 1850. 

At the commencement of Yale College, in 1847, the corporation 
of that institution conferred on Mr. Day the honorary degree of 
doctor of laws. 



IIEV. THOMAS DAVIES, 



"Was the son of John Davies, Jr., and was born in Herefordshire, 
England, December 21st, 1730, O. S., and removed to this country 
with his father in the year 1745. He graduated at Yale College in 
1758. He was ordained deacon by the Archbishop of Canterbury, 
Dr. Thomas Seeker, in the Episcopal chapel at Lambeth, August 
23d, 17G1, and ordained priest by the same prelate the following day. 
Soon after this he returned to America, and entered upon his duties 
as a missionary of the Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign 
Parts, at the age of twenty-five, in several of the towns of Litchfield 
county. The Davies family located in that part of Washington, 
known as " Davies Hollow," but the subject of this sketch soon made 
New Milford his principal place of residence. He continued in the 
discharge of the laborious duties of his station, for about four years, 
when he died suddenly from a disease of the lungs, May Pith, 17G6. 

His ])ulpit performances were of decidedly superior merit. His 
personal appearance was prepossessing, his delivery forcible, and the- 
composition of his sermons exhibited marks of scholarship in advance 
of the generality of preachers of the time in which he lived. He 
also possessed considerable poetic talent. 

He was buried in New Miltord, and the epitaph on the tablet 
which covers his remains is an epitome of the history of his short but 
useful career : 

" 111 incmoiy of Rev. Thomas Davies, ri lailhlnl ser\'nnt of .Ti-sii-^ Christ, an 
active, worthy mission;i,ry iVoni the venerable yocieiy in l'>n,i;hin(l. wlio depart- 
ed tills lil'e, May 12, 170rj, in the thirlietii year of his a-v. He met death with 
the greatest Cliristian Cortitiide, l)eiiig supported by the rational hope^ ol'a bless- 
ed immortality. 

" The sweet remembrance of the just, 

''Does nourish, now he sleejis in dust. 

" Vita bene acta, Jucicndissima est ircordaliu." 



434 HISTOKY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY, 



HON. DANIEL EVERTT, 

"Was a native of the parish of Bethlehem, Woodbury. He read 
law with Andrew Adams, Esq., of Litchtiekl, afterward chief jus- 
tice of the superior court. He was the second member of the bar 
in New Milford, whither he removed in 1772, and the first who was 
regularly educated to the legal profession. He was chosen a mem- 
ber of the General Assembly four times, viz., in October, 1780, 
May, 1781, and in May and October, 1783. He Avas a delegate to 
the convention which ratified the Federal Constitution. In May, 
1790, he was appointed judge of probate for the district of New 
Milford, which office he held until his death, in January, 1805, in 
the fifty-seventh year of his age. 



HON. WILLIAM EDMOND.' 

William Edmond was born on the 28th of September, 1755, in 
Woodbury, in what is now called South Britain, adjoining the Hou- 
satonic River. His father, Robert Edmond, of Dublin, in Ireland, 
and his mother, Mary Marks, of Cork, removed to this country 
about the year 1750, and settled first in Pennsylvania. In conse- 
quence of difficulties with the Indians, he removed to Woodbury 
about the year 1753, and bought a tract of land of the Pootatuck 
tribe of Indians. Robert Edmond had ten children. William was 
one of the oldest of the family. The youngest son, David, graduated 
at Yale College in 1796, and became a distinguished lawyer at Ver- 
gennes, in the state of Vermont. One of the sous settled at Whites- 
town, N. Y. 

Very little is known of AMlliani until he entered Yale College in 
1773. It is a tradition in the family, that he assisted his fatlier in 
the cultivation of his farm, and at the same time, by the instruction 
and assistance of the minister of the parish, fitted himself to enter the 
freshman class, and that he actually was admitted before his father 
knew anything about it — that he then informed his father of what he 
had done, and he being higlily gratified, consented to his continuing 
with the class. He graduated in 1777. While he was a member 



1 The author is indebted to tlio lion. Henry Button, of New Haven, for this sketch; 
William E. Curtis, Esq., of the city of New York, a grandson of Judge Edmond, also 
sent to the author an excellent sketch of his life. 



IIISTOKY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKV. 435 

of college, in the spring of tlic year that he graduated, he went as a 
vohinteer against the British, who, under Gen. Tryon, liad made an 
incursion to Danbury. The British, having set fire to that town, at- 
tempted to return by the way of Ridgefield. The Americans, under 
Gen. Arnold, overtook them at the north end of the village in Ridgefield, 
and a smart skirmish ensued. In this attack, Mr. Edmond took a 
part, and was severely wounded in the leg above the knee. Of the 
severity of this Avound, some just conception maybe formed, from the 
following memorandum in his own handwriting : " Wounded at Ridge- 
field, 27th April, 1777. Boarded with Doct. Joseph Perry, of Wood- 
bury, from November 9, 1780, to January 17, 1781. During this 
time or about the latter part of it, my wound, which had continued 
painful by turns in the extreme, discharging daily large quantities of 
pus, and occasionally small fragments of bone, was laid open. The 
thigh-bone near the knee-joint, was found broken entirely oft' in two 
places, about three inches apart ; the intermediate bone divided or 
split lengthwise into three pieces. Three pieces were extracted, to- 
gether witli about one-third of an ounce ball which was wedged in 
between them. These pieces the doctor retained as a trophy of his 
surgical skill. Scales of the bone followed, when the ulcer ceased." 
Tradition says, that soon after the engagement, a French surgeon 
undertook to examine the wound, and injured a tendon, which result- 
ed in a lameness from which Mr. Edmond never recovered — that 
afterward, at the time mentioned in the memorandum, a council of 
surgeons met and decided that the leg must be amputated — that they 
left the house to attend church, expecting to pertbrm the operation 
the next morning — that during their absence, Mr. Edmond resolved, 
as he afterward said, not to have it done, as he thought life, after such 
a loss, Avould be a burden ; obtained possession of their surgical in- 
struments, scraj)ed a large (piantity of lint, and with a patience and 
determination which few men possess to an equal degree, cut with 
his own hand into the wound until he discovered the piece of ball 
lodged between the bones. Becoming faint, he applied the lint? 
bound up the wound, and awaited the return of tlic surgeons, when 
the lead and the pieces of bone were extracted. The Avound healed 
up, but he was always afterward lame to a considerable extent. 

AVhen he was wounded he was in a field, probably near the north 
end of the village of Ridgefield, and was left upon the field. lie in- 
formed me that he found himself unable to leave the ground or ob- 
tain any assistance. Night came on with a bleak, cold wind. To 
shelter himself from it, he crawled to a small ravine, which had been 



436 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



formed by a current of water, but wliicli was then dry, and lay down 
in its bed. Notwithstanding the pain of his wound, it was with the 
utmost difficulty, on account of the drowsiness produced by the cold, 
and the fointness caused by the loss of blood, that he could keep 
awake. He exerted himself to the utmost, knowing that sleep, un- 
der such circumstances, would be the certain precursor of death. 
As soon as the light dawned in the morning, he discovered some per- 
son looking round for plunder. Mr. Edmond raised himeslf, and 
called to the man to come and help him. The man, alarmed by this 
unexpected apparition, started to run from the field. Mr. Edmond 
drew up Ids musket, and aiming it at him, ordered him to stop or he 
would shoot him dead. This produced the desired effect, and the 
man, who lived in the vicinity, assisted him to a neighboring house. 
After Mr. Edmond had remained in the house a short time, a ser- 
geant, with a file of soldiers, came into the room where he and sev- 
eral other wounded soldiers were, and informed them that he had di- 
rections to take them in a wagon to a different place, and, according 
to my impression, to Danbury. Judge Edmond, in relating this inci- 
dent, said that he was satisfied he never could survive such a journey, 
in such a vehicle, over a rough road, and he was determined not to 
go, and so informed the officer. The officer took the other wounded 
soldiers, and proceeded toward the bed on which he was lying, say- 
ing that he must obey his orders. lie once more had recourse to his 
trusty musket, and ordered him to keep his distance, or he would be 
a dead man. No man that ever encountered the eye of Judge Ed- 
mond, even in old age, would, under such circumstances, be inclined 
to advance. The officer, muUering with an oath that he might stay 
and die, left the room. 

After he had somewhat recovered, but was still unable to go 
abroad, he said he was in a room with two men, who were making 
ball cartridges. Whether this was at Ridgefield or not, I can not rec- 
ollect. As he was lying on his bed, he discovered that they were 
filling the cartridges from an open keg of powder, and that one of 
them was unconsciously smoking a pipe, on the tobacco of which was 
a live coal, which seemed every instant liable to drop into the pow- 
der. Mr. Edmond slipped silently from the bed, crawled behind the 
man, and without uttering a word, seized the bowl of the pipe in his 
hand, and (hus secured the coal. The man started and wished to 
know what he meant ; when he informed them of the danger to which 
they had been exposed. The men turned pale as death, ar.d darted 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 437 

from the room, and it was a long time before he could persuade them 
to return to their occupation. 

After he had recovered sutTiciently to be removed, he spent some 
time in reading chiefly theological and medical Avorks, and resided for 
a whih:" in Fairfield. Some of the members of the bar, regarding 
him with kindness and sympathy, suggested that he should offer him- 
self for admission to the bar, although he had read very little on the 
subject of law. He adopted this suggestion, and after a slight exam- 
ination, was admitted. lie established himself in Newtown in May, 
1782, and took an office in the dwelling-house of Gen, John Chand- 
lei*, on the west side of the street, and a little north of the place where 
he afterward erected a dwelling-house and resided until his death. 
An incident occurred soon after, which illustrates clearly the charac- 
ter of the man. A company of soldiers had, for some pui'pose, been 
stationed in Newtown. They became insolent, and trampled on the 
rights of the citizens, but no one dared to bring them to justice. One 
of the inhabitants finally applied to Mr. Edmond, and obtained a writ 
against one of the soldiers, which was served upon him. In a short 
time, the captain, dressed in his regimei^.tals, with his sword in his 
hand, walked into IMr. Edmond's oifice, which was a chamber, and 
demanded haughtily Avhat he meant by such conduct. He inibrmed 
tlie captain that he had sued one of the soldiers, and should treat the 
others in the same way if they trespassed on the citizens. The cap- 
tain raised his sword, and swore that his soldiers should not be sued 
by a damned limping lawyer. Judge Edmond was over six feet in 
height, with large shoulders and limbs, and a Herculean frame. In 
relating to me what followed, he raised himself from his chair and 
took it in his hands, and the impression which his lofty figure and de- 
termined look made upon me, will never be effaced. He said he was 
sitting in an old-fasiiioned kitchen chair, with high round posts, which 
had become somewhat rickety by use. He took one of the posts in 
his hand, and with his foot, cleared it in an instant from the rest of 
the chair. Seizing the post in his right hand, he raised it over the 
captain's head and ordered him to quit his office without delay. The 
captain hesitated a moment, but concluded that the better part of 
valor was discretion, and commenced a retreat. Mr. Edmond fol- 
lowed him down stairs, and until he had passed through the gate into 
the street, llei'e the soldiers, who had witnessed the conclusion of 
the enterprise, greeted the mortified captain with a loud shout. The 
people of the town had no difficulty afterward with the troops, but 



438 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

the captain found it expedient to make his peace with Mr. Edinond, 
to prevent being dismissed from the service. 

At a town meeting held soon after he opened an office, some one, 
to put a joke or a slur upon him, nominated him as " hog-hay ward." 
One of the old inhabitants objected, upon the ground that it would 
give him a settlement in the town. Whether the mover fared as bad 
as one who years aftei'ward objected to a similar appointment of the 
late Hon. Roger M. Sherman, in Norwalk, has not been ascertained. 
On that occasion, Mr. Sherman hoped the objection would be with- 
drawn, and the question tried, that he might know who would be 
under his charge as hayward. 

The course which Judge Edmond informed mc he took, soon after 
he commenced practice, was always mentioned to his credit. An in- 
habitant of the town applied to him for a writ against a neighbor, who 
as he said, had cari-ied away his hog-trough. Mr. Edmond suggested 
to him, that he had better wait a while, and see if his neighbor would 
not bring it back ; but the man insisted on a writ. Mr. Edmond then 
asked him what the trough was worth. He said, half a dollar. He 
handed the client half a dollar, and told him the neighbor would now 
keep the trough. 

He married a daughter of Gen. Chandler, November 30th, 1784, 
and by her had a daughter, who married Col. Elias Starr, of Dan- 
bury. His wife soon afterward died. He married again February 
14th, 1796, a daughter of Benjamin Payne, Esq., of Hartford. By 
her he had two sons, one of whom died when about twenty-one years 
of age, and the other is a practicing physician on Long Island, and 
three daughters, the eldest of whom is the Avife of Hon. Holbrook 
Curtis, of Watertown, and the second of Dr. C. II. Booth, of New- 
town. 

Mr. Edmond, soon after he commenced, was engaged in an exten- 
sive and lucrative practice. Wild speculations in lands, fraudulently 
represented as being finely located in Virginia, but afterward discov- 
ered to be situated on the Blue Ridge, or over some superior title, 
had just exploded, and numerous lawsuits were the consequence. 
Many of the inhabitants of Newtown had been engaged in the specu- 
lations, and Mr. Edmond was uniformly employed on one side or the 
other. In 1797, he was elected a member of Congress, and contin- 
ued in that office four years. He belonged to the old federal party, 
and never wavered for a moment in his allegiance to it, till it was dis- 
solved. He never forgave John Q. Adams for his alleged defection 
from it. 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT -WOODDURT. 439 

He was in Congress at the great strnggle between Jefferson and 
Burr. Report says that after the balloting had been continued dur- 
ing nearly the whole night, one of the friends of Jefferson came up to 
Mr. Edmond, and inquired how long they were to he kept balloting. 
"Till the day of judgment," was the immediate reply. There is no 
doubt he would have been one of the last to yield in the struggle. 

After his return he was repeatedly a member of the council, wliich 
then acted as a court of errors, until 1805, when he was appointed a 
judge of the superior court. He retained this office until the change 
in politics in 1819, when he was left out with other distinguished men. 
From this time, he never would accept of an office, nor receive a fee 
for services or advice. He devoted his time to agriculture and gen- 
eral reading. No man in the town could swing a scythe or handle a 
pitchfork with greater skill and effect. 

AVhen he was seventy years old, he fell down the chamber stairs 
of his house, and broke the neck of his thigh bone. He lay for weeks 
in great suffering, unable to turn himself in bed. His patience and 
fortitude during his trials were such as I never before witnessed. 
Sometimes he was quite playful in his remarks. On one occasion he 
told me his window gave him, while in bed, a good view of a shop 
where liquors were sold. He remarked that he could discover to 
what grade of drunkards the visitors belonged. The hardest set 
would be seen, groping their way to slake, or rather to stimulate their 
burning thirst, at the earliest dawn. At broad daylight the next in 
order would come, while the moderate drinkers would wait till sun- 
rise. After being confined to his bed for eight months, he was able 
to move about on crutches, and this he continued to do till his death. 
His sufferings, writes his attending physician, for several months be- 
fore his death, were excruciating-, but he died in the full possession 
of his reason, August 1st, 1838, aged eighty-two years and ten months. 
His habits of industry were such that I have found him in his wood- 
yard, supporting himself with one crutch, while with the other he 
would draw small sticks within his reach, and then with an ax, cut 
them up. It is humiliating, in view of his services and sufferings, to 
add, that he was allowed as a pension only the miserable pittance of 
twenty shillings a month, that being the sum which, in the opinion of 
the judge of the county court, he was entitled to, as corresponding 
with the degree of his disability compared with that of one wholly 
disabled. Being, although not poor, in somewhat straitened circum- 
stances, in consequence of, his inability to earn anything by labor, 
when he was seventy-eight years old, he applied to the secretary of 



440 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

war, to ascertain whether the pension law would admit of such a con- 
struction as would allow his pension to be increased ; but he added, 
"that if the only possible mode of obtaining relief would be by an ap- 
plication to Congress, perhaps he should never trouble them, as the 
time occupied in the discussion might cost the United States more 
money than would suffice to render an invalid, old and infirm as he 
was, comfortable the I'emainder of his days." Judge Edmond was a 
remarkable man. It is rare that so many excellencies have been 
united in one individual. He was plain and unassuming in his man- 
ners, mild and amiable in his deportment, just and honest in his deal- 
ino-s, and honorable and magnanimous in his feelings. He was con- 
stant in his attendance on divine service, in the Congregational 
meeting-house, and always manifested the highest i-espect for reli- 
gious institutions. His family regarded him with an affection and 
respect, amounting almost to veneration. 

His talents were far above mediocrity. I have heard the older 
members of the bar speak of his eloquence when his feelings were 
excited, as greater than that of almost any other lawyer in the state. 
His rci)utation was high as an impartial and sound judge. The few 
written opinions of his which are to be found in the reports, make no 
display of learning, but are characterized by good sense and sound 
judgment. 

But it was as a patriot and a man that he was chiefly worthy of 
commemoration. It has never been my fortune to meet with any 
one for whom I entertained such profound and unmingled respect. 
He came nearer to the perfection of character which raised Gen. 
Washington so much above other men, than any other person within 
my observation. He was the very embodiment of the spirit of 76. 
Nothing base or dishonorable would stand a moment in his presence. 
No man ever so forcibly called to my mind those words of Horace, 

" Justum et tenacem pi-opositi vinun, 
Non civium ardor prava jiibcnliuin, 
Non vultus instantis tyraiuii, 
Mente qizatit solidii." 
"The man ofjiist and sttnidfast soul, 
Will scorn alike the mob's control, 
And tyrant's frowns." 

His independent spirit would never suffer him to stoop to beg a 
favor to save his life. He would rather have raked a support from 
the ground, with his fingers, than have owed it to charity or injustice. 
No wonder that when such men were to be found, liberty was secured. 



HISTORY OF A N C I P: N T W O O I) B U U T , 



44J 



lie was indeed a great and good man, and in all respects a model 
worthy of imitation. 

The following is a fac-siiuile of his allograph: 








ISAAC GILBiaiT CilJAlIAM, M. D., 

Was the son of Dr. Andrew Graham, and born in Sonlhbury par- 
ish, Woodbury. September 10th, 17G0. He htudied medicine under 
the direction of his father, and entered upon the active duties of hi':- 
profession. lie was an assistant surgeon in the army, under Gen. 
^Vashington, at West Point. He was present at several engage- 
ments, and when iic retired from tlie army, he received from Gen. 
Washington and oilier oiiiccrs, the liighest proof of their respect and 
esteem. At the close of the war, he commenced practice at Union- 
ville, N. Y., where he lived for more than sixty years. His was a 
career of constant usefulness and benevolence. With tlte numcrou? 
excellences he exhibited as a i)atriot of the Ivevolution, a benevolent 
))Iiysician, a kind friend and adviser, in every domestic relation, he 
united the more important characteristics of a sincere and humble be- 
liever in the Christian faitlj. He realized that the highest of human 
enjoyments is a iaithftil and persevering devotion, and that no 
rapture on earth can equal the rapture of piety. He died at Union- 
ville, Westchester county, N. Y., September 1st, 1848, aged eighty- 
eight years. 



HON. JOHN A. GRAHAM, LL. IX, 

Was son of Dr. Andrew (iraham, and brother of the above. He 
devoted himself to the practice ol' the law, and resided in the city of 
New York, engaged in the active duties of that profession for many 
years. He was an energetic and successful lawyer. The degree of 
doctor of laws was conferred on him by a foreign university. He 
was a kind and hospitable man — a "gentleman of the old school," in 
29 



442 IT IS TORT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

every sense of the word. For a further account of Dr. Graham, the 
reader is referred to the genealogy of the " Graham family," in the 
next chapter. 



HON. JOEL HINMAN, 

Is the son of Col. Joel Hinman, and was born January 27th, 1802. 
The colonel was a patriot of the Revolution, and received a musket 
ball in his tliigh, which he carried for nearly thirty-three years. It 
finally became troublesome, and Dr. Anthony Burritt performed a 
surgical operation upon him and extracted it. It is now in the pos- 
session of his relict, Widow Sarah Hinman, of Southbury. He left 
with it, at his decease, a scrap of paper, on which is written the fol- 
lowing : 

"This ball I rec'd in my left thigh, near the groin, on the 17th day of April, 
1777, at the time the British burnt Panbnry, which struck on a bayonet, which 
hung on my thigli, and was taken out on the 30th day of March, 1810, by Doct. 
A. Burritt. 

Joel Hinman, 
a native of Southbury — A. D. ISIO." 

The subject of this sketch devoted himself to the study of the pro- 
fession of law, and practiced it for a number of years, at Waterbury, 
Conn. He married a Miss Scovill, of that town. He was appointed 
a judge of the superior court, in 1842, which office he now holds. 
He is at present a resident of New Haven. 



CAPT. E LIS HA HINMAN, 

Of New London, Conn., was born in " ancient "Woodbury," parish 
of Southbury. The date of his removal from his native town, with 
two of his brothers, was about the year 1760. He commanded the 
Cabot, a continental brig, in the first naval expedition under the au- 
thority of Congress, fitted out at New London, January, 1776, and 
commanded by Commodore Hopkins. He was a veteran of the sea 
before the commencement of tlie Revolution. He succeeded Paul 
Jones in the command of the ship Alfred, which he was unfortunately 
obliged to surrender to the Ariadne and Ceres, on a return voyage 
from France, March 9th, 1778. Being carried a prisoner to Eng- 
land, after a short confinement, he found friends wlio aided liisescajje 



nrSTORY OF ANCIENT M-OODDURY. 448 

to France, whence he returned home, and engaged for a time m pri- 
vate adventures. In 177i), he went out in tlie privateer sloop, Han- 
cocl\ owned by Thomas Mumford, and had a run of briUiant, dashing 
success. In 1780, he took command of the armed ship Deane. In 
1779, Captains Hinman and Havens took the Lachj Erskine, a brig 
of ten guns, luiving cut her otf witli their sloops Ilanroric and Beaver, 
in sight of the harbor of Nev.' London, from a fleet of twenty-one sail, 
which was passing toward Rhode Island, under convoy of the Thames 
frigate of thirty-six guns. After the war, Capt. Hinman and other 
commanders, casting aside the apparel of war, entered into the mer- 
eantile line. Hinman was afterward in the revenue service. He 
died in 1807, aged seventy-three.' 



LAURENS HULL, M. D., 

Was the son of Dr. Titus Hull, and born in Bethlnm, June Gth, 
1779. He studied medicine with Doctor David Hull, of Fairfield, 
was licensed to practice pjiysic and surgery l)y the Connecticut State 
Medical Society, May, 1^02, removed and settled in Oneida county, 
New York, in November of that year, where he practiced his profes- 
sion until 1830, Avheu he removed to Angelica, Allegany county, the 
place of his present residence. In the year 1813, he was elected a 
member of the Assembly from the county of Oneida. In 1817, he 
was elected delegate to the State Medical Society, and was twice re- 
elected to the same office, each term being four years in length. In 

1824, he was elected a permanent member of the same society. In 

1825, he was again elected to the Assembly. In 182G, he was elected 
Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the University of 
the state of New York. In 1827, he received the honorary degree of 
doctor of medicine, from the regents of the same university. In 1828, 
he was elected a commissioner to the general assembly of the Presbyte- 
rian church, which met at Philadelphia. He was twice elected vice 
president of the New York State Medical Society, and twice presi- 
dent of the same. He was in 1837, elected a senator of the state of 
New York, for four years, from the Gth senate district, composed of 
the counties of Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chemung, Chenango, 
Livingston, Steuben, Tompkins and Tioga. In 1852, he was a mem- 
ber of the general assembly of the Presbyterian church, which met at 



1 Miss Caulkiiis' History of Now LonJon, Conn. 



444 HisTOur of ancient woodburt. 

Washington city, in May. He married in 1803, Dorcas, daughter 
of David Ambler, Esq., Bethlem, Conn. Ilcr mother was sister of 
the Kev. Benjamin AYildman, of Southbury. 



IlEY. LEVERETT HULL, 

The fifth son of Dr. Titus Hull, was born at Bethlem, December 
3d, 1796, graduated at Hamilton College, studied theology at Auburn 
Theological Seminary, was licensed to preach, and became an able and 
successful minister of the gospel. He died at Sandusky City, Ohio, 
of cholera, after an illness of only eleven hours, September 3d, 1852. 



HON. ANDREW C. HULL, 

Fourth son of Dr. Titus Hull, held the oiSce of first judge of the 
court for Allegany county, New York, for five years. He has held 
other offices of honor and responsibility in. the community where he 
has resided. He has held the office of postmaster under four differ- 
ent administrations. He is a man of intelligence and much ability. 



GEN. ELIAS HULL, 

Third son of Dr. Titus Hull, was born in Bethlehem society, April 
3d, 1786 ; was a captain in the war of 1812, having volunteered with 
an independent company, which he raised for one year. He served 
with reputation as an officer, and afterward received a commission as 
a brigadier-general in the militia of New Y'ork. He now resides in 
Alabama, where he is a practicing attorney. He is a man of more 
than ordinary mental and acquired abiUties. 



SAMUEL J. HITCHCOCK, LL. D., 

Was a native of Bethlem, a graduate and a tutor in Y'ale College. 
He was for many years an instructor of law in that institution before 
his death in 1845. He was mayor of the city of New Haven, judge 
of the county court, and a commissioner of bankruptcy under the na- 
tional bankrupt law. 



IIISTOUT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 445 

IlEV. PIIILO JUDSON, 

Is the son of Pliilo Judson, and was born in Woodbury at a house 
wliich formerly occupied the site of Horace Hurd's new house. He 
graduated at Yale College in 180*J, and settled in the ministry at 
Ashford, Conn., in 1811. Here he continued to labor in his high 
calling for twenty-one years, during which time the church was vis- 
ited with numerous revivals of religion. He was dismissed from this 
church on account of ill-health. He was again settled at Willimantie, 
having been previously settled for a short time, at another place. 
At the close of Dr. Chapin's ministry he was called to Rocky Hill, 
Conn. During a revival, which followed, he was again pi-ostrated by 
a severe attack of bleeding from the lungs. Since that time he has 
preached very little, but has traveled about the country for his health, 
introducing standard books into the common and other schools. 

Mr. Judson was a classmate of Dr. Nettleton, and has labored 
much with him during seasons of revival of religion in various 
places. There are few ministei's, whose labors have been so success- 
ful in adding members to the Christian church. More than IGOO 
individuals have been gathered by him witliin its portals. Surely 
the laborer has had his reward. 



REV. SAMUEL JUDSON. 



Rev. Samuel Judson, son of Benjamin Judson, was born in Wood- 
bury, in the year 17 G7. He received the honors of Yale College, in 
1790, and was ordained and installed minister at Uxbridge. Mass., in 
1792. He labored in this field of the gospel, faithfully and success- 
fully, forty years. ISh: Judson held a respectable standing among 
the ministers of his age. He was very famihar with the Scriptures, 
was sound in the faith, and plain in his exhibitions of gospel doc- 
trines in the pulpit. He was truly a godly man. He loved the 
work to which his divine Master bad called him. The character of 
Christ, as displayed in the work of redemption, was the loved theme 
of his preaching and conversation. Mr. Judson possessed many 
amiable traits of character. His kind disposition and his benevolent 
heart endeared him, not only to his own family and j^eoplc, but also 
to all with whom he held intercourse. He was beloved in life ; and, 
at his death, he was universally lamented. 



446 H I S T O li V OF A N C I K N T Ay O O D B U R T . 

rp:v. albert judson. 

Rev. Albert Jiulaon, lute of Philadelphia, was a native of Wood- 
bury, lie was born in September, 1798. His father, Dea. Benja- 
min Judson, an eminently pious officer in the north church, made an 
early and formal consecration of this son to the work of the gospel 
ministry. While yet a child, he evinced an uncommon fondness for 
study ; and, at a suitable age, he was sent to Litchfield to be pre- 
pared for college. It was while here that his attention was arrested, 
and that he was led to give up his heart to God. Soon after, he 
made a public profession of his faith in Christ. He received the 
honors of Yale College at the age of twenty-three. He prosecuted 
ills theological studies in the city of New York. There he com- 
menced his })ublic labors as an agent for the Sunday School Union, 
and continued in it.s employ several years. When he entered this 
interesting field of labor, the whole business of Sabbath school in- 
struction Avas in its infancy. No suitable text-books for the assist- 
ance of teachers Avere then published. To this beloved brother, the 
Christian church is indebted for the first systematic course of Scrip- 
ture questions, adapted to this purpose. He felt the necessity of 
such a work ; he meditated upon it ; he asked counsel of God iu 
secret; and the result was, the volumes entitled "Judson's Ques- 
tions," were thrown from the press into the hands of superintendents 
and their associates. The work was highly commended, and exten- 
sively used, in our country. It was republished iu England, and 
was the means of giving an impulse to the cause of Sabbath schools 
in that country, beyond any work which had then been published. 
The author has often been heard to express the opinion, that the 
season of his labors in the cause of Sabbath schools, was the most 
important and useful })ortion of his ministry. In November, 1832, 
he took the pastoral charge of a church in Philadelphia. Here his 
labors were attended with a signal blessing. Year after year, the 
reviving iniiuences of God's spirit, in a greater or less degi-ee, were 
shed down upon his peoi)le. 

There was a rare combination of excellencies, in this beloved 
man. He possessed, naturally, a good mind — he had a warm heart. 
His disj)osition was amiable and cheerful, to a high degi-ee. As a 
scholar, and as a theologian, he stood in the higher class of ministers. 
As a Christian, few indeed, if any, have been more pious and devo- 
ted. As a preacher, he was plain, solemn, direct, impressive. The 
earnest manner, in which he presented and pressed home the truths 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKY. 447 

of the gospel, was eniinently adapted to carry the conviction to the 
minds of his hearers, that his whole soul was intent on the glory of 
God in their salvation. 

As might naturally be expected of such a man, he loved revivals 
of religion, and warmly engaged in all the benevolent enterprises of 
the day. 

His last sickness was jirotractcd and painful ; and while others 
had no hope of his recovery, he could not believe that his divine 
master had no more work for him to do in his vineyard. But when 
told that his physicians had pronounced his case hopeless, he cheer- 
fully said, '• Then I must set my house in order." To his oldest son 
he said, '' Remember as you look down into your father's grave, the 
solemn charge which I now gi\e you, to read the Bible daily on your 
knees." The last utterance of his dying lips to his distressed wife 
was, " Cast yourself at the door of God's providence — he will sus- 
tain you — Christ is precious — in his atonement, is all my hope." 



REV. EVERTON JUDSON. 

The subject of this notice, was the son of Asa and Sarah Judson, 
and was born in Woodbury, December 8th, 1799. He was descended 
on both sides from pious ancestors. His paternal grandfather, Ben- 
jamin Judson, is represented to have been an eniiucutly devoted 
Christian. His maternal grandfather, Matthew Minor, held the 
oflice of deacon in the Congregational church of Woodbury, for the 
space of forty-three years, and died at the advanced age of eighty- 
three years. Mr. Judson was the eldest of six children, and in his 
youth v/as prompt, decided, unyielding in his opinion, jocose and 
sarcastic. His moral character and conduct were always unexcep- 
tionable. 

He commenced his preparation for college in the spring of 1822, 
entered the so])homore class at Yale College, in the foil of 1823, and 
graduated at that institution in 18-6. During his course of study 
at college and at the Theological Seminary, he was exceedingly diffi- 
dent, rarely, if ever, taking any part in public literary exercises. 
At the close of his second year at the seminary, he became an agent 
of the American Sunday School Union, to travel in the west. In 
the summer of 1829, having i)reviously returned to Connecticut, he 
■was ordained as a missionary to the Home Missionary Society in 



448 H I S T O U Y OF ANCIENT AV O O D 13 U K T . 

Woodbury, by (he Litchlielil south consociation. lie again went to 
Ohio, and commenced j)reaching at Mih\n toward the close of that 
year, and was connected in ministerial labor with the church in that 
place, till the close of his life. lie was an active laborer in the field 
allotted to him, and spent his life in j)rojecling and carrying into 
execution plans of usefulness. lie died August 20th, 18-18. He 
was a good preacher, holding a ready pen, and having an ability at 
the same time, to interest and instruct in extemporaneous efforts. 
His temperament was ardent, and his conception of things strong 
and lively. His power of descrii)tion Avas great, nor was his sarcas- 
tic power less remarkable. AVhcn he chose, he could assail vice 
with a merciless torrent of satire, lie excelled in the discharge of 
pastoral duties. His whole soul was in his work, and he guarded 
with watchful care the people committed to his charge. He had 
great tact in approaching men of all classes and conditions, He was 
impetuous in his feelings, and tenacious of his purpose. In fine, he 
was an excellent specimen of an enei-getic, practical man. It is not 
deemed necessary to extend this sketch, as an excellent memoir of 
Mr. Judson, by Rev. E. P. Barrows, Jr., has been published, to which 
the reader is referred. 



REV. ADONIRAM JUDSON, 

Was born in Woodbury, and baptized July 15th, 1750. He grad- 
uated at Yale College in 1775, received the honorary degree of 
Master of Arts from Harvard, in 1782, and was pastor of the Con- 
gregational churches in Maiden, Wenham and Plymouth, Mass., un- 
til 1817, when he became a Baptist, resigned his charge, and died 
soon after. His son. Rev. Dr. Adoniram, graduated at Brown Uni- 
versity, in 1807, and recently died, after having been a faithful and 
successful foreign missionary, in the Burman empire, for forty years.' 



REV. EPIIRAIM JUDSON, 

The eldest child of Elnathan and Rebecca Judson, was born De- 



1 Eev. Dr. AVayland, President of I5rown University, is preparing the memoir of 
this eminent man. It will be looked for with interest by the religious community. 



HISTORY OK ANCIENT WOODT. URY. 449 

cember oth, 1737, and accordinj^ to primitive New England usage, 
was baptized tbe next Sabbatli. He was brotber of the preceding, 
and graduated at Yale College in 1703. His first settlement in tbo 
ministry was over tbe second cburcb in Norwicb, Conn., as tbe suc- 
cessor of Doctor Wbittaker. He commenced bis labors in Taunton, 
Mass., some time during tbe year 1780. Tbese labors for tbe space 
of ten years, tbe period of bis settlement, were of a very decided 
and positive cbaractcr. In tbe pulpit, and out of it, Mr. Judson left 
tbe mark of a strong mind upon cvcrytbing be toucbed. His peo- 
})le were never at a loss to know wbat be believed. He was tbe 
very man to make warm friends, and was just as sure to bave impla- 
cable enemies. His eccentricities arc remembered by tbose wlio 
liave forgotten bis excellencies. 

He was stern and apparently severe, but not witbont a good degree 
of moderation and mildness. He was very precise in all bis pro- 
ceedings. 

Notwitbstanding bis marked peculiarities, and undesirable oddities, 
Mr. Judson bad many redeeming qualities, wliicb made bim not only 
as a preacber, but as a citizen and a neigbbor, a vei-y desirable and 
useful man. One wbo knew bim well, says of bim, " His temper 
was kind and bospitable, and his deportment courteous. Occasion- 
ally, be was exceedingly interesting in tbe pulpit, discovering great 
learning and logical acuteness. His manner, when be commenced, 
was slow and indolent, but always solemn ; as be proceeded, he be- 
came animated, and seldom failed before tbe close, to produce a deep 
interest in bis hearers." 

JMr. Judson was dismissed from his pastoral charge in Taunton, 
December 28th, 1790. He was subsequently settled in Sheffield, 
Mass., where be continued in tbe ministry, until his deatli, February 
23d, 1813, in the seventy-sixth year of his age, after a long service 
in tbe ministry of nearly fifty years. He was considered a learned 
divine, an acute logician, and an evangelical preacber. He Avas 
mild, courteous and bospitable. By his numerous friends he was 
deemed a wise counselor, an active peacemaker, and a sincere 
Christian.^ 



1 This sketch is extracted from a late al>'e and interesting worlv by Rev. Samuel 
Hopkins Emcrj', entitled " The Ministry of Taunton," Mass. 



450 11 I ST OKY OF ANCIENT WOODCURY. 

HON. EPHRAIM KIRBY, 

"Was born in Jiidea society, Woodbury, on a farm now owned by 
Andrew liine, Esq. The cellar over whicli the house stood still ex- 
ists. It is situated about eighty rods from Gen. Daniel B. Brins- 
made's dwelling-house, and to this day goes by the name of the 
" Kirby Farm."^ His father was a farmer in moderate circumstan- 
ces, and Ephraim was employed on the farm during his boyhood. 
At the age of nineteen, fired with the patriotism which burst into a 
flame throughout the country, on the news of the battle of Lexing- 
ton, he shouldered his musket, and marched with the volunteers from 
Litchfield to the scene of conflict, in time to be present at the battle 
of Bunker Hill. He remained in the field until independence was 
achieved, Avith only a few intervals, when he was driven from it by 
severe wounds. He was in nineteen battles and skirmishes — among 
them, Brandywine, Monmouth, Germantown, &;c., and received 
thirteen wounds, seven of which were saber-cuts on the head, in- 
flicted by a British soldier at Germantown, where Ivirby was left for 
dead upon the field. These " honorable scars," he carried with him 
through life. 

At the close of the Revolution, he rejected with indignation the 
ofier of pecuniary assistance to speculate in soldiers' certificates, by 
which he might have amassed wealth without labor. He would not 
tarnish the glory of the cause of freedom, by thus taking advantage 
of the necessities of his comrades in arms — preferring, penniless as 
he was, but conscious of the fire within, to take a more congenial 
road to eminence. By the labor of his own hands, he earned the 
price of his education. He was for some time a member of Yale 
College, and in 1787, received the honorary degree of Master of 
Arts, from that institution. Mr. Kirby studied law in the office of 
Reynold Marvin, Esq., who had been king's attorney before the war, 
and who relinquished the office for the purpose of engaging with all 
his might in the great struggle for independence. After he was ad- 
mitted to the bar, Mr. Kirby was married to Ruth Marvin, the excel- 
lent and accomplished daughter of his distinguished patron and pre- 
ceptor. 



1 Mr. Kilbournc, in his " Litchfield Biography," from whicli most of this sketch is 
taken, says Mr. Kirby was a native of Litchfield, but the birthplace here given, is 
well attested by the best authority. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AV O O !> B U li Y . 451 

In 17;J1, Col. Kirby wa3 for the ilrst time elected a representative 
to tbe legislature — a post ot" honor and responsibility to which he 
was subsequently re-chosen at thirteen semi-annual elections. As a 
legislator, he was always distinguished for the dignity of his de- 
portment, for his comprehensive and enlightened views, for the liber- 
ality of his sentiments, and for his ability, lirmness and decision. 

On the election of Jefferson to the presidency, in 1801, Col. Kirby 
was appointed supervisor of the national revenue for the state of 
Connecticut. About this period, he was for several years a candi- 
date for the office of governor. Upon the acquisition of liouisiana, 
the pi'esident appointed him a judge of the then newly organized 
territory of Orleans. Having accepted the station, he set) out for 
New Orleans ; but he was not destined to reach that place. Having 
proceeded as far as Fort Stoddard, in the Mississippi territory, he 
was taken sick, and died October 2d, 180-4, aged forty-seven — at a 
period when a wide career of i)ublic usefulness seemed opening upon 
him. His remains were interred with the honors of war, and other 
demonstrations of respect. 

While in the practice of law in Litchlield, in 1789, he published 
a volume of reports of the decisions of the superior court and su- 
preme court of erz'ors in this state. This was a novel undertaking, 
being the first volume of reports ever published in this country. It 
was executed with faithfulness, judgment and ability, and is still re- 
garded as authority in all our courts. Col. Kirby was a man of the 
highest moral as well as physical courage — devoted in his feelings 
and aspirations — w^arm, generous and constant in his attachments — 
and of indomitable energy. lie was, withal, gentle and winning in 
his manners, kindly in his disposition, and naturally of an ardent 
and cheerful temperament, though the last few years of his life were 
saddened by heavy pecuniary misfortunes. As a lawyer, he was 
remarkable for frankness ami downright honesty to his clients, 
striving always to prevent litigation, uniformly allaying irritation and 
■eiFecting compromises, and only prosecuting with energy the just and 
good cause, against the bad. He enjoyed the friendship of many 
sages of the Revolution, his correspondence with whom, would form 
interesting materials for the history of his time ; but, unfortunately, 
almost all of it Avas lost at sea, between New York and St. Augus- 
tine, some twenty-five years ago. A few letters to and from Presi- 
dent Jefferson are, however, still preserved by Col. Edmund Kirby, 
of Brownville, N. Y., which are interesting as showing the relations 



452 nisTORV of ancient avoodbury. 

of confidence existing between the subject of this notice, and that 
great statesman. 

Mrs. Kirby died at Litchfield, in October, 1817, aged fifty-three. 



NICHOLAS S. MASTERS, ESQ., 

"Was born in the parish of Judea, Woodbury ; was educated at 
Yale College, where he graduated in 1779 ; read law with Daniel 
P^veritt, Esq., and settled in New Milford in the practice of his pro- 
fession, immediately after his admission to the bar, about the year 
1785. lie continued to practice there until his death, Sept. 12, 1795, 
in the thirty-eighth year of his age. He was a member of the Gen- 
eral Assembly in May, 1792, and again in May, 1794. 



REV. ELISIIA MITCHELL, D. D., 

Is a native of Judea society, Washington ; graduated at Yale Col- 
lege in 1813, and is now Professor of Natural Philosophy in the Uni- 
versity of North Carolina, residing at Chapel Hill. The materials 
for a sketch of Prof. Mitchell have not reached the author. 



REV. JUSTUS MITCHELL, V. D. M., 

Was a native of Woodbury, graduated at Y^ale College in 1776, 
married a sister of Roger Sherman, signer of the Declaration of In- 
dependence, and was settled over the Congregational church of New 
Canaan in 1783, where he continued to reside till his death in 180G. 
He was a talented and useful man in the sphere of his labors. 

The following inscription, copied from his monument in the old 
graveyard in New Canaan, contains an epitome of tlie history of his 
life and character. 

" In memory of the Rev. Justus MitcliGll, A. M., V. D. M., piistor of the 
Church of Christ in New Canaan, who died suddenly in the hour of sleep, 24th 
September, A. 1"). ISOG, in the fifty-second year of his age, and twenty-fifth of 
his ministry. In death was lost to his consort, an atfectionate and beloved hus- 
band; to liis children a kind, revered parent, counsellor and jruide ; to his flock 
■A faithful, learned and venerated pastor ; to the Church of Christ a bright or- 



HISTORY OF AXCIENT AV O O D B U K Y . 453 

naitient and example; to \]u: jioor ;i liberal benefactor : to tlic (iiscoiisolalo a 
comforter and friend. 

" In doclrine uiieorrupt, in language plain, 
And })lain in mani\er, di'cent, solemn, chaste, 
Atiectionate in look, and much impress'd. 
By him tlie violated law spoke out 
Its thunders; and by him in strains ns sweet 
As angels use, the <rospel whisper'd peace."' 



REV. FREDERICK MUNSON, 

Was bom in Bctlilcm, giaduateil at Yale College in 1843, ^-tudied 
theology at East Windsor and New Haven, was licensed to preach 
in 1845 by the Hampshire x\ssociat ion in Massachusetts, and was or- 
dained over the Congregational church in North Greenwich, Sept. 
22, 1847. ' ' 



REV. RUFU8 IMURRAY, 

Is the youngest son of Pliilo Murray, Esq., and was born at Wood- 
bury in 1796. His education was completed under the instruction 
of Rev. Dr. Brunson, who was at the head of the institution at Chesh- 
ire, where most of the clergy of the Episcopal denomination at that 
day were educated, it being at that time the only institution in Con- 
necticut under the patronagi; of that church. He followed his fam- 
ily to (_)hio, and was ordained deacon by Bishop chase, in 1822. 
He was soon after called to the rectorship at St. Paul's Church, 
Mayville, Chatauque Co., New York, where he received priest's or- 
ders from the Rt. Rev. Bishop Ilobart. He remained in western 
New York, discharging his ministerial duties with pleasure to him- 
self and profit to his church, many years. He is now settled at 
Adrian City, Michigan, in a flourishing parish, much esteemed as a 
faithful and popular })reacher, and much beloved by his parishioners. 



COL. AMASA PARKER, 



Was born in 1784, in tiiat part of Ancient Woodbury known as 
Judea society, in the neighborhood of the Ilollisters, llazens, Hines 



454 HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 

and Roj'ces. lie was named Amasa, after his father, and had a 
brother Daniel, a clergyman and teacher in Sharon, many years 
since. The latter left one son, Amasa J. Parker, who is one of the justi- 
ces of the supreme court, and resides at Albany, N. Y. He studied his 
profession with the subject of this sketch, and has distinguished him- 
self as a jurist. Thomas, grandfather of Col. Parker, removed from 
Wallingford in 175G, and lived in Judea till his death in 1788. lie 
left six sons, Peter, Thomas, Amasa, Abner, Joseph and Daniel, all 
of whom were whigs of the Revolution. After the war, Peter moved 
to the state of New York. 

Col. Pai'kcr graduated at Yale College in 1808, read law princi- 
pally in the law school of Judges Gould and Reeve, at Litchfield, and 
was there admitted to the bar. He shortly afterward removed to 
Delhi, Delaware County, N. Y., and has ever since resided there, 
being a period of forty years. He has devoted himself wholly to the 
practice of his profession, in which he has become eminent, and en- 
joyed an extensive practice. He has never sought oflice, but has 
nevertheless held several offices, civil and military. lie was for 
eight years, surrogate for Delaware county. In 1847, after the adop- 
tion of the present constitution of New York, he was offered the nom- 
ination for justice of the supreme court, on a ticket which was sure 
of an election ; but he declined the nomination, choosing rather the 
honors of a successful legal practice, and the quiet enjoyment of pri- 
vate life. 



COL. HENRY PERRY, 



A youthful and gallant hero, who was killed on the confines of 
Mexico in 1817, whilst bravely contending for the cause of civil lib- 
erty in that interesting section of America, was from his earliest 
youth a resident of Woodbury. Col. Perry was one of those heroic 
and chivalrous youth, whose courage springs from the noblest impulse 
of nature, an enthusiastic love of liberty, and a generous sympathy 
for all who are the unfortunate subjects of despotic power. He was 
engaged as a volunteer in the glorious defense of New Orleans, and 
after the peace, joined the patriot army of Mexico. He had the 
command of a detachment of men under JMina, and was distinguished 
for his zeal, his courage, and his enterprise, during the short career 
of that unfortunate general, whose fate, and that of the gallant Perry's, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 455 

were associated l>j that providence which governs tlie destinies of 
man.* 



EEV. GEOR(^E E. PIERCE, D. D., 

Is a native of that part of Ancient Woodbury now included in the 
town of Southbury. He graduated at Yale College in 1816, studied 
theology, and settled in Harwinton ; preached there some years, when 
he was elected President of WestQrn Reserve College, Ohio, which 
office he still continues to hold. The degree of Doctor of Divinity 
was conferred upon him a few years ago by Middlebury College. 



REV. CHARLES PRENTICE.- 

Was born in Bethlehem society, Woodbury, in 1778, and graduated 
at Yale College in 1802. Small and I'ather feeble, but symmetrical 
in form, he had a pleasant and honest countenance, suggestive of Na- 
thaniel, whom our Saviour saw under the fig-tree. A man of uncom- 
mon gift in prayer, he had his " conversation in the world" by the 
grace of God, in simplicity and godly sincerity. With a sound mind, 
a warm heart, and devoted piety, it seemed to be his meat and drink 
to do the will of his Heavenly Father. In the pulpit and in the so- 
cial meeting, he spoke with great ease and earnestness. As his man- 
ner everywhere among his people was very affectionate, he could 
"reprove, rebuke and exhort," with little risk of giving offense. The 
poet has well described his pastoral course, in saying of " the good 
minister :" 

" Prompt at every call, 
He weep? and watches, prays and feels for all ; 
And as a bird each fond endearment tries 
To tempt its nnfled<;ed offspring to tijc ?kies. 
He tries each art, r(!proves each dull delay. 
Allures to brij^hter worlds, and leads the v."ay." 

The last sickness of Mr. Prentice, long and painful, he bore with 
much Christian patience, and with assured hope and faith. His cov- 



1 Nilcs and Pease's Gazetteer of Conneeticut and Pliode Island, p. 2C7. 

2 Rev. Mr. Yale's Discourse at Litchfield, July, 1852. 



456 nisTORY OF ancient WOODBUUr. 

enant God was wiili liiin in the furnace to purify and not consume ; 
to brighten his graces, and complete his })reparation for the faithful 
minister's home. After tliirty-four years of arduous labor, the much- 
loved and highly useful minister of South Canaan, passed to his rest, 
May 29, 1838, aged sixty years. 



MAJOR AMOS STODDAKD. 



The subject of this sketch, while on a visit to England, gave con- 
siderable attention to the investigation of the history of his ancestry. 
He found tliat his English ancestors were Puritans, and traces them 
back to 1490, at which time one of them lived in the hamlet of Mot- 
tingham, in Kent, about seven miles from London Bridge, v/here he 
owned some three hundred or four hundred acres of land. One of 
the descendants of the latter, Anthony Stoddard, emigrated to Bos- 
ton, Mass., where he died, about the year 167G. From that period 
to the present, a very full genealogy of the family was prepared by 
Elijah W. Stoddai'd, in 1849, in which year he graduated at Amherst 
College. The principal part of that publication will appear in the 
genealogies, whicli will be found in the next chapter of this volume. 

Major Stoddard w^as born at Woodbury, Oct. 26, 17G2. His 
father was Anthony, third son of Eliakim, who was the second son 
of Rev. Anthony, the first of tlie name that settled in Woodbury. 
His mother's name was Read, a half-sister of Richard Smith, of Rox- 
bury parish, father of Judge Natlianiel Smith. When he was a few 
months old, his father removed to Lanesborough, Mass. In an auto- 
biograpliy of himself, he says, " that if in childhood he possessed any 
valuable qualities, they were a strong memory and an a()tness at ac- 
quiring wliatever he aimed at. That at eight years of age he wa* 
able to read the Scriptures with fluency, and with a passable pronun- 
ciation. His memory secured and retained whatever he read." As 
an illustration of the latter faculty he says, " The battles of the Jews 
made strong impressions on my mind, and I used to recite IVoin mem- 
ory the whole of the books of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles. The 
prayers I heard at school in tlie daytime, I frequently repeated to 
ray mother in the evening. I was more than once called on to recite 
the sermon 1 had just heard, and always succeeded — once indeed in 
the presence of the parson, who had his notes before him." But, he 
says, " If my mind was tenacious, I wanted ideas. If my ear was 



HISTORY OF A X C I E K T WOODBURY. 457 

pleased witli heariiiLr, or reading an cloqnent sermon, or any other 
composition, my mind was too weak to prolit by it ; and I remember 
to Iiave read manv pnolic t'irhsion-^, wliieJi tilled me with warmth and 
animation, Ihougli I did not eomjtrehcnd tlieir meaning. Perlm{)S 
!flii.s i.s the eiise witii all children ; Ijut 1 mention these trilles to show 
that tlie lapse of foily years has not erased lliem from my mind." 

Notwithstanding jNIajor Stoddard's low estimate of his intellectual 
powers, as imlieated iu these extracts, yet it is unquestiomibly true, 
that he possessed no ordinary mind, as his after life, and the estima- 
tion in whieli his literary and scieiitinc att^xinments were held by oth- 
ers, abundantly show. He entered the army early in 1779, as a pri- 
vate soldier, before lie was seventeen years of age, and was mustered 
into service at "West Point by Baron Steuben.. Illustrative of the 
S2>irit by which lie aisd thousands of othei's were actuated at that 
<jventful i)eriod, he states, tliut lie wa.s at the time small of his age 
nnd fearing that his small stature would induce the baron to reject 
liim, he '• gathered llie dirt under his heels," to increase his height. 
He remained iu service until the army was disbanded, when he re- 
turned home a nwu-commissioiied oiRcer, less than twenty years of 
age. During his service in the army, he contracted no habits of dis- 
sipation ; and notv.ithstauding the vicissitudes of several arduous 
•campaigns, the vigor of his constitution was much increased, so mueli 
^o that he was six feet in height, and possessed of so much vigor of 
body, that a march of forty miles a day created little or no fatigue. 
In t]*e spring of 17<S-1, he removed to Boston, and obtained a clerk- 
ship in -flu; olfice of tJie su})reme court, under Charles Gushing, a 
brother of the chief justice, and was a member of his family for two 
years, during which time he studied diligently, and hiid the ibutidation 
of an education which rendered liim an able writer. During the 
same period, he wrote much for the nevispajiers, and so ardent wa-s 
lie in the ac(}uisitiou of knowledge, that iu ojic year he read one hun- 
dred and iifty volumes. 

In 1786., tlu; Shays I'cbellion began to ivav its head, and Congi-ess 
autliorized the raising of tw(j regimeiits of infantry, to be commanded 
by Cols. Jackson and Ilumplire}'. In one of these, Major Stoddard 
was coininissioned as an ensign, an/1 was actively engaged under Gen. 
Lincoln in suppressing it^ After tlic suppression of that once ccle- 
brat(!il, but now almost forgotten outbreak of popular feeling, Mr. 
Stoddard returned to Boston, and went thence to England in 17'J1 and 
.1792. After his return from Illuropc, he resumed his studies, and 
in April, 1793, he was admitted to the bar, and afterward in 1798> 
30 



458 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

he was commissioned, by the president, a captain in tlie second regi- 
ment of artillerists and enfrinccrs, and was promoted in 1806 or 1807, 
in the same regiment, to the rank which he held at the time of his 
death. 

On the 24th of January, 1804, Major (then Capt.) Stoddard, re- 
ceived a commission as first civil commandant of Upper Louisiana, 
from Gov. Clairborne, who, as " Governor of the Mississippi terri- 
tory," exercised the powers of " Governor-General and Intendant of 
the province of Louisiana," and under that authority, he repaired to 
St. Louis to receive the surrender from tlie French authorities of 
that portion of the newly ceded territory, together with the public ar- 
chives. Here, for a considerable time, he exercised all the powers 
of government, to the general acceptance of the inhabitants. He re- 
mained at St. Louis, and on the other side of the Mississippi, in com- 
mand, and as " intendant," two or three years, and then returned to 
the seat of government. He was soon stationed at New York, and in 
the garrisons in the neigliborhood, until the commencement of the 
war of 1812. 

Wiiile he resided in the west, he gathered materials, and afterward 
published a volume entitled " Sketches, historical and descriptive, of 
Louisiana, by Major Amos Stoddard, U. S., M. P. S., and New York 
Historical Society." This work was published at Philadelphia, and 
the preface bears date, " Fort Columbus, 1812." At the time of it 3 
publication, and for several years afterward, .it was a standard au- 
thority on the subjects of which it treats, and is still regarded as a 
valuable addition to the history of the country, exhibiting its author 
in a favorable light as a writer. 

At the commencement of the war of 1812, Major Stoddard had be- 
come wholly unfit for active field service, and he was, at the time of 
his death, an exceedingly corpulent man. 

When the government had determined upon a prosecution of the 
war on the western frontier, and appointed Gen. Hull to the com- 
mand on that line of operations, Ma^jor Stoddard was selected from 
the engineer corps, and ordered to Pittsburg, to superintend and for- 
ward from that military station, the ordnance, materials, &;c., which 
should be judged necessary for the prosecution of the campaign, with 
the understanding, that he should not be required to go any farther 
west. But upon the surrender of Hull, the emergency was so press- 
ing, and Fort Meigs was so important as a military post for the pro- 
tection of all the settlements south of the lakes, in Ohio, that he was 
ordered to repair to that post, and prepare it for a defense against 



U 1 S T O R T OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 459 

the .attack Avliieh it w;is nnficipa'tcd would be made upon it, bj the 
combined British and Tndi:in forces. It was doubtless ov.'ing greatly 
to JMajor Stoddard's judioioti? and scientific, preparation of the fort 
for attack, that Gen. Harrison was enabled to make his successful de- 
fense. During this siege, in 1813, Major vStoJdard received a wound, 
of which lie died. 

The foregoing sketch has been coini)iled from copious minutes 
kindly furnished the auth.or by Col. Henry Stoddard, of Dayton, Ohio. 
lie obtained tlioin froni the papers of Major Stoddard, which came 
inio his possession afur much in(juiry for tliemfor miuiy years. His 
military chest, containing these papers, shamefully mutilated, and 
many of thera partially destroyed, was found at the house of a 
nephev,- of his in Mahoning county, Ohio. Others have been found 
among the papers of the late Judge J^awless, of St. Louis, Mo. Many 
of them are of much historic value, and are to be sent to an appro- 
priate [)l:ice for preservation, hy Col. Stoddard. 



COL. HENRY STODDARD. 



Tills gentleman, now residing in Dayton, Ohio, is a descendant of the 
Rev. Anthony Stoddard, and was born at Woodbury, in 17S6. In 
common with others he attended the district school. Necessity lent 
her aid in forming his character, his father, Caj)t. Asa Stoddard, be 
ing unable to afford any greater facilities of education than those afc 
that period foutid in tJie district sjho(d-housc. At about tiftecn years 
of age, he v.-as put into a store at Roxbury, under the control of 
Isaac E. Judson, then extensively engaged in commercial pursuits. 
He remained in this employment until about the year LSL!, when 
Mr. Judson's failure in business changed his destiny. He had im- 
proved essentially in this occujjation, and wdth commendable perse- 
verance attained considerable progress under tiie teachiuir of the 
Rev. Mr. Swift, the Congregational minister at Roxbury. About 
IS 13, he commenced the study of the law in the oHice of Royal R. 
Hinman, Esq., then a jtractitioner at Roxbury. He wnf, admitted to 
the bar at Litchfield, about the year 1815, and soon after opened an 
office at Kent, in Litchfield county, where, following his profession 
with tact and perseverance, he attained a fair practice ; but he felt he 
was formed for a larger theater than his native county afford(,d, and 
in 1818, he left Kent, to seek his fortune in the " far west." On 



460 IIISTOllY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

horseback, in company with Hon. George B. HoU, he left Connecti- 
cut, pursuing his journey to what was then deemed the " ultima 
thule." Pie reached Dayton, Ohio, then a village of some GOO in- 
habitants, and opened an office, as did Judge Holt. The usual re- 
wards awaiting industry, perseverance, tact, sagacity and prudence, 
followed, and he won coniidence, employment and respect. Perhaps 
no man so well understood the potency of a single word, '■'•snug" in its 
best sense. He iinished all he undertook, and hnished it as early as 
it could be accomplished. Possessing shrewdness, a discriminating 
and reflecting mind, he attained wealth by his professional labors 
alone. He was distinguished for professional excellence in the large 
judicial circuit in which he practiced. 

About the year 1825, he was advised that Major Amos Stoddard 
had probably left a large landed estate at St. Louis, and was solicited 
by those entitled to inherit from IMajor Stoddard, to undertake the 
agency of examining the title, and vindicating it. He repaired to 
St. Louis, and found that the estate of Major Stoddard would ulti- 
mately be of immense value. Before he buckled on his armor for 
the conflict, he laid aside from his own fortune fifty thousand dollars, 
that should remain a fund for his family, not jeopardized by the fate 
of this operation. After a stern collision of master minds in this ju- 
dicial combat, he was successful, and the IMajor Stoddard title was 
established by the supreme court of ihe United States. In 1851, the 
whole estate was sold under a decree in chancery for nearly nine 
hundred thousand dollars. This large fund, of course, afforded legiti- 
mate means of acrpnsition, and I\Ir. Stoddard found himself from a 
poor forlorn boy in 1810, able in 1850 to set himself down as a mil- 
lionaire. His fortune is estimated at eight hundred thousand dollars. 
His industry and perseverance have become habitual, and he enjoys 
this great possession with the consciousness that fortune has not 
accidentally bestowed it. An early friend who introduced him at 
Dayton, recently remarked to him, that he possessed all the elements 
of human happiness, the largest fortune, the handsomest wife, and the 
most intelligent family of any man in Ohio. 

Mr. Stoddard is ])re''minently a business man. He was a mem- 
ber of the Ohio legislature for a few sessions, but always looked to 
better things than political influence, and its "beggarly account of 
empty boxes." 



II I S T O li Y OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 461 



HON. PERRY SMITH, 

Was a native of Judea. Woodbury, and settled in the i)ractice of 
the profession of the law, in New Milford, Conn., soon after his ad- 
mission to the bar of Litchfield county, about the year 1807. He 
was elected a member of the General Assembly, in the years 1822 
and 1823. and again in the years 1835 and 1836. During the latter 
session, he was appointed a Senator of the United States, for six 
years from the 4th of March ibllowing. He was also appointed 
judge of probate for the year 1833, and again for the year 1835. 
On being elected Senator, he gave u}) the practice of the law, which 
he had pursued until that time. 



HON. NATHAN SMITH,' 

Of New Haven, was 1)orn in Roxbury parish, Woodbury, in an old 
house, Avhich formerly stood nearly opposite the dwelling-house of 
Mr. Ezekiel Beardsley, in the year 1770. He was a son of Ricliard 
Smith, and brother of the late Hon. Nathaniel Smith, whose 1)iogra- 
phy appears in this volume. His mother was a daughter of Benja- 
min Hurd, and grand-daughter of Benjamin Hinman, of this town. 
The parents of the suljject of tliis sketch were poor, plain, unaspii'ing 
people, yet among their descendants have been some of the most em- 
inent lawyers and statesmen of the commonwealth. 

On arriving at a suitable age, Nathan was transferred from other 
pursuits to the otiice of his brother, and afterward to that of .Judge 
Reeve, to learn the '• art and mystery" of the law ; and in due time 
he was admitted to the bar of his native county. He commenced 
the practice of his pi-ofession at New Haven, wlicre he continued to 
reside till his death. Slowly but surely he won his way to tlie high- 
est professional eminence. Indeed, he was an enthusiast in the pro- 
fession he had cliosen, ever regarding success therein, as the goal of 
his ambition. Consequently he studied the standard legal authors of 
England and America, thoroughly and systematically. No practi- 
tioner in the Connecticut courts better understood the law in all its 
intricacies, and no one could more eft'ectually impress the minds of a 
^ jury with his own views and feelings on any case than he. The the- 

1 Tiiis sketch of Mr. Smith is tukou from Kilbourne's Litclifiuld liiography. 



462 nisTOiiY OF anciknt woodburt. 

oretical luul practical, the profound and witty, were so happily hlended 
in his aro-uiuents, that while they attracted the admiration of the lis- 
tener, they were almost certain of securing the wished for verdict. 
His wonderful success at the bar, however, must not be attributed 
solely to his talents and ingenuity. liis strict regard for justice and 
right, would not permit him to i)lcad a case which he knew to be 
grossly unrighteous. Before enlisting his services in any cause, he 
was Avont to examine minutely the main facts and circumstances con- 
nected with it, and if convinced of its justice, he entered upon the 
discharge of his duties to his client with his whole soul, and rarely 
failed of coming oif victorious. It was his own manifest confidence 
in the goodness of the cause he advocated, united to a knowledge of 
his uniform integrity of purpose, which so surely won from every 
jury a Hivorable verdict. 

Mr. Smith was not a ^^oUtician, and had the utmost contempt of 
the office-seeking propensity of many of his legal brethren. And 
even if his own ambition had been turned into that channel, it is by 
no means certain he would have been successful. The political party 
with which he acted, was for a long series of years in the minority in 
the region in which he lived ; and where party lines are closely 
drawn, a zeal for place and power not unfrequently triumphs over 
merit. His name v.^a3 sometimes, without his consent, used by his 
fellow-citizens, in the political struggles of the times. In 1825, he 
was a principal opponent of Oliver Wolcott, for the office of governor 
of Connecticut. There were, however, some offices more directly in 
the line of his profession, which he did not dislike, though he was far 
from seeking them. He was for many years state's attorney for the 
county of New Haven, and subsequently United States attorney for 
the district of Connecticut. In these stations, his peculiar genius and 
learning were ofien rendered conspicuous. 

In May, 1832, Mr. Smith w^as elected a Senator in the Congress 
of the United States, to succeed the Hon. Samuel A. Foote, whose 
term of office would expire on the .'id of March following. He took 
his seat in that distinguished body, March 4th, 1833, and continued 
to discharge the duties of that station until December 6th, 1835, 
when he died suddenly in the city of Washington, in the sixty-sixth 
year of his age. 

In 1808, Mr. Smith received the honorary degree of master of 
arts from Yale Colle;'c. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOO I) BURT. IG3 

HON. TRUaiAN SMITH, 

I? son of Phineas Smitli, and was born jn Roxbury. He gradua- 
ted at Yale College, in 1815, read law in the office of Hon. N. B. 
Benedict, and at the law school of Judge Reeve, and was admitted 
to the bar of Litchfield county. He imjnediately settled in practice 
at Litchfield, where he became eminent in his profession, Avhich he 
pursued with great success at that place, till his public duties caused 
him to relinquish it a few years ago. In 18.'"!9, he was elected a 
member of Congress, which office he held four years. He was again 
elected a member of Congress in 1845, and served by re-election till 
1819, when he was elected a Senator of the L^nited States for tlie 
term of six years, wliich office he now liolds. 



HON. WILLIAIVI A. THOMPSON, 

Was the sou of Hezekiah Thompson, Esq., and born in Woodbury. 
After graduation at Yale College he removed to the state of New 
York, and became honorably distinguished in the place of his adop- 
tion. A further account of him will be found in the genealogy of 
the Thompson family, in the next chapter. 



HON. JAMES WATSON,^ 



Was born in Judea society, Woodbury, titted for college with Rev. 
A. R. Robljins, of Norfolk, and graduated at Yale College, in 1776, 
He was an officer of the Revolution, at the close of which he settled 
in New York city, and there became a wealthy merchant. He was 
appointed naval officer, and a director of the bank of the United 
States. In 171)8, he was elected a Senator in Congress, and died in 
180C. His parents are botli buried in a little retired graveyard, 
about half a mile soulh-west of P>antam Lake, in Litchfield, under a 
red-stone tablet erected by their distinguished son. 



1 Kxtnicted fojiu Kilbounie's Litchfiol'l Biography. 



464 nisTOKY OF ancient "VVOODBUUV. 

HON. FREDERICK WHITTLESEY,' 

Was born in New Preston society, Washington, June 12tli, 1799. 
When about ten years of age, Frederiek commenced his preparation 
for college, and studied at iirst under the tuition of Rev. Dr. Backus, 
of Bethlera, and subse(piently under the direction of Rev. Samuel 
Whittlesey, of his native piirish, and Rev. Daniel Parker, of Ells- 
worth society, Sharon. He graduated at Yale College, in 1818, and 
soon after entered his name as a student of law in the office of Bleek- 
er & Sedgwick, in Albany, New York, and after remaining there 
about Jiine months, he became a member of the Litchfield Law 
School. At the end of one year he took up his abode with his kins- 
man, Robert Campbell, Esq., of Cooperstown,New Y'ork, with whom 
he finished his legal education, and was admitted to the bar at Utica, 
October, 1821. During the whole course of his professional studies, 
he was distinguished for his application, and profited by the advan- 
tages allowed him. He was not only well qualified for the bar, but 
in the mean time he had reviewed the classics, devoted much time to 
general literature, and had to a considerable extent practiced in the 
art of cottiposition. 

After his admission to the bar, Mr. Whittlesey spent about three 
months in his father's house in Connecticut, revolving in his mind 
where he should commence business. He finally opened an olfice in 
Cooperstown, and remained there about nine months. Not meeting 
with the desired success, he removed to Rochester, v.here he has ever 
since resided. 

Mr. Whittlesey was elected a representative to Congress in 1830, 
from the district composed of the counties of IMonroe and Livingston ; 
and was re-elected in 1832. Having served his constituents in this 
capacity for four years, with distinguished ability and general accept- 
ance, his congressional career terminated March 4, 1835. 

In 1839, the legislature of the state of New York passed a law cre- 
ating the ofiice of Vice Chancellor of the eighth judicial circuit, and 
Mr. Whittlesey was appointed to that office by the governor and sen- 
ate. He continued to discharge the duties of this appointment eight 
years, when the office ceased under the provisions of the new consti- 
tution. Immediately upon ceasing to be vice chancellor, he was ap- 
pointed by the governor and senate a judge of the old supreme court, 

1 This sketch is takeu from Kilbourne's Litchfield Biographv. 



II I S T O li T 1- ANCIENT WOODBURY. 4G-> 

wIjIcIi continued in exi.^tcncc till July, 184S. In Jiuuuiry, 1850, 
Judtre Whittlesey was aj)[!()inted professor of hiw in Ceneva. college. 



HON. ELTSIIA WHITTLESEY. 

Is a native of New Preston society, Washington. While he was 
a child, his parents removed to Salisbury, Conn., where his boyhood 
was chiefly spent. He early qnallfied liimself for admission to the 
bar, and commenced the practice of his profession on the W^esteni 
Kcserve in Ohio. He rose rapidly in public estimation, and Avas 
soon universally esteemed, not- only for his soundness and ability as a 
lawyer, but as a gentleman of singular uprightness and disinterest- 
edness of purpose. 

In 1820, J\lr. Whittlesey was elected to Congress from tlie Re- 
serve, and v»-as continued a membei' of that l)ody by successive re-elec- 
tions, for eighteen years. As a useful and indefatigable legislator, 
Mr. Whittlesey had no superior in Congress — perhaps not his equal. 
His v.hole time and study were directed to the furtherance of the 
pulilic good. Ever anxious to promote the best interests of the peo- 
ple, and expedite the true course of legislation, he never annoyed the 
house for mere purposes of declamation. Stern integrity, benevo- 
lence and morality are to be read in his features, and his whole life 
has been a commentary and an illustration of his physiognomy. 

Upon the election of Gen. Harrison to the presidency, Mr. W'hit- 
tlesey was a}»])ointed auditor of the United States treasury for the 
j)Ost ofiice depai'tment. He consequently declined a re-election to 
Congress, and I\Iarch 11>,1S11, he entered upon the duties of bis new 
office, and remained in their faithful and efficient discharge until near 
the close of President Tyler's administration, when he resigned. 

In 1845, he was appointed general agent and director of the W^ash- 
ington National Monument Society. His energetic and systematic 
efforts in behalf of this grand national enterprise, contributed in an 
eminent degree to its success. In 1849, Mr. Whittlesey was aj)- 
pointed first com])troller of the treasury of the United States, and he 
still continues to discharge the complicated and responsible duties of 
that important office.' 



1 This skctcliis extnicted principally from Kill)ournc's Litchfield Biography. 



4()C) HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY, 

The following list of natives and residents of " Ancient Wood- 
bury," have borne the several offices, and been engaged in the vari- 
ous professions, at home or abroad, set against their names. The 
places to which those went who have emigrated from the town, or 
their present places of residence, are annexed when known. In the 
list, the following contractions ai'e used. 

N. Native of Woodlnuy. 

N. S. " " Sonthbury since its incorporation. 

N. B. " " Bethlem 

N. J. " " Judea Society since town was incorporated. 

N. N. P. " " New Preston Society, " " 

N. K. " " Roxbury, 

R. Resident of Woodbury, present limits. 

R. S. " " Southbury since its incorporation. 

R. B. " " Bethlem, 

R. J. " " Judea Society " 

R. N. P. " " New Preston Society '* 

R. R. «' " Roxbury •« 

N. Allen, Gen. Ethan, Col. in the Revolutionary army. 

N. Atwood, Anson S., Clergyman, Mansilcld, Conn. 

R. " Jonathan, Physician. 

N. " Garwood H., M. D. 

N. ^ " Henry C, Surveyor of the port of New York, and Inspector 

of Customs. 

R. Abernethy, Roswell, M. D. 

R. " John J., M. D., Surgeon in United States Navy. 

R. Andrew, Samuel R., Clergyman, New Haven, Conn. 
N. " Samuel W., Lawyer, " " " 

R. Andrews, Samuel A., Physician — went to North Carolina. 

N. Bacon, William T., Clergyman. 

R. Backus, Azel, U. D., Clergyman. 

R. S. Butterfield, Oliver B., Clergyman. 

]jull, Thomas, Major in the Revolutionary Army. 

R. Benedict, Noah, Clergyman. 

N. " Noah B., a distinguished Lawyer and Senator. 

N. " Thomas, Col. United States Army. 

N. Beers, Seth P., Lawyer : School Fund Commissioner 25 years. 
N. " Zachariah, Poet 

N. Botsford, Charles, M. D. 

N. R, Blakesley, Sammis, Lawyer. 

R. Bishop, Reuben, Physician. 
R. N. P. Boardman, Charles A., Clergyman. 

R. Bedient, Butler, Physician. 



n I S T K Y 1-" ANCIENT AT O O D B U K Y . 467 

R. J. Erin-tuailo, Daniel, Clcrixynian. 

N.J. " Daniel N., Lawyer and Judge. 

11. EcUaaiy, Joseph, D. D., Clergyman. 

N. " Jonatlian, Lawyer, died Revolutionary war. 

N. B. " .lo-epliir., Lawyi-r. 

N. B. " David, Clergyman, Ncv/ York City. 

11. S. Baldwin, Nathan C, M. D. 

N. J. " Wdiiam, Clerf^yman. 

R. Burfil t. Anthoiiy, Physi cian. 

N. S. " Anthoi^B., M. D. 

N. B. Brown, Garret C, Clergyman. 

11, B. Bissell, George G., M. D. 

N. R. Booth, Ilcnry, Lawyer, Towanda, Penn. 

It. Browneli, Grove L.. Clergyman. 

11. Brovv-nson, , Physician, Small Pox Inocidator. 

K.J. " Ira v., Physician. 
'11. N. P. Bushnell, Horace, D. D., Clergyman, Hartford, Conn. 

_JN. N. P. " George, Clergyman, Worcester, Mat^s. 

N. Boslwick, Ifaac W., Judge, Lowville, Lewis Co., N. Y. 

N. R. Blakeman, Wdiiam N., M. D., distinguished Physician, N. Y. City. 

R. Bronson, Tillotson, D. D., Clergyman. 

R. Burhans, Daniel, D. D., 

R. Bull, Edmund C, " 

N. " Thomas, Judge of Probate niul a Magistrate for 25 years. 

R. Babbitt, P. Teller, Clergyman. 

R. B. Berry, J. D., 

R. S. Clark, Daniel A., Clergyman. 

N. " John, " Waterbury. 

N. " Jehu, " Newtown and New Milford. 

N. " Heman, Physician. 

N. J. Calhoun, George A., Clergyman, Coventry, Conn. 

N. J. " Henry, " Ohio. 

N.J. " John, Physician, Judea. 

R. 15. Catlin, Coaant, M. D. 

R. B. " Lyman, M. D. 

N. B. " William C, M. D., and Teacher in the West. 

N. Castle, Sil;i.s Physician. 

11. B. Couch, Paul, Clergyman. 

N. B. Crane, Robert, M. D., Naugatuck, Conn. 

R. Canfield, Thomas, Clergyman. 

R. Churchill, John, " 

R. Curtiss, Lucius, " 

R. S. Cazier, Mattliias, " 

N. Camp, Joseph, " Northfield, Conn. 

R. B. Chcesbrough, R. M., M. D. 

N. N. P. Cogswell, Williain, Lawyer. 

N. " Frederick W., Lawyer, Ohio. 

R. N. P. Chittenden, Frederick, 



403 



IIISTOKr OF ANCIENT WOODBUKT. 



ii.. Cothrcn, William, Lawyer. 

K. B. Crane, Joel, Physician. 

H. N. P. Campfield, Robert B., Clergyman. 

11. Coxe, Richard, . " 

R. B. Covell, Joseph S., " 

R. N. P. Day, Jeremiah, Clergyman. 

N. N. P. " Jeremiah, D. D., LL. D., Ex-President of Yale College. 

N. N. P. " Thomas, LL. D., Sec. of State 25 years, and Rep. of Decisions. 

N. N. P. " Mills, Tutor of Yale College. 

N. N. P. " Henry N., Tutor and Professor Western Reserve College. 

N. R. Downs, Myron, M. D. 

Davies, Thomas, Clergyman, New Milford. 

" Thomas J., went to Ogdensburgh, Sherifi". 

" Charles .1., Prof. Mathematics at West Point, and author of 

fifteen or twenty scientific works. 
" John, Graduate of West Point. 
" Thomas, M. D., Redding, Conn. 
Deforest, Marcus, Jr., Physician, Blackwell's Island. 
Davidson, David B., Clergyman, Streetsborough, Ohio. 
Dowdney, John, " 

Easton, Rufus, Delegate in Congress for Missouri. 
Eastman, Azariah, Physician. 

" Josiah R. " 

" John R , " Pawling, N. Y. 

" Richard IL, " went to Pennsylvania. 
Edmond, William, Lawyer and Judge of Superior Court. 

" David, " Vergennes, Vt. 

Everitt, Daniel, " New Milford. 

Fuller, Samuel, D. D., Clergyman, Andover. 
Fenn, Frederick J., Lawyer, Harrisburgh, Pa. 
Faireliild, Stephen B., Physician. 
Foot, (Jeorge L., Clergyman. 

" , Physician. 

Fansher, Sylvanus, " 
Fowler, ParlemonB., M. D. 
'« Warren R., M. D. 
" Remus M., M. D. 
" Henry, M. D., South Bend, Indiana. 
Ford, Seth P., Physician, Sandwich Islands. 
N. N. P. Farrand, William P., A. M., extensive Bookseller, Philadelphia. 
R. R. Fenn, Aaron W., Physician. 
N. Fraser, William, Lawyer, Illinois. 

R. Flint, Seth, Clergyman. 

R. B. Frisbie, William Ilcury, Clergyman. 

R. Graham, Jolm, Clergyman. 

R. " Andrew, Physician. 



R. 


,J. 


N. 


J. 


X. 


J. 


N. 


J. 


N. 


J. 


N. 




N. 


R. 


R. 




N. 


J. 


R. 




N. 




N. 


R. 


N. 


R. 


N. 




N. 




N. 




R. 




N. 


J. 


R. 




R. 


R. 


R. 




R. 




N. 




N. 




N. 




N. 




N. 


J. 



HISTORY OV ANCIENT WOODBURY. 460 

N. Grnhain, Joliii A., LL. D., Lawyer. 

R. " Cliauncfy, Clergyman. 

R. Gilbert, Sturges, 

R " Raphnel, " 

N. Galpin, Sanmel, " 

R. Gridley, Horatio, 'M. D., Berlin, Conn. 

R. Garrow, John L., Pliysieian. 

R. J. Gray, Cyrus W., Clergyman, died at Stafford. 

N. J. Goodscll, Thomas, M. D., Professor in Hamilton College. 

N J. " I,-<aac, M. D., Woodbridge, Conn. 

N. Galpin, Leman, M. D., Milan, Ohio. 

R. Glover, Bennett, Clergyman. 

N. Hinman, Xoah, Justice of theipiorum five years. 

N. "• ICilwaid, I^awyer. 

N. S. " Edward, Lawyer and Judge of N. Haven County Court. 

N. " Timothy, Judge twenty years in Vermont. 

N. " Gen. Ephraim, Capt. in Revolution. 

N. " Royal R , Secretary of State, Author, and distinguished 

Anti'[uarian. 

N. '< Joel, Superior Court Judge. 

N. •' Elisha, Capt. in Navy ; New London. 

N. •' Curtis, Lawyer and State Senator. 

N. •' William, Associate Judge N. H. County Court, from iS31 

to l'<3.3. 

N. " Benjamin, Colonel in Revolutionary War. 

N. S. " Robinson S., Lawyer. 

N. S. " .Simeon, " 

N. S. " Slirrman, " died in I\Iississi]-)pi in 1S33. 

N. Hull, Andrew C, Judge of the County Court, Allegany County, 

N. Y., for five years. 

N. " Leverett, Clergyman. 

N. " Gen. Elias, Captain in the wav of 1S12, now a Lawyer in 

Alabama. 

R. B. " Zephaniah, Physician.- 

N. B. " Titus, 

N. B. " Laurens, M. D., Angelica, N. Y. 

N. B. " Charles, at lirst M. D., and then Baptist Clergyman. 

N. R. Hurd, Curtis, Physician. 

N. R. " Nelson L., M. D. 

N. R. " Theodore C, M. D. 

N. R. «' Frederick W., Physician, Brooklyn, xV. Y. 

N. R. " Munroe, Lawyer. 

N. B. Hard, David B. W., M. D. 

N. B. Hitchcock, Samuel J., Lawyer and Judge N. Haven County Court. 

R. " Solomon G., Clergyman. 

R. J. Hayes, Gordon, Clergyman, now of Vermont. 

R. Hastings, Seth, M. D. 

N. J. " Thomas, Professor Sacred Music, New York. 



470 HISTORY OF ANCIENT -VrOOUr. URT. 

Hastings, Soth.M. D., Taris, N. Y. 

" Orlando, distinguished Lawyer, Rochester, N. Y. 
'= Eurotus, President Bank, Detroit, Michigan. 
Huntington, Daniel, Physician. 
Huxley, Asahel M., M. D., went to Goshen. 
Hollistcr, Gideon H., Lawyer and Author, liitchllukl. 
David F., Lawyer, Salisbury. 

Hotchkiss, , Physician. 

Hawley, Benjamin, Surgeon. 

" William, Lawyer. 
Harrison, Fosdick, Clergyman, 

Hartwell, Samuel E., Lawyer and Broker, New York City. 
Hill, Charles J., Mayor of R-oohester, N. Y. 
Harriman, Frederick D., Clergyman. 

I.=hani, Austin, Clergyman. 
Lrgersol, David B., Lawyer. 

Judd, Bethel, D. D., Clergyman. 

" Reuben, Clergyman. 

" William H., 
Judson, Gen. David, Grad. Yale Coll., Capt. in Revolution. 

" Adoniram, Clergyman, Mass. 

" Philo, " Rocky Hill, Conn. 

" Ephraim, " Sheffield, Mass. 

" Samuel, " Uxbridge, Mas.f. 

" Albert, '• Philadelphia. 

" Everton, " IMilan, Ohio. 

" Benjamin B. " 

Gould C, " Berlin, Ohio. 

" Frederick, M. D., Vermont. 

" Charles A., Sheriff of Litchlield County. 

'' David, Jr.; went to St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., President of 
Bank, and Sheriff of the County. 

" George H., Lawyer,. Texas. , 

Johnson, Amos M. " 
Jones, Isaac, Clergyman. 

Kirby, Ephraim, Lawyer; U. S. Judge, Louisiana. 
Knowles, Thomas, Physician. 
Keese, James D., Lawyer. 

Langdon, Jolm, Clergyman. 

" Tiiuolhy, M. D., Naugatuck, Conn. 

Lyman, Ephraim, Clergyman. 
Lemmon, Sheldon, M. D. 
Leavenworth, Isaac, Lawyer, New Haven. 

" ALston, Physician, State of New York, 

" Thomas, " 



N, 


. J. 


N, 


. J. 


N, 


.J. 


R. 




R. 




N. 


, T. 


N. 


J. 


R. 


B. 


R. 


B. 


R. 




R. 


B. 


R. 




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R. 




R. 


R. 


R. 


B. 


R. 




R. 


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R. 




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N. 




N. 




N. 




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N. 




N. 




N. 




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N. 




N. 




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s. 


R. 


B. 


N. 




N. 




11. 




R. 


B. 


N. 


B. 


R. 


J. 


N. 


J. 


N. 


R. 


N. 


R. 


N. 





N. 




N. 




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N. 




N. 




N. 


B. 


R. 


J. 


N. 


J. 


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11. 


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N. 




N. 




N. 




N. 


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N. 


B. 


K. 


y. 


N. 




N. 




N. 




N. 




N. 




N. 




K. 





n I S T O U Y OF A N C I E N T WOOD U U li Y . 471 

Leavenworth, Thaddous, Clergyman. 

Lyon, Matthew, Rep. in Congress from Vt. and Ky. 

Looniis, Aretns G., Clergyinafi. 



R. 

R. 

R. B 

R. Lucas, William 



R. Marshall, John R., Clergyman. 

N. J. Mitehell, Elisha, D. D., I'rofessor University of North Carolina, 

N. " John, Lawyer. 

N. " Ju.-tus, Clergyman, New Canaan. 

N. S. " John (!., Lawyer, Salisbnry. 

N. " Henry, M. 1)., M.-mlj. Congress, Clienango Co., N. Y. 

N. J. " Enos(T., Grad. Wetl Point, Capt. U. S. Army; died in 

Florida. 
R. Moscley, luerease. Rep. Conn. Leg. thirty-six sessions; moved to 

Vermont ; was Jndge there many years. 
" John, Physjeian, Vermont. 

" Increase, Jr., Col. in H(!voliUion. 

Meigs, John, Physician. 
" Phineas, 
*• Abner, " 

" Benjamin, Missionary at Ceylon. 
Mason, Stephen, Clergyman. 

" Ebenezer Porter ; distinguished Student, Author of a Prac- 
tical Treatise on Astronoiny. 
Masters, Nicholas S., Lawyer, New Milford, Conn. 
Merwin, Noah, Clergyman. 
Miiior, Jehu, '•' 

" Matthew, Jr., Lawyer. 

Garry IL, M. D., Litchfield South Farms, Conn. 
" Sanmel, Lawyer, Sandusky City, Ohio. < 
" Charles S., Lawyer, Ilonesdale, Penn. 
" Israel, extensive Druggist, New York City, 
Munson, Frederick E., Clergyman, Greenwich, Conn. 

" Harris B., Lawyer and Judge, N. II. County Court. 

Mallory, Garrick, Lawyer and Member of Congress, l'hiladel]>hia. 
Masters, Samuel S., Physician. 
Murray, Rnfus, Clergyman, Adrian, Michigan. 
Munn, Daniel, Physician. 

" Nathan, do. 
Monell, Mary I'], Poetess, Newburg, N. Y. 
Moody, Martin, Clergyman. 

R. B. North, Loom is, M. D., Bristol, Conn. 

N. Orton, Samuel, A. M., Physician. 

N. «' John, " Sherman, Conn. 

N. •' Samuel, " Bridgewater, Conn. 



472 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

N. Orton, Henry T., Physician, Duchess county, New York. 

N. «« David J., 

X. " Jumes, " Caldwoll, New Jersey. 

N. Osljorn, Shadrach, Purchasing and Issuing Commissary in llie Ficv- 
olution. 

N. Preston, William, First Judge of Litchfield County Court. 

N. " Nathan, Lawyer and Judge of Probate. 

N. " William, Clergyman, Columbus, Ohio. 

N. Perry, Joseph, Physician. 

N. " 'Nathaniel, " 

N. " Henry, Colonel in the army, died in Mexico. 

N. " Natlianiel, Lawyer, New MiUbrd. 

N. " Pliilo, Clergyman, Newtown, Conn. 

N. " Phillips, " 

N. " Bennet, Physician at Newtown, afterward Clergyman. 

II. Phelps, Charles B., Lawyer and Judge of Litchfield County Court. 

N. Parker, Joseph, Physician, Litchfield, South Farms, Conn. 

N. Parker, Daniel, Clergyman and Teacher at Ellsworth, Conn. 

N. " Col. Amasa, Lawyer and Surrogate Judge, Delhi, N. Y. 

N. Prime, Benjamin, Clergyman. 

N. S. Pierce, George E., D D., President Western Reserve College. 

N. B. Prentice, Charles, Clergyman, South Canaan. 

N. B. " Thomas, IL " Western New York. 

N. B. " David, Professor (rcneva College, New York. 

N. B. " Curliss, Physician. 

N. B. " Peet, Harvey P., LL. D., Deaf and Dumb Asylum, N. Y. 

R. J. Porter, Ebenezer, S. T. D., President Andover Theological Seminary. 

N. J. Pond, Samuel W., .Missionary to the Sioux Indians. 

N. J. " Gideon, " " " 

N. Pitcher, Nathaniel, Lt. Gov. and acting Governor of N. Y. after the 
death of Dewitt Clinton, aI:-o member of Congress. 

R. Palmer, Joseph M., Lawyer, Maryland. 

R. S. Prudden, George P., Clergyman. 

R. B. Parmcly, Jonathan E., Lawyer. 
R. N. P. Parsons, Benjamin B., Clergyman. 
N. N. P. Powell, William, M. D. 

R. Peck, John, M. D. , Burlington, Vermont, 

R. Powers, Peter, Physician. 

R. Putnam, Charles S., Clergyntan. 

R. .T. R ichmond, Edmund, Lawyer, died at the South. 

N. B. Raymond, Moses, Clergyman, Springfield, Virginia. 

R. R. Read, , Physician. 

R.N. P. " IloUis, Clergyman. 

N. Root, Jiidson A., Clergyman, antl Teacher, New Haven. 

R. Rogers, Robert C, Clergyman. 

R. Stoddard, Anthony, Clergyman, 

N. " Amos, Major U. S. Army. His estate sold at auction for 
$730,000. 



N. 




N. 




N. 




N. 




R. 




N. 




N. 




N. 




N. 




X. 




N, 




N. 


S. 


N. 


s. 


K. 




R. 


s. 


R, 


s. 


N. 




N. 




N. 




N. 




N. 




N. 




R. 




K. 


N. 


R. 




R. 


B. 


N. 


R. 


N. 




R. 




N. 




X. 




R. 




N. 




N. 


S. 


N. 




N. 


s. 


R. 




N. 




R. 


B. 


R. 


R. 


R. 




R. 


B. 


R. 




R. 




N. 




N. 





HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 473 

StockUird, Col. Henry, Lawyer, Dayton, Ohio. 

Israel, M. D. 
Strong, Nfithan, Clergyman, Coventry, Conn. 

" John, Jr., Lawyer and Judge of Probate. 
Henry P., Clergyman. 

Smith, Nathaniel, Lawyer, Judge Sup. Conrtand Memb. ofCongress. 
" Nathaniel B., " and Judge of Probate. 
" Nathan, *' and U. S. Senator. 

*' Trntnan, " Member and Senator of Congre.-t.s. 

" Perry, " und U. S. Senator. 

" Phineas, " went to Vermont. 

" Ralph D, " and Judge of Probate. 

" Abraham L., M. D. 
" Deliverance, Clergyman. 
" Noah, do. 

Shipman, Tlioinas L., do. Jewett City, Conn. 
Stiles, Benjamin, Lawyer. 

" Benjamin, Jr., do. 
Sherman, Taylor, do. Norwalk, Conn. 

" Cha.rlcs, Clergyman and Presiding Elder in the Methodist 

Church. 
" Daniel, Speaker of Conn. House of Representative*. 

" Heiuy B., Clergyman, Belleville, N. J. 

Scott, Josepii, do. 

" James L., do 

Swift, Zephaniah, ilo. 

Stanton, Benjamin F., do. 
Sanford, John, Member of Congress, Amsterdam, N Y. 

" Henry Slielton, LL. D. conferred at Heidelberg, Germany, 

now Seeretary of Legation, France.. 
" David P., Clergyman. 
Steel, Julius, Clergyman. 

" Nathaniel, do. 
Skilton, Henry, M. D. 

Avery J., M. D., Troy, N. Y. 
Shellon, Gen, (reorge P., Lawyer, Seymour, Conn. 
Sheldon, Daniel, M. D., Secretary of Legation to France- 
Stephens, Mr.s. Ann S , Distinguished Authoress. 
.Sayre, James, Clergyman. 
Scoville, .Joseph A., Editor of" The Pick," N. Y. 

Sackell, , Pliysician. 

Stewart, Philander. "-'. D., Peekskill, N. Y. 

Shove, Harmon \V.,M. D. 

Snow, T. W., Clergyman. 

Sprague, Leman B , Lawyer and Judge of Probate. 

Thompson, Hezc'kiah, Lawyer. 

" William A., do. and Judge. 

" Charles, do. Westchester Co., N. Y. 

31 



474 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

N. Thompson, James, Physician till 35 years of age, then Clergyman. 

N. « Samuel, M. D., died at the Island of St. Thomas. 

R. B. " Ebenezer, Physician. 

N. Tyler, Bennett, D. D., Professor Theology, East "Windsor. 

N. Tomlinson, Abraham, M. D., Milford, Conn. 

R. S. " Joseph, M. D., Huntington, Conn. 

N. N. P. " George, Clergyman, Long Island. 

R. S. Trowbridge, Joseph, Physician. 

R. B. Tuttle, Isaac H., Clergyman. 

R. R. Thayer, Nathaniel, Physician. 

K. Walker, Zechariah, first Clergyman of Woodbury. 

R. Wildman, Benjamin, Clergyman. 

N. Ward, Hon. Levi, Member of Congress, Montrose, Penu. 

R. N. P. Whittlesey, Samuel, Clergyman. 

" Eiisha, Member Congress, Comp. U. S. Treasury. 

" Eiisha, Lawyer. 

" Frederick, Member Congress, Prof. Law and Vice Chan- 

cellor, N. Y. 
" Charles C, Lawyer, Franklin Co., N. Y, 

" Henry X., M. D.,Ne\\- York city. 

" Joseph, Clergyman' 

Warner, Ebenezer 1st, Physician. 
" Ebenezer 2d, do. 
" Ebenezer 3d, 
" Ebenezer -Ith, 
" Benjamin, 
" Reuben, 
" John, 
" Abner, 

" Col. Seth, Col. Revolnlionary War. 
" Ephraim, Physician. 
" George W., Lawyer, Bridgeport. 
" Lyman, " went West. 

Wood, Elijah, Clergyman. 

Williams, William C, M. D., Manchester, Conn. 
Whittemore, Williams H., Clergyman, New Haven. 
N. N. P. Wheaion, Nathaniel S., D. D., Ex-President of Trinity College. 
N.N. P. " Salmon, Clergyman. 

R. Wclton, .Joseph D. do. 

R. B. " Willard, do. 

R. Wright, Worthington, do. 

N. S. Wheeler, Benjamin, Lawyer, Salisbury, Conn. 
R. " Ulysses M., Clergyman. 

N. S, " Samuel, Physician. 

R. B. " Russel, Clergyman. 

R, Webb, Charles H., M. D. 

R. Woodward, Frederick B., M. D., now a Clergyman at Middle Had- 

dain, Conn. 



N.N. 


P. 


N.N. 


P. 


N.N. 


P. 


N. R. 




N. R. 




N.N. 


P. 


R. 




N. 




N. 




N. 




N. 




N 




N.J. 




N.J. 




N. 




N. 




N. R. 




N. R. 




R. S. 




R.R. 




R. S. 





do. 




do. 




do 


New Milford. 


do. 


do 


do. 


died in the West. 


do. 


do. do. 



HISTORY OF ANCIKNT ■^VOODBURY 47o 

K. N. P. Wadhams, Noah, Clergyman. 

K. B. Watson, William, do. 

i^. " James, Senator in Congress, NeNV York city. 

K. Wigdon, Samuel, Clergyman. 



GRANDCHILDREN OF WOODBURY. 

The following is a list of a few distinguished persons who are the children of 
natives of Woodbury, though not themselves sons of the soil. 
Allen, Col. Ira, Vermont. 

Benedict, Bennet, Physician, New Orleans, La. 

Church, Hon. Samuel, LL. D., Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Conw. 
" Hon. John R., brother of the above, and Judge of the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas, Trumbull Co., Ohio. 
'' Lemau, Lawyer, Canaan, Conn, 
(jraham, Hon. John Lorimer, New York city. 
.fndson, Adoniram, Missionary to India and died there. 

" Philo j\I., Esq., Lawyer, (.icorgia. 
Martin, li'jnry H., Lawyer and Cashier, Albany, N. Y. 
ITinor, II. J., President of H. J. Minor's Bank, Fredonia, N. Y. 

" William T., Lawyer, Stamford, Conn. 

" Thomas, M. D., Middletown, Conn. 
Parker, Arnasa J., Lawyer and Judge of the Supreme Court, Albany, N. Y. 
Prentice, Rev. Charles T., Clergyman, Easton, Conn. 
Perry, Rev. Joseph, New Haven, Conn. 

" Nathaniel P., Lawyer, Kent, Conn. 
Slade, William, Ex-Governor of Vermont. 
Strong, Nathan, D. D., Hartford, Conn. 

" Joseph, D. D , Norwich, Conn. 

" Ilciiry, LL. D., " son of the above. 
Sherman, Charles, Judge of Siipreine Court, C^liio, a)id died before ho wa^ 

thirty years of age. 
Smith, Walter, L-awycr, Ohio. 

Terrill, Hazard Bailey, Member of Canadian Parliament. 
Terrill, T Lee, do. do. do. 

LIST OF NATIVES OF ANCIENT WOODBUKY, WHO HAVE BEEN 
GRADUATES OF COLLEGE. 
The persons against whose names no letter appears, are natives of the town. 
]]. denotes Bethlem, R. Roxbury, S. Southbury, and Wa. Washington. The 
year enclosed by a parenthesis is the date of the death of the individual. The 
{-.ist date is that of graduation. Mr. denotes Master of Arts. 
Benjamin Stiles, Mr. (1797,) H-IO. 
Rev. Nathan Strong, (179').) 1742. 

Daniel Sheldon, Mr. (1772.) 1747, 
Rev. Chauncey Graham, Mr. (I7S4,) 1747. 
Rev. Deliverance Smith, (1785,) 1749. 
Doctor Israel Stoddard, (17S2,) 175S. 
Rev. Thomas Davies, (17GG,) 1708. 



476 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Kev. Benjamin Prime, Mr. 1760. 

Simeon Hinman, Mr. (1767,) 1762. 
Rev. Ephraim Judson, Mr. (1«13,) 1763. 
Doctor Samuel Orton, 1765. 
Rev. Jehu Minor, 1767. 
Rev. Tiiomas Minor, Mr. (1S2C.,) 1769. 
Hon. Daniel N. Brinsmade, Mr. (1S26,) 1772. 

.Jonathan Bellamy, (1777,) 1772. 
Rev. Tlionias Canfield, 1772. 
Rev. Adoniram Judson, Mr. Yale et Harvard, (1S29,) 1775. 

John Mitchell, 1775. 
Rev. Justus Mitchell, Mr. (1S06,) 1776. 
Hon. James Watson, Senator in Congress, (1S06,) 177G. 

Sherman Hinman, Mr. (179S,) 1776. 
Hon. Nathan Preston, Mr. (1822,) 1776. 

Benjamin Stiles, Mr. (1817,) 1776. 
Hon. William Edmonds, M. C, Judge Superior Court, (1838.) 1777. 

Israel Judson, 1777. 

John Pierce, Mr. (1S16,) 1777. 
Gen. David Judson, (1841,) 1778. 

Elisha Whittlesey, (1802,) 1779. 
Hon. William Adiel Thompson, (1848,) 17S2. 

Amos Pearce, (1798,) 1783. 

Simeon Hinman, (1825,) 1784. 

Timothy Hinman, (1812,) 1784. 

Abraham Tomlinson, 1785. 
Rev. Joseph E. Camp, Mr. (1838,) 1787. 

William Hawley, 1787. 

Nathan Stiles, (1804,) 1787. 
Hon. Noah B. Benedict, Mr. (1831,) 17SS. 

Nathaniel Steel, Mr. 1788. 

Cyrus Hinman, (1800,) 1789. 

Asahel Hooker, 1789. 
Rev, James Thompson, 1789. 

Samuel Thompson, M. D., 1790. 
Rev. Jeremiah Day, S. T. D., LL. D., Pres. Yale College, (N. N. P.) 1795. 

David Edmond, 1796. 
Hon. Thomas Day, LL. D., Secretary of State, Conn., (N. N. P.) 1797. 

William Powell Farrand, Mr. (Wa.) (1839.) 1798. 
Hon. Matthew Minor, Mr. (1839,) IbOl. 

Simeon Hicock, Mr. (S.) 1802. • 

Sheldon C. Leavitt, (B.) 1802. 

Cyrus Pearce, (S.) (1802.) 1802. 
Rev. Charles Prentice, (B.) (1838,) 1802. 

Mills Day, Mr. Tutor, C. A. S. (Wa.) (1812,) 1803. 

Isaac E. Judson, Mr. 1803. 
Hon. Royal R. Hinman, Mr Secretary of State, Conn. (S.) 1804. 

Curtis Judson, (1S04,) 1804. 
Rev. Bennett Tyler, S. T. D., Pres. Dartmouth College, Prof . Theology, 1804. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AVOOBBURY. 477 

Rev. Salmon Wheaton, (Wa.) (1S14,) ISOG. 

Lyman Hicock, (S.) (1S16,) ISOG. 

Curtis Atwood, M. D., 1S06. 
Hon. John Strong, Mr. (1834,) ISOG. 

Curtis Warner, (S.) 1807. 
Hon. Josepli H. Bellamy, (B.) (IS48,) ISOS. 
Hon. Garrick Mallory, Membtur of Congress, 1808. 

Josiah H. Minor, (1S20,) IsOS. 
Hon. Amasa Parker, (Wa.) ISOS. 

Garret G. Brown, (B.) 1S09. 
Hon. Samuel J. Hitchcock, Mr., Tutor C. A. S., LL. D. (B.) (1S4.5,) 1S03. 
Rev. Philo Judson, 1S09. 

Rev. Benjamin C. Meigs, Mr. (B.) (Is30,) 1S09. 
Rev. Julius Steele, (B.) ISll. 

David Prentice, Mr. Professor Geneva College, LL. D., ]Sr2. ' 

Frederick F. Backus, M. D., (B.) 1813. 
Rev. Elisha Mitchell, S. T. D., Professor University N. C. (Wa ) LslG. 

Elisha Averill, Mr. (IS24,) 1814. 
Rev. Anson S. Atwood, IS 1 4. 

Nathaniel S. Wheaton, LL. D., (Wa.) 1814. 
Hon. Nathaniel B Smith, 1815. 
Hon. Truman Smith, M. C. and U. S. Senator, 1S15. 

Sheldon Lemon, (Wa.) 181G. 
Rev. George E. Pierce, Mr., S. T. D., Pres. West. Reserve College, (S.) 1816. 

Phineas Smith, (R.) ISIG. 

Luman Whittlesey, (Wa.) ISIG. 

Orlando Canfield, (S.) I^IS. 
Hon. Frederick Whitdesey, U. S. House Rep., Vice Chancellor of N. Y., 

(1851,) (Wa.) ISIS. 
Rev. Albert Judson, (1839,) 1821. 

Harvey P. Peet, Mr., LL. D., (B.) 1S22. 
Rev. Judson A. Root, 1823. 

Frederick J. Judson, M. D., (Wa.) 1S24. 
Rev. Moses Raymond, (B.) 1S2.5. 
Rev. Joseph Whittlesey, (Wa.) 1825. 

John .1. Abernethy, M. D., U. S. N., 1825. 
Rev. Everton Judson, Mr., (1848,) 182G. 
Rev. William Preston, 182G. 

Rev. Henry Noble Day, Tutor and Prof. Western Reserve Coll. (Wa.) 1828. 
Rev. George Tomlinson, (Wa.) Is34. 

Ebenezer C. Smith, (Wa.) 1'5.3G. 
Rev. William T. Bacon, lb37. 

Frederick W. Gunn, (Wa.) 1837. 

Ebenezer Porter Mason, (Wa.) (1840,) 1839. 

Garwood H. Atwood, M. D., 1840. 

William B. Brinsmade, (Wa.) 1840. 

Charles Day, Mr., (Wa.) 1^40. 

Henry Booth, (R.) 1840. 

Gideon H. HoUister, (Wa.) 1840. 



478 niSTOKY OF ANCIENT W001:)liURY. 

Egbert A. Thompson, (D ) 1S40. 
Charles S. Minor, (R.) ISU. 
Rev. William Baldwin, (Wa.) ISll. 
David B. Davidson, (R.) 1841. 
Samuel W. Andrew, 1813. 
Harvey M. Booth, (R.) 1S43. 
George W. Warner, (R.) 1S43. 
Samuel Minor, 1844. 
Thomas M. Thompson, 1844. 
Frederick W. Cogswell, 1S47. 
David F. Hollister, (Wa.) 1S51. 
Charles G. Hayes, (Wa.) 1851. 

LIST OF RESIDENTS OF THE ANCIENT TERRITORY. WHO HAVE 
BEEN GRADUATES. 

Rev. Anthony Stoddard, (17G0,) 1G97. 

•• Joseph Bellamy, D, D., (1790,) 1735. 

" John Graham, (1774,) 1737. 

" Thoma.s Canfield, (1795,) 1739. 

" Reuben Judd, (1753,) 1 741. 

" Daniel Brinsmade, Mr., (1793.) 1745. 
Doct. Joseph Perry, Harvard, 1752. 

Rev. Jeremiah Day, 1756. 

" Noah Benedict, Mr., (1S13,) 1757. 

" Benjamin Wildman, Mr., (1812,) 17.58. 

" John R. Marshall, (17^9,) 1770. 

" Josiah Cotton, 1771. 

" Noah Merwin, (Wa.) (1795,) 1773. 

_ " Chauncey Prindle, (18.33,) 1770. < 

" Seth Hart, 1784. 

'• Tillotson Brouson, LL. D., (1820,) 1786. 

« Reuben Ives, (1836,) 17S6. 

" Azel Backus, S. T. D., President Hamilton College, (1S16,) 1787. 

" Isaac Jones, (1S50,) 1792. 

" Ebenezer Porter, .S. T. D., 1795. 

" Bethel Judd, D. D., 1797. 

" Daniel Parker, (1834,) 1798. 

" SamuL'l R. Andrew, Fellow and Secretary of Yale, 1807. 

" Henry P. Strong, (1835,) 1807. 

'♦ John Langdon, Mr., Tutor, (B.,) 1809. 

" Grove L. Brownell, 1^13. 

" Fosdick Harrison, (B.,) 1815. 

" Levi Smith, (S.,) 18ls. 

" Thomas L. Shijjman, (S.,) ISlS. 

" Paul Couch, (B.,) 1823. 

" Gordon Hayes, (Wa.,) 1825. 

" Joseph Scott, lb27. 

«« Horace Bushnell, D. D., (Wa.) 1827. 

" Peter Teller Babbitt, 1831. 

" Solomon G. Hitchcock, 1834. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENTWOODBURY. 479 

Rev Williams II. Whillc-inoro, (S.,) 1S35. 
" George P. Prudden, (S.,) IS'Sf). 
" Lucius Ciirtiss, IS35. . 

Willia.in Cotliren, Mr. et Yale College, 1S43. ^ 

LIST OFPERSO.Vy NOT GRADUATES, ON WHOM HONORARY DE- 
GREES HAVE BEEN CONFERRED. THE DEGREE FOLLOWS THE 
NAME. 

Rev. John Graham, A. M., (177t,) IT-M . 

Hon. Ephraim Kirby, Mr., U. S. Judge, Louisiana, (1804,) 17S7. 

Hon. Nathaniel Smith, Mr., Memher Congress, and Judge Superior Conrt, 

Conn., (1S22,) 17'jr>. 
Hon. Nathan Smith, T\Ir., U. S. Senator, (lS:i.'),) ISOS. 

Nathaniel Perry, M. D., (Iv20,) l^l'.. 

Warren R. Fowler, M. D., (Wa.,) (Is2(i,) ISIS. 

Thomas Good^Lll, M. D., -Med. Prof., Hauiillon College, (Wa.,) IS2-2. 

Garry H. Minor, M. D., Ib2-). 

lloswcU Abernethy, M. D., lS2o. 

Isaac Goodsell, M. D., 1820. 

C3n\nt Catlin, M. D., (B.,) (1S30,) 1S2S. 

Charles II. Webb, lA. D. 

Remus M. Fowler, M. D., (Wa.,) 1S34. 

David B. W. Hard, M. D., (B.,) iS3L 

Lyman Catlin, M. D., (B.) 1:~:35. 

John E. Morris, M. D., ls3o. 

William C. Catlin, M. D , (B.,) lylO. 

Robert Crane, il. D., (B.) IS 13. 
Rev. John Churchill, A. M., ISM. 

Gaylord G. Bisscll, M. D., (B.,) Is 10. 

Henry Shclton Sanford, LL. D., Sec. of Legation, France, 1S52. 

Harmon W. Shove, M. D., 1S53. 

Thus have wc endeavored, in tlie simplest garb of truth, faithfully 
to trace the deeds of our departed fathers — their successes and re- 
verses, their joys and their sorrows, their virtues and their defects. 
The history of nearly two hundred years has passed before our 
view. We have been able, with some slight help from the imagina- 
tion, to behold the lineaments of each prominent actor on the stage, 
and have traced the j)erlection of the scenes. There is a pure and 
unalloyed pleasure in wandering amid the scenes and incidents of the 
long buried past. There is a sad and melancholy, though ennobling 
interest, in tracing the faintest recorded trace of the early fathers, 
who, having "wrought a good work," in their day and genei'ation, 
after " life's fitful fever," slecjp well, and have doubtless entered into 
the "joy of their Lord." To the dcscendents of these long departed 
worthies, such inquiries should be intensely interesting. No rcla- 



480 HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 

tionship by blood, or by affinity, may be traced between the writer 
and tlie dead of former generations in these ha))i)y vales. A stern 
and wise, thougli kind and judicious mother, an eastern sister state, 
contains his birthplace, his kin, his early friends and associations, 
and the ashes of the sainted dead — the loved and lost. Yet has his 
eye kindled, and his heart warmed with emotion and admiration, as 
he has traced, at the weary midnight hour, when the w'orld around 
him was locked in the arms of sleep, the many valuable and interest- 
ing items in the history and character of the Christian fathers of the 
early days in his adopted town. With them has he communed in 
the " silent night-watches," when there was no human eye to see, no 
ear to hear, nor sound to interrupt the placid flow of tender and en- 
nobling heart sympathies. It has nerved him anew for the battle of 
life, and been a balm for many a desponding hour. It is well said, 
that '' God's hand is in history," and, we may also add, in the inci- 
dents and elements that serve to form it. The descendants of Wood- 
bury have a proud historical heritage. Well may they contemplate 
with feelings of satisfaction, the wealth of the past. It should also 
serve to give them high and ennobling views of the charities, virtues 
and duties of life, and of the honor and gratitude they owe to the kind 
Giver of all things. If the exhausting labors required in dragging 
the contents of musty records to light, and saving them from oblivion, 
shall induce the sons of Woodbury to heed the noble principles of 
their fathers, and lead them to become more and more influenced and 
actuated by these views in their lives and conduct, then the humble 
writer of this volume will have " received his reward." 



CHAPTER XXI. 



GENEALOGICAL IIISTOKY. 



We come now to an exceedingly interesting part of our labor, and 
one which should occupy several volumes instead of being compressed 
within the narrow limits of a single chapter. Genealogical inqui- 
ries have become far more frequent than formerly, within the past 
few years. Such investigations have been pursued with becoming 
interest, perseverance, and indomitable labor. From the moldy rec- 
ords and manuscripts of the former days, many valuable facts and 
incidents in biography and genealogy have been brouglit to light and 
placed in the archives of history. 

This spirit of research, this inquiring after the history of one's 
ancestors, near or remote, is commendable. The sons of Nevv En- 
gland ha\c an ancestiy of whicli they may well be proud. We are 
far from saying that pride of birth and arrogance of position are to be 
commended and cultivated, or that they arc to be compared to an 
upright life and a virtuous character. In this regard, we join with 
Frederick of Prussia in the exclamatio)i, "■ I love the lineage of 
heroes ; but I love merit more. Patents of nobility are but phan- 
toms : true worth is within. Kings are nothing but men, and all 
men are equal." While, therefore, we repudiate the idea that there 
is any honor in searching tor an illustrious ancestry as a means to 
elevate the ignoble, in the estimation of the world, and in relying on 
such ancestry as a shield to cover not only a multitude of transgres- 
sions, but also great mental imbecility and meanness ; yet it is nev- 
ertheless true that the upright son of genius, who can point to a long 
and virtuous line of ancestors, whose fair fame has been by himself 
untarnished, has whereof he may well be proud. Not that mush- 
room, aristocratic pride so often witnessed in those whose fathers 



482 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

were from the lowest grade in life, wliieli leads its possessor daintily 
to spurn tlie air breathed by those whom it terms the " common 
herd ;" l>ut that manly pride experienced by those who are actuated 
by pure aspirations and high resolves for the good of mankind — for 
the advancement of the best interests of the race. Such men have 
a rio-ht to search the dim and dusty records of the past, and having 
found an honored and virtuous line of progenitors, have a right to be 
recorded as the riglitful descendants of an honored race. In this 
view, the inquiries into this subject made during the last few years 
with so good success, are eminently pi-aiseworthy. All such investiga- 
tions should tend to rebuke false pride and to encourage unobtrusive 
merit. There is no more contemptible spectacle in social life, than 
the foolish and absurd airs put on by miserable pretenders to stand- 
ing and refinement, so often seen by accurate and sensible observers. 
If such coxcombs and butterflies could know the supreme contempt 
bestowed upon their pretensions by all people of common sense, it is 
believed that some even of their number, bi-azen-faced and hardened 
as they have become, would be shamed into propriety. Such behav- 
ior is to the last degree vulgar and disgusting. There is no gentility 
in it. 

No inquiries can be more interesting to the intelligent student of 
human nature, than those that relate to the generations of men. 
The feelings that prompt them are just and natural — they give birth 
to some of the dearest charities of life and fortify some of the 
sternest virtues. The principle that prompts them lies deep within 
our nature. In the eloquent words of P^dward P>verett on a recent 
occasion, "The sacred tie of family, which reaching backward and 
forward, binds the generations of men together, and draws out the 
plaintive music of our being fi-om the solemn alternation of cradle 
and grave — the black and white keys of life's harpsichord ; the 
magical power of language, which puts spirit in communion with 
spirit in distant periods and climes ; the grand sympathies of coun- 
try, which lead the Greek of the present day to talk of ' the victo- 
ries we gained over the barbarians at Marathon ;' the mystic tissue 
of race, woven far back in the dark chambers of the past, and which 
after the vicissitudes and migrations of centuries, wraps up great 
nations in its broad mantle ; those significant expressions which 
carry volumes of meaning in a word — Forefather, Parent, Child, 
Posterity, Native Land : these all teach us, not blindly to worsiiip, 
but duly to honor the past, to study the lessons of experience, to 
scan the high counsels of man in his great associations, as those 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT W O O D 15 U R Y . 483 

counsels have been developed in constitutions, in laws, in maxims, in 
traditions, in great, undoubted ])rinci})les of right and wrong, which 
have been sanctioned by the general consent of" tliose wl)0 have gone 
before us ; thus tracing in human institutions some faint rellection 
of that divine wisdom whicli fasliioned the leaf, that unfolded itself 
six weeks ago in the forest, on the pattern of the leaf which was 
batlied in the dews of Paradise in the morning of creation." 

The design of this work contemplates the introduction of the 
genealogies of families bearing the early names in the ancient terri- 
tory only; though the genealogies of a few later names, whicli have 
been kindly furnished the author, have been inserted. Of the early 
names, all that t!ie records show has been given, in all cases. But 
the records show little genealogical matter since the date of the 
Ilevolution. Where those now bearing tlie name or blood of the 
families treated of, have been sufficiently interested in the matter to 
furnish the later branches of the several names, they have been in- 
troduced. The author would have been glad to have done the same 
with every otiicr name; but though he has been "•instant in season 
and out of season," in making inquiries, and has sent a myriad of 
letters, to individuals who should have been interested in the inves- 
tigation ; yet such has been the indifference or ignorance of those 
addressed, that many of the sketches are necessarily meager and 
imperfect. The great inattention and ignorance existing in relation 
to genealogical information has often been amusing to the writer, es- 
pecially when he has found intelligent and otherwise well informed 
persons unable to tell the names of their grandfathers. If, therefore, 
any one feels dissatisfied at the imperfection of any sketch, let him 
remember that he alone is to blame, as the author has introdnced all 
lie has gatliered from every reliable source, after making use of 
personal inquiries, printed circulars, and " unanswered letters." 

In a chapter containing so large a number of facts and dates, it is 
scarcely possible to prevent errors from intervening, and some such 
will doubtless be discovered. At the same time, the most unwearied 
pains have becni taken to have the genealogies attain as high a state 
of perfection in point of accuracy as it is possible for such inquiries 
to ac(iuire. To tliis end, after the author had carefully drawn out 
and examined them, the}^ Avere again examined by Philo M. Trow- 
bridge, Esq., a good anti(piarian and genealogical investigator, after 
which they were re-examined by the writer before committing them 
to press. It is therefore believed, that great reliance may be placed 
on their general accuracy. As all the information in the author's 



484 niSTORY OF ancient WOODBURY. 

possession concerning the families treated of has been given, there 
can be no ground for the suspicion of partiality among names. 



Abreviations — s. for son; dan. daughter; b. born ; bap. bap- 
tized ; m. married ; d. died ; w. wite ; ch. children ; wid. widow. 

Some of the larger genealogies are deduced or displayed by a sys- 
tem of numbering, which may need a word of explanation. 

The Arabic numbers running through the whole genealogy, are 
used to show the number of each individual in the series descended 
from the same ancestor, and to enable the reader to trace the ances- 
tors, or descendants, backward, or forward, with ease and facility. 
One number set under another, or two numbers set against the same 
individual, show that such individual has descendants, and the lower 
number indicates the place in the series, whei'e the descendants are 
to be found. The Roman numerals, or capital letters, are emjjloycd 
to show the number of children belonging to the same family. For 
example, in the " Averill Family," which follows, g' X. Augustin,'' 
shows that the person is No. 29 in the regular Arabic series, and 
that following on to the place next after No. 52, his family will be 
found. The X denotes Augustin to be the tenth child in that par- 
ticular family. The "* at the end of the name, denotes the individual 
to be of the Iburth generation from the first ancestor in the series, 
and so of all other immbers placed like an exponent at the end of 
the name — they show the generation. All names of persons having 
descendants, are necessarily repeated in their order, but arc not re- 
numbered, the denominator showing that the family will be found in 
the regular series next after itself. Thus, Augustin * (29) is repeated 
after No. 52, the (29) showing his original place in the series. 






AVERILL FAMILY. 

„ 1 Isaac,^ born about 1G85. He with two brothers emigrated 
from Milford Haven, Wales, supposed to be Englishmen. They ar- 
rived at Massachusetts Bay and settled at Topsfield, JNIass. One of 
the brothers removed to Pomfret, Conn. Isaac removed to Preston, 
Conn. ; he subsequently, probably before 1748, removed Avith his 
three sons to, and settled in the town of Kent, near the boundary be- 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 485 

tween Kent and Woodbury, now in the town of Washington, New 
Preston society. lie was one of the original members of the Con- 
gregational churoli in New Preston, formed Jan. 5, 1757. He and 
his sons were probal)ly among the first settlers of the place. lie had 
issue : 

4 I. Samuel, ■ b. 1715, married Patience Perry, at Rehoboth, 
Mass. She was b. 171(5, and d. Apr. I, 1790, a. 74. He d. Apr. 30, 
178G, a. 71. He took an active part in obtaining a charter for, and 
in establishing the New Preston Ecclesiastical Society, and was a 
man of decision and energetic character in devising and executing 
public business. On the Kent records it is found that Chere Werau- 
maug (an Indian cliicf) sold to Samuel Averill, a portion of Werau- 
maug Reserve, 100 acres more or less, July 20, 1749. 

■; II. Daniel," b. 17 IG, m. Lucy Cogswell; she was b. 1727, and 
d. Sept. 23, 1782, a. 55. He d. Oct. 23, 1785, a. G9. A deed from 
Daniel Averill to Edward Cogswell, of a portion of land in the We- 
raumaug Reserve, Jan. 18, 1748, is the oldest record yet obtained of 
the Averills being in New Preston. 

A III. Moses,- b. 1724, m. Martha CogswelL She was b. 1728, 
and d. July 30, 1781, a. 53. He d. Jan. 22, 1784, a. GO. He was 
deacon ia the Congregational church in New Preston, but lived on 
the borders of Judea. 

Samuel" (2) had issue by liis wife Patience: 

f, I. Samuel,' m. Sarah Payne. 

fu XL Perry,'' b. Sept. 18, 1754, m. Dorothy, dau. of Eliphalefc 
Whittlesey, Esq., of New Preston, Sept. 22, 1774. She was b. Sept. 
8, 1755, and d. July 12, 1824, a. G9. He m. secondly, Wid. Sarah 
Turrell, of New Milford, Dec. 8, 1C24. Shed. Mar. io, 1830, a. 83. 
He d. July 10, 1842, a. 88. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and 
subsequently colonel in the Conn, militia. 

7 III. Patience,' b. about 1741, m. IMorgan Noble, and settled in 
Vermont. 

Daniel' (3) had issue : 

8 I. Nathan, 2 m. Rosana Noble ; he settleil in Plattsburg, N. Y. 

9 II. Daniel,' m. Eunice Calhoun, May 17, 1784, and settled in 
Branford, Conn. 

10 III. Natiianiel,' settled in Amsterdam, Albany co., N. Y. 

11 IV. Judah,' b. 1750, d. May 18, 17.S4, a. 18. 
Moses- (4) had issue : 

12 I. Isaac.-' 

13 II. Elisha,' settled in Fai'mington, near Lake Erie. 



486 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODIJURY. 

14 III. Moses,^ settled in Salina, N. Y. 

15 IV. Philo,3 settled in Ohio. 

IT ^7-V n ' ■,>- twins, bap. Dec. 14, 1770. 
17 VI. CuiTcnce,-' j ' ^ ' 

SaraueP (5) had issue by his wife Sarah, in New Preston : 

;,' I. Nathaniel Perry," b. July 25, 1770, m. Mary, dau. of John 

Whittlesey, Esq., Sept. 25, 1792. She was born June 13, 1771. 

He settled in Washington, but removed about 1804 to Salisbury, 

Conn., where he and his wife now reside. 

19 II. Roger," m. Anne, dau. of Maj. William Cogswell, of New 
Preston, Dec. 31, 1797. 

Perry^ (G) had issue by his wife Dorothy: 

20 I. Perry,^ b. Mar. 28, 1775, d. Dec. 29, 1780, a, 5^ years. 

^i II. Eliphalet," b. Mar. 30, 1777, m. Mary, dau. of E. Root, Esq., 
of Hartford, Dec. 1, 1805. She was b. 178 1, and d. Aug. 12, 1819, 
a. 35. He m. secondly, Eunice, dau. of Elihu White, Esq., of Bolton, 
Mar. G, 1821. He became a distinguished merchant, and a promi- 
nent and respected citizen of Hartford, Conn., where he d. JMar. 8, 
1842, a. 65. 

22 III. .Ileman," b. March 23, 1779. He became a distinguished 
merchant in New York, where he took an active part in the forma- 
tion and operation of various benevolent and reforming institutions. 
He lived unmarried and died universally beloved, Dec. 30, 1834, a. 55. 

23 IV. Ciiloe," b. Jan. 21, 1781, m. Stephen Crane, of New Mil- 
ford, Aug., 1808. He d. March 21, 1843, a. about 70. They had 
issue, three sons and four daughters, viz. : 

Heman Averill,* b. Oct. 1, 1809 ; m. Julia R. Underwood, Nov. 
18, 1835. 

Henry Stephen,^ b. June 16, 1811 ; m. Betsey Bishop, Oct. 14, 
1833. 

Hannah Maria,-' b. April 16, 1813 ; d. April 12, 1840, a. 27. 

George Elliott,^ b. June 27, 1815 ; m. Emily Clark, Sept, 25, 1839. 

Mary Julia,= b. July 11, 1818; m. Warner, April 10, 1850. 

Caroline M.,' b. Oct. 21, 1820 ; m. II. Snyder, June 2, 1844. 

Jennett D.,-' b. March 24, 1823; m. George IM. Allen, April 20, 
1849. 

24 V. Dolly," b. Dec. 28, 1782; m. Wilmot Sperry, Dec. 9, 1803. 
She d. March 22, 1812, a. 30. They had issue, one son and three 
daughters. 

Horatio G.,'^ b. Sept. 5, 1806 ; m. Eliza Tomlinson, Oct. 20, 1834. 
Amy M.,'^ b. Jan. 13, 1808 ; m. John Angevine, Feb. 20, 1833. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT W O O D JJ U K Y . 487 

Flora,* b. Dec. IG, 1809 ; m. Harvey P. Turrell, Feb. 17, 183G. 

Dolly M.,'b. Feb. 10, 1812 ; m. Harvey Whittlesey. 

?4 VI. Perry,^ b. March Tt. 1785: m. Eunice Ann, dan. of Phiiieas 
Barnes, of Sonthbury, Sept. 22, 1808; she was b. March 10, 1788. 
She d. July 12, 1852, a. 04. lie settled in Southbury, Conn. 

'f^ VII. Samuel," b. Feb. 17, 1787; m. Petsey, dan. of Amos John- 
son. Esq., of Southbury, May .30. ISP"). She was b. May 5, 1787. 
He is a fanner upon the " Old Homestead," which he has materially 
improved. 

27 VIIL Matilda Patience.' b. Jan. 5, 1700 ; m. David Whittle- 
sey, Sept. 30, 1816. He was b. Aug. 18, 1787. She d. Dec. 31, 
1845, a. 5G. They had issue, two sons and four daughters, viz : 

Mary Averill,^ b. March 31, 1818; m. A. P. Campbell, Oct. 3, 
1835. 

Caroline M.,'' b. July 5, 1820 ; m. Silvanus Stuart, April 17, 1839. 
Sarah D.,^ b. May 25, 1822 : m. L. A. Warner, Nov. 7, 1847. 
Elisha A.,^ b. Dei. 25, 1824. 
Deming,5 b. Aug. 25, 1827. 
Helen M.,M). March 1. 1831. 

28 IX. Elisha,' b. April 30, 1702 ; graduated at Yale College, a 
classmate of Eev, President Wheat on, also of New Preston; he com- 
menced practicing law in New York, very soon after which he died, 
June 7, 1824, a. 32. 

f, X. Augustin," b. Aug. 30, 1795; m. Caroline Beach, July 12, 
1825 ; her mother's maiden name was Polly, dau. of Hezekiah 
Thompson, Esq., of Woodbury; she wash. 1802, and d. April 9, 
1837, a. 35. He m. 2, Margaret Fraser, at Woodbury, May 9, 1838 ; 
her mother was Amy, also a dau. of Hezekiah Thompson, Esq. He 
is a distinguished merchant in New York, and has occupied various 
offices connected with the public schools and charitable institutions of 
the city. 

•^l XL Frederick Wm.,' b. Feb. 14, 1798; m. Ann Keith, Dec. 
21, 1810 ; she was b. 1707, and d. Jan. 10, 1839, a. 42. He m. 2. 
Wid. Julia Welton, Oct. 24, 1830. He ultimately removed to 
Bethany, Genessee co., N. Y., where he now resides. 

% Xil. Horace," b. Nov. 14, 1801 ; m. Jennett Ilungerford, of 
Harwinton, Conn., April 17, 1830 ; he commenced mercantile busi- 
ness in Hartford, Conn. ; removed to All)any, N. Y., a few years 
since, where he is now in active business. 

Nathaniel P." (18) had issue by his wife Mary : 

32 I. Harriet,"^ b. Dec. 0. 1703 ; m. Lyman Brewster, of Salisbury, 
Conn. 



488 HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

33 II. Garra,-^ b. March 15, 179G ; mechanic and manufacturer. 

34 III. Jolin,^ (lied in infancy. 

35 IV. Sarah,' b. Feb. 2, 1801 ; m. Eicliard M. Hart, of Oliio. 

36 V. Chester,"* b. at New Preston, March 16, 1808; m. Miss 
Julia Pomeroy, of Stockbridge ; graduated and was subsequently a 
professor at Union College, N. Y. 

37 VI. Mary B.,^ b. at Salisbury, July 29, 1800. 

38 VII. Roger,^ b. Aug. 14, 1809 ; m. Miss Maria D. White, of 
Danbury, Conn. ; he graduated at Union College, N. Y., and is an 
attorney and counselor at law in Danbury, Conn. 

39 VIII. Matilda,-' died in infancy. 

40 IX, MatikhV b. Oct. 24, 1814 ; m. David P. Nichols, of Dan- 
bury. 

Eliphalet" (21) had issue by his wife Mary, in Hartford, Conn : 

41 I. Mary Jane,-' b. Sept. 18, 180G; m. Elisha Peck, Nov. 24, 
1825; he is now a merchant in New York city; she d. June 19, 
1836, a. 30. 

42 II. James Root,^ b. Feb. 20, 1810 ; graduated at Yale College. 

43 III. Henry Perry,' b. Oct. 10, 1813 ; m. Asenath Peck, April 
24, 1838. 

44 IV. Augustin,' by his second w^ife, Eunice ; he died in infancy. 
Perry "" (25) had issue by his wife, Eunice Ann, in Southbury, Ct. : 

45 I. Phineas Barnes,* b. Aug. 31, 1809; m. Eliza E. dau. of 
Samuel Wheeler, and has four sons and one daughter. 

4G II. Eliza Jane,' b. June 28, 1811 ; m. M. M. Canfield, and 
has two sons. 

47 III. Eunice Maria,' b. May 30, 1820 ; m. Robert Crane, M. 
D., Feb. 17, 1847, and has one son. 

SamueP (26) had issue by his wife, Betsey, in New Preston, Ct. : 

48 I. Dolly Betsy,' b. Jan. 23, 1817; m. D. W. Whittlesey, of 
Berlin, Conn., Sept. 4, 1830, and has two sons and two daughters. 

49 II. Samuel Johnson,'!). Feb. 25, 1819 ; m. Laura P. Piatt, of 
Southbury, Dec. 4, 1844 ; she was b. June 9, 1824. They have 
issue, four daughters ; he is a farmer upon the old homestead. 

50 HI. Martha,' b. Oct. 4, 1820 ; d. March 9, 1822, a. Ih years. 

51 IV. Mary,' b. Mnivh 23, 1822 ; m. Walker S. Seeley, April 
17, 1847 ; they have issue, two daughters ; he is a farmer in Wood- 
bury. 

52 V. Sally J.,' b. Nov. 7, 1824. 

Augustin' (29) had issue by his wife, Caroline, in New York : 

53 I. Lucy Caroline,' b. June 17, 1826 ; m. Wm. Churchill, Jr., 
merchant of New York, July 28, 1847, and has two daughters. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 489 

54 II. Perry Beacli,^ b. Feb. 28, 18l!8 ; d. Oct. 7, 18!20, a. 19 
months. 

55 III. Joseph Otis,^ b. Oct. 22, 1830; m. Sarah E., dan. of John 
H. Jones, Esq., of Cold Spring Harbor, Long Mand, May 12, 1852 ; 
she d. March 19, 1853; have one daughter; he is a merchant in 
New York city. 

56 IV. Aiigustin Gurley,' b. Oct. 00, 1832; d. Dec. 17, 18.33, a. 
13 months. 

Augustin had issue by his second wife, Margaret, two sons and 
three daughters, viz : 

57 V. Mary Frances,-' b. Oct. 24, 1840. 

58 VI. Margaret Eraser,-' b. May 10, 1843. 

59 VII. Louisa Edelston,^ b. Nov. 22, 1844. 

GO VIII. Ileman Augustin,^ b. Feb. 22, 1849 ; d. Feb. 23, 1852,, 
a. 3 years. 

61 IX. Augustin,^ Feb. 24, 1852. 

Frederick William," (30) had issue by his wife, Anne, in New 
Preston. 

G2 I. Polly Ann,= b. Dec. 17, 1820 ; d. April 22, 1840, a. 20. 

G3 IL Betsey,-' b. Oct. 14, 1822 ; m. L. C. Durgy, Feb. 2G, 1845. 

64 III. Cornelia,-' b. Sept. 8, 1824 ; m. D. D. Waite, of Ohio, 
Aug. 26, 1840. 

65 IV. JMartha,-' b. Feb. 17, 1828 ; m. C. G. Thomson, Nov. 1, 
1846. 

66 V. Ileman Perry,' b. Feb. 9, 1830; d. Sept. 8, 1831, a. 19 
months. 

G7 VI. Ileman Perry,' b. March 20, 1832; m. C. 11 Stark- 
weather, May 24, 1851. 

G8 VII. Charles William, b. April 23, 1834; d. March 8, 1836, 
a. 2 years. 

69 VIII. Charles Augustin,^ b. Oct. 31, 1836. 
Horace,^ (31) Iiad issue by his wife, Jennette. 

70 I. Mary Jane,' b. Aug. 1, 1840. 

71 II. William Kurd,' b. Sept. 3, 1842. 

72 III. Horace Perry', b. Feb. 23, 1852. 

Henry Perry,' (43) had issue by his w. Asenath. 

73 I. Ileniy Eliphalet." 74 IL James Perry." 75 III. Elisha P/ 

Phineas 13.,' (45) has issue by his ay. Eliza M., at South 
Britain. 

76 L EHphalet H.,*^ b. 17 July, 1833. 

77 IL Perry,'' b. 24 May, 1838. 

32 



490 niSTORT OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

78 III. Eunice Eliza,« b. 20 Sept. 1840. 

79 IV. Samuel Phineas,« b. 12 June, 1843. 

80 V. Frank Wheeler," b. 12 Aug. 1848. 

Samuel J.,^ (49) has issue by his w. Laura P., at New Pres- 
ton, Conn. 

81 I. Ellen Maria,'' b. 17 Dec. 1846. 

82 II. Mary Elizabeth,^ b. 30 Oct. 1848. 

83 III. Betsey Caroline,'' b. 6 Aug. 1850. 

84 IV. Edna Eliza,« b. 20 Nov. 1852. 

Ileman P.,'^ (G8) has issue by his w. Clarissa. 

85 I. Forester Wallace,** b. 22 Sept. 1852. 

A few of the foregoing list were born in Ancient Woodbury ; the 
greater part, however, were born in New Preston. As a whole, they 
have been public spirited, — decided and energetic in the performance 
of business and duty. Nearly all have been members of Congrega- 
tional churches. 



ATWOOD FAMILY. 



This has been a name of some consequence on the other side of the 
water. Sixteen different families have entered their coats of arms 
in the herald's office. It has been a numerous family on both sides 
of the Atlantic. Ten of the name have graduated at different colleges 
prior to 1853. 

The name of Atwood appeared in Massachusetts earlier than in 
Connecticut. John Atwood, Gent., from London, was made a free- 
man, 1630, and was assistant in the Plymouth colony in 1638. He 
brought over a large estate and died 1644. Phillip, aged 13, em- 
barked for New England in the Francis, of Ipswich, the last of April, 
1 634. Harman was member of the artillery company, 1 644, freeman, 
IG45, in Mass. Capt. Thomas, of Wethersfield, Conn., tradition says, 
was for a time captain of a company under Oliver Cromwell. He was 
a physician of some note, and died 1G82. Estate £148, 1 6*-. 9rf. He 
m. Abigail, and had Abigail b. Sept. 30, 1668. Andrew b. Sept. 1. 
1671. Jonathan b. June 8, 1675. Josiah b. Oct. 4, 1G78. 

1 Dr. Jonathan' emigrated to Woodbury, and Avas among the early 
settlers. He lived opposite to and owned the land constituting the 
homestead of Dr. G. II. Atwood. He married Sarah Terrill, Thanks- 
giving day evening, Nov. 5, 1701, and d. Jan. 1, 1733. His estate, a:4 
valued by his distributors, March 16, 1733, amounted to £469 55. 
Oliver had £235 5s. Jonathan £234. He had, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT -WOODBURT. 491 

2 I. Nathan,- b. Sept. 6, 1702, "early in the morning." He re- 
sided on the corner by Alex. Gordon's tannery, and was a very strong 
man. He d. a. about 24. 3 II. Mary= b. Oct. 22, 1703 ; d. Dec. 
22 following. 

4 III. Mary,= b. April 20, 1705, mother of Dr. Seth and Atwood 
Bird. 

- I IV. Lieut. Jonathan,^ b. Sept. 9, 1710; d. 1783. 
I, V. Oliver,^^ b. March 11, 1717 ; d. Jan. 30, 1810. 

■ Nathan,^ (2) had 
il, I. Ehjah,'' b. April 11,1724; d. Nov. 29, 1804. 

8 11. Sarah,^ b. June 29, 172G. 

Lieut. Jonathan,- (5) m. Hannah Sherman; she d. May 4, 1790, 
and had 

9 L Mary,3 b. April 20, 1733 ; m. April 15, 1751, John Stoddard. 

10 IL Lucy,^ bap. May 11, 1735; m. Abel Woodward, f. Dr. 
Sherman, David, Sec. 

11 III. Olive,' b. Jan. 15, 1738 ; m. 1. Timothy Strong, 2. Amoi 
Allen. 

- 12 IV. David,=' bap. Jan. 13, 1740 ; d. young. 

Y }2 V. David/ b. Oct. 3, 1742 ; m. Martha Waller, Dec. 17, 1765, 

14 VI. Jerusha,^ b. March 23, 1745 ; m. David Minor, mother of 
Mrs. Reuben Martin and Mrs. Daniel Hill. 

15 VIL Esther,^ bap. Aug. 30, 1747; m. Asa Atwood. 

16 VIIL Sarah,^b. April 27, 1750; m. 1. Thomas Orton ; had 
live children ; 2. Esq. Jackson, Masi^. 

17 IX. Jonathan,^ bap. Aug. 30, 1752, (single) ; d. 181 G. 

18 X. Hannah,' b.March 27, 1755 ; m. 1. Benjamin Martin ; 2. 
Deodate Silliman, Esq., Stepney, Conn. 

19 XI. Phebc,' b. Oct. 9, 1759; d. same year. 

Elijah,^ (7) m. Annah Jocelyn, of East Haven ; (she d. 1814) and 
had 

3^ I. Jessc,^ b. INIay 12, 1752; m. Racliel Minor; went to Jeffer- 
son, N. y. and d. about 1834. 

% IL Asa,^ b. Dec. 31, 1753 ; m. 1. Esther A. ; 2. Hurd, 

and was shot by the British in N. Y. city, the day it was evacuated. 

22 IIL Molly,* b. Nov. 24, 1755 ; m. Elijah Weller, and had I. 
Iluldah, m. 1. Gersham Douglass ; 2. Clark Beard. IL Annis, m. 
went west. IIL Benjamin, went into the army. I V. Orry, m. Arra 
Cady. V. Sally, ra. 1. -Brown;. 2. Benajah Edwards. 

fi IV. NobV b. Nov. 23, 1758; m. Margaret, dau. Stephen Judd- 

24 V. Sally,' bap. Jan. 31, 17G2; m. Obadiah Monson ; had L 
Barney. 



492 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

M VI. Elijah," b. Marcli 15, 17G5 ; m. Abigail Atwood. 

26 VII. Anna,^ bap. May 15, 1768 ; m. Uri Bronson. 

Davitl,^ (13) had 

27 I. Phebe,^ m. Sanford. 

28 II. Abigail,' m. Elijah Atwood ; d. 1834, Jan. 29. 

29 III. Esther,-* bap. Oct. 2, 1774; m. Elijah Daley; had 
Garry, &c. 

30 IV. Samuel," bap. Dec. 29, 177G ; m. Irene Orton, Jan. 11, 1798. 

31 V. Thomas,' bap. June 25, 1780. 

Oliver,^ (6) m. 1. Lois Wheeler, Nov. 12, 1740 ; 2. Nancy Wells; 
3. Naomi Fairchild, and had by 1. 

TO I. Deac. Nathan,^ b. 1741 ; m. Ilhoda Warner, Jan. 4, 17C3 ; d. 
1803. 

33 11. Gideon,^ b. March 3, 1743 ; lived single, and d. in Bethle- 
kem, Feb. 9, 1827, and gave his property to the town, two societies 
and Gen. Bird. 

1^0 III. Elisha,3 b. April 27, 1745 ; d. May 24, 1825. 

35 IV. Ann,^ b. June 3, 1747 ; m. 1. Simeon Martin, 1767, and had 

I. Anna, m. Jonas Minor. II. Philena, m. Joseph Minor, and 2. 
Mr. Holt. Anna had I. Electa ; m. Minot Smith. II. Chloe, m. 
Burton Judson. III. Armilla, m. 1. Alpha Scott ; 2. F. S. Atwood, 
no issue. Philena had Simeon M. and Albert. 

,T. V. John,3 b. March 19, 1749. By 2d. 

37 VI. Wells,^ m. Lydia Atwood. 

38 VII. Nancy,^ m. 1 Allen Carrington, of Woodljridge ; 2. Elihu 
Sanford, N. H. 

Jesse," (20) had 

39 I. Asa,^ m. lived at Lockport, N. Y. ; d. about 1843. 
J? II. William,^ b. June, 1783 ; ra. Clarissa Martin. 

41 III. Lydia,^ ra. Wells Atwood ; went west. 

42 IV. Betsey,'^ m. Beecher Tolles ; went to N. Y. state ; had 
children. 

43 V. Ally ,5 single. 

44 VI. Anna,'^ m. Jacob Jones, N. Y. 

45 VII. Jared.^ 

Asa," (21) had by 1 wife, and she died. 

46 I. Ichabod,^ m. lived in Ellsworth ; moved to Ohio. By 2d. 
47. II. Asenath,'^ m. when aged, old Mr. Chapman. 

William,-' (40) had 
48 I. Jason." 

Noble," (23) had 



HISTORY OK ANCIENT WOODBURY. 493 

49 I. Dr. Curtis,^ b. April 10, 1783 ; A. B. Y. C. ; m. had cliil- 
(Iren, lived in S. C. 

5s n. Stephen/ b. April 14, 1785 ; m. Ruth Bronson. 

P, III. Warner,^ b. Aug. 27, 1787 ; m. Zillah Drew. 

52 IV. Nanc}',* m. Chauncey Dayton ; had Noble, Lewis and 
Curtis, cVc. 

^ V. Elijah,' m. Permelia Atwood. 

Elijali,* (25) (nicknamed Hardhead,) had 

fj, I. Washington H.,-' m. Maria Stone. 

55 11. Harriet,^ m. Philo Atwood. 

,^4 III. David,^ m. Huldah INIanvill. 

il IV. Henry C.,^ b. March 13, 1801 ; m. Jane Lum, Oct. 6, 
1822, of Oxford. 

58 V. Annor,^ m. George Ketchuin ; had I. Frederick. II. ]\Iary, 
and III. Rollin. 

Stephen,^ (50) had 

59 I. Chauncey," b. Jan. 13, 181G; m. Martha Atwood; had 
Bernice. 

60 II. 01ive,«b. June 25, 1817; m. Russel Dayton, N. Y., iu 
1843; d. 1844. 

5^ III. George,^ b. April 25, 1819 ; m. 1. Nancy Porter; 2. Wid. 
Mary Dayton, dau. of Samuel Scovill. 

62. IV. Maria," b. Dec. 31, 1820 ; m. Chester Atwood, Mar., 1849. 

63 V. Marcia," b. Sept. 18, 1823 ; d. Dec. 22, 1825. 

64 VI. Dotha," b. Sept. 16, 182G; d. July IG, 1842. 

65 VII. Henry N.," b. Sept. 22, 1828 ; d. July 13, 1833. 
6G VIII. Eben," b. April 17, 1831. 

G7 IX. Margaret," b. Jan. 27, 1837. 

Warner,^ (51) had 
68 I. Charles," m. Eunice Andrews, Cheshire. 
G9 II. Jane," m. Almon Mansfield ; had one girl and died. 

70 III. Nancy," single, died. 

71 IV. Hannah," m. Frank Lewis, Bristol; had Frank. 

72 V. Noble," m. Alma E. Ilawley ; had girl. 

73 VI. Mary." 

Elijah,^ (53) had 

74 I. Chloe," m. Nelson Hayes ; no issue. 

75 II. Belinda," m. Morgan Morehouse ; had two boys. 
7G III. Harvey," m. Semantha Holmes ; had a daughter. 

77 IV. Roderic." 

George," (Gl) had by 1 w. 

78 I. Curtis B.'' 79 II. Henry P.' 80 HI. Herbert."' 



494 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

Deac. Nathan,^' (32) had 

81 I. Mary," b. June 1, 1705 ; m. Thomas Judson, and had I. 
Philo. 11. Rhoda, m. Wm. Minor. III. Sylvester, ra. Lois King. 

Is' 11. Nathan," b. May 30, 1767 ; d. 1853 ; m. 1. Susanna Minor 
2. Althea Gillette. 

83 III. Joseph," b. Sept. 28, 1770 ; m. Polly Tuttle. 

^ IV. Daniel,^ b. July 8, 1772 ; m. 1. Polly Brown, May 15, 
1794 ; 2. Maria Mansfield. 

85 V. Abel," b. Feb. 13, 1779 ; m. Clara Judson ; had cb. Nathan, 
Almon, Caroline, &c. 

Nathan," (82) had by 1. 

86 I. Salina,^ bap. Feb. 8, 1789 ; m. Deac. B. M. Peck ; had 
Samuel. 

87 II. Rev. Anson S.,^ bap. Oct. 17, 1790 ; A. B. Y. C. ; m. at 
Mansfield, Conn. 

,u III. Norman,"' bap. 1792 ; m. Abigail Woodward. 
^5 IV. Nathan W.^ m. had children, I. Laura, m. &c. 

90 V. Alma,'' m. Lester SutlifF, had issue. 

Daniel," (84) had by 1st w. 

91 I. Milo,^ m. Sophia Lum ; had I. Emily." II. Mary." III. 
Benjamin." 

92 11. Eliza,^ m. Elijah, son of Job Northrop; had Sarah, m. Mr. 
Cossett. 

^ III. Hermon Garry,"* m. Betsey Northrop, dau. Wid. Phebe 
Northrop. By 2d. 

94 IV. Polly.^ 95 V. Albert.=^ 
Hermon G.,^ (93) had 

96 I. Cornelia," m. Grandison Hamlin. 

97 II. George," m. Elizabeth Smith. 

98 III. Sarah." 99 IV. Edwin." 

100 V. Hiram," b. Jan. 22, 1844. 
Washington H.,^ (54) had 

101 I. Mary,"m. Levi Crouch, Jr. ; had Ella Maria. 

102 II. Edward W.," m. Eliza Pitt ; had John Washington. 

103 HI. Walter." 104 IV. Henry." 
David,=* (56) had 

105 I. Henry," m. Hannah Thomas. 106 II. George.^ 

107 III. Charles," m. dau. M. C. Russell. 

108 IV. Sarah." 109 V. Elizabeth." 

Henry Clinton,* (57), inspector of customs N. Y. city from 
1838 to '41 ; surveyor from '44 to '45; was guager from 
'45 to '49, and had 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 495 

110 I. Charles W., b. 1823; m. Henrietta A. Hammond, 1843 ; 
inspector of customs in the port of N. Y. from 1844 to '9. 

111 II. Henrietta. 
Norman,* (88) had 

112 I. Lucius," m. in Bristol. 

113 II. Lucinda," \ . m. West. 

114 III. Belinda,") ^^^''"^^' m. Henry Daniels. 

115 IV. Rebecca." 

116 V. Frederick," m. in Cincinnati, Ohio. 117 VI. George.* 

118 VII. Cornelia," m. Joshua Reed, R. I. 

119 VIII. Lewis," m. Elizabeth Piatt ; had girl. 

120 IX. William," and deserted his wife. 

Elisha,^' (34) m. Mary, dau. Dr. Henry Skilton, and had 

l^J L Oliver,^ b. Sept. 15, 17G8 ; m. 1. Susanna Monson ; 2. 
Mary Handy. 

Jl II. Henry S.,'' m. 1. Ruth Guernsey, dau. Amos ; 2. Charlotte 
Guernsey, dau. Bethel C. 

il IIL ElisluV m. Lucy Carr, Sept. G, 1798. 

124 IV. Gideon,^ d. young. 

II V. Gideon,^ m. Sally Strickland. 12G VL Mary A.," d. young. 

127 VII. Mary A.\ m. Friend Guernsey ; had no issue. 

\f, VIII. Wheeler,^ m. 1. Susannah Stoddard ; 2. Harriet, dau. 
Daniel Riggs. 

129 IX. Lucy,^ m. Wm. Hotchkiss, and had I. Nancy, m. Daniel 
Upson; no issue. 11. Robert, (m. 1. Rebecca Leavenworth ; had L 
Catharine. 2. m. Caroline Fenn ; had II. James. III. John.) III. 
Henry, (m. Hannah Trowbridge, and had I. William, II. Franklin,) 
IV. Ann, m. Alva De Wolf, and had I. Huldah, II. Eliza, III. Ma- 
ria, V. Harriet. 

^^ X. Reuben,^ m. Abia Piatt, went to Pa. 

'^, XL Harvey ,< b. July 30, 1784 ; m. Betsey, dau. Bethel C. 
Guernsey. 

132 XII. Betsey,* m. Joseph Bryan, and had I. Mary, m. Zerali 
Tousley, judge Orleans co. court, N. Y. and ha-d children, II. Lucy, 
d. single. III. David S., A. B. Union College, studied law, went to 
N. O., m. had a son, lost his 1. and has his 2. wife. IV. Joseph A. 
m. Rebecca Millard, Orleans co. N, Y. V. Betsey, d. single. 
183 XIII. Sheldon,'' d. a. 18. 

Oliver," (121) had by 1 
134 L Permclia,^ m. Elijah A. 

"2 IL Holmes,^ ra. Anna Lunden ; lived in Pa. ; moved to Wis- 
consin. 



496 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

147 III. Hawkins,'' m. Irene Judson, By 2d. 

137 IV. John A./ b. April 1810 ; m. Lydia A. Bingham, b. Dec. 
1811, dau. Mary Force, and had I. Olive L., b. 1838, II. Eoxanna P., 
b. 1841, III. Emily S., b. 1845, IV. Julia M., b. 1847. 

138 V. Gilbert,^ m. Jannet Wright ; had I. Alma. 

139 VI. Eliza,'' m. Lucius Foot ; had two boys and was divorced. 

140 VII. George,^ m. Polly Spencer. 

141 VIII. Olive.^ 

142 IX. Ephraim C.,' m. Ruth Ann A. ; had I. Jane. 
Holmes,^ (135) had 

143 I. Oliver H.« 144 II. Mary Ann." 145 III. Gifford." 
146 IV. Wheeler.6 ^47 y^ Morriss." 

Hawkins,^ (136) had 

148 T. Susanna," m. Scovil Terrill. 

149 II. Minot." 

loO III. Josiah,^ m. in Wallingford. 

151 IV. Wealthy," m. 

152 V. Sherman.'' 

Henry S.* (122) had by 1st wife, 

153 I. Tabitha,^ m. Asa Porter; had I. Henry. II. Ruth, m. 
Noah Judson, no issue. III. George, m., had two sons, wife d. IV. 
John. V. Nancy, m. George Atwood. Porter deserted her. 

154 11. Buel,^ m. Sally Waugh ; had Julia," m. George," John," 

&c. 

;f III. Charles,^ m. Polly Andross. 

2^9 IV. Ilenry,'^ m., lives in Ga., has children. 
157 V. Joel,MB. Aug. 15, 1823, 1. Nancy, (dau., Peter Guern- 
sey, and had I. Marshall, d. II. Henry, m. Maria Wheeler.) 2. 
Polly Curtiss, Newtown, and had Marshall, &c. 

51 VI. Hinman,'* b. Feb. 27, 1799 ; m. 1. Maria Wooster, d. 2. 
Dotha, dau. Abijah, Guernsey divorced. 3. Alma Strickland, di- 
vorced. 4. Eliza De Forest, b. July 28, 1809. 
Charles,* (155,) had 

159 I. Amelia," m. Lyman Beardslee and d. leaving two dau'rs. 

160 II. Louisa," m.l. Wm. Hawkins; had one dau'r. 2. Fi-iend 
Eggleslon ; had boy. 

161 III. Delia, " m. Jonas Hungerford ; had one dau. one son. 

162 IV. Emeline," m. Albert Case, Bristol; d. leaving two dau. 

163 V. Edward," single; d. Aug., 1847. 

164 VI. Sarah S." 

165 VII. Mary B.," m. Bloodgood. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 497 

ir.G YIII. James M.,'' m. 1. Helen J^IeiTills, d. no issue. 2. Mary 
Speriy. 

1 G7 IX. l)a\i(]/' ni. jMuriii Spellman ; hud dau. b. Ls !o. 
1G8 X. Grace,'" d. young. 

Ilinman,-' (loB) luid two dau's by 1st w. that d., and also 
IGO I. Ilobert A.,'"' b. Aug. 4, 1822 ; m. in N. Hartford. By 4tli, 

170 n. Lovinia,'' b. Aug. 0, 1830. 

171 III. Scovill L.,'' b. Oet. 22, 18.")!; m. Augusta Smith, of 
Northfield. 

172 IV. Sarah B.,'= b. July 0, 1833. 

173 V. Samuel E.,*^ b. Oet. 30, 183.5 ; drowned in Waterbury? 
1853. 

174 YI. Ann Eliza,"^ b. March 20, 1836. 

175 VII. Ealph H.,« b. April 8, 1838; made dejif and mute by 
scarlatina, 1844. 

176 VIII. Henry Walter,*^ ) . , . ..loon 

177 Tx- TT w H « - twuis, b. Aug. 2, 183'J. 

177 IX. Harry VV allace, ' ) «= ' 

178 X. C. F. Cleveland,^ b. Aug. G, 1843. 

179 XL Henry S.,« b. May 23, 1845. 

180 XII. Ellen Jane," b. Oct. 30, 1846. 
Elisha,' (123) had 

\% I. Collins,"' m. 1. Emeline Scott; moved to Ohio; has his '2d 
wife. 

Ig II. Burr B.,= m. Charlotte Ilawley, 1830. 

183 III. Mary,-' m. Henry Sandland. 

184 IV. Merrit,' b. 1807 ; single; d. 1828. 

185 V. Garner ' m. Charlotte Hyde; had I. Lucy: IT. Franklin, 
and moved to N. Y. state. 

18G VI. Ann,' m. Henry Smith. 
187 VII. Kuth,* m. George Smith. 
Z YIII. Chester,-' m. Maria A. 

Collins,* (181) had by 1st, 
189 I. Lamira,*' m. 190 IL Martha," m. 191 HI. Merrit, 
192 IV. Birge," 193 Y. Juliet." 

Burr B.,5 (182) had 

194 L Kuth A.," b. 1831 ; m. E. C. A., 1850. 

195 IL Martin V. B.," h. 1834. 

196 IIL Elisha,*^ b. 1837. 

197 IV. Oliver," b. 1840. 

198 V. ]\Iary A.," b. 1842. 

199 VL Marian," b. 1845. 



498 



HISTOKY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



200 VII. Charlotte M.« b. 1848; lived eight days. 

201 VIII. Nancy," b. 1851. 
Cliester,^ (188) had 

202 I. Bennet C. 203 II. Benjamin D. 
Gideon,^ (125) had 

189 I. Stiles,' single ; d. 1850, at Alabama, worth $450,000. 

190 II. Hannah,^ m. Bennet Wooster. 

191 III. Sally,^ m. Harson Northrop, Wisconsin, and had 

I. Stiles ; II. Marshall ; III, Martha, twins ; IV. Dex- 
ter; V. Harson. 

192 IV. Juliet,^ d. single, at Ala. 
Wheeler," (128) had by 1st, 

193 I. dau.,^ d. young, 1798. 

lU II- Horace S.,^ b. 1800 ; m. Maria Morriss. 
^ HI. John N.,^ m. Lois Strickland. 

196 IV. Susan,'' m. Bansford Foot; went to N. Y. state ; had 
issue. 

Z V. Wm. R.,5 m. Roxy Morriss ; d. 1852, ae. 45. 

198 VL Samuel,^ m. Clarinda L. Jones, New Milibrd, and had 
I. Zachery T." 

199 VII. Sarah,5 m. 1. Gid Crane, and had I. Dwight; 2. Ed. 
Hannah, and had II. Juliet ; III. Ruluff. 

200 VIII. Martha,^) m. Chauncey A.; had Bernice, b. 

Uwins. Oct., 1849. 

201 IX Mary,* ) m. Julius Smith, and had issue. 

202 X. Wheeler,'' m. Louisa, dau. Lewis Judd, and had I. 
Lucy." By 2d wife, 

203 XL Franklin,'' d. young. 

204 XIL Dwight Starr.'* 

205 XIIL Lewis Hart,^ b. May 19, 1843. 

206 XIV. Amos Gridley.* 
Horace S.,'* (194) had 

207 L Julia." 

208 II. Margaret." 

209 IH. Roger," d. March, 1844. 

210 IV. Benjamin," d. March, 1844. 

211 V. Roger IL," b. Dec. 25, 1847. 
John N.,* (195) had 

212 I. Stephen C," m. wid. Ann Davis, dau. Nathan Woodward, 
and had I. Joseph M.; II. John N. 

213 II. William," m. Betsey French ; had L Lois. 

214 III. Susannah," m. Theodore Merwin. 



niSTOUT OK ANCIENT WOODBUKT. 490 

215 IV. Sarah." 

216 V. John." 

217 VI. Harrison." 

218 VII. Abigail,'' b. Dec. 5, 1844. 
William R.,^ (107) had 

219 I. Ellen." 220 II. Stoddard," d. 1852. 221 III. Morriss." 222 

IV. Frank," b. May 15, 1844. 223 V. Arvesta." 224 
VI. Vestina." 225 VII. Goodwin." 226 VIII. Wm 
R.," b. 1853. 
Reuben," (130) had 

227 I. Silas,^ m. 

228 11. Caroline,-^ m. Eli Gibbs. 

229 III Mary Ann/ d. single. 

230 IV. Wheeler.^ 

231 V. George,' m. Henrietta Taylor. 232 VI. Julia,^ d., ae. 18. 
Harvey," (131) m. Betsey Guernsey, May 13, 1809, and had 

233 I. Charlotte,-' b. May 10, 1810; d. Sept. 19, 1814. 

234 11. Charlotte Elizabeth,' b. Aug. 5, 1815 ; d. Oct. 10, 1819. 
g? HI. Garwood Harvey,' b. Dec. 5, 1818. A. B. M. D. Yale. 
f^ IV. Leman Guernsey,^ b. April 28, 1821. 

237 V. Preston,' b. May 5, 1825. 

Garwood 11,^ (235) m. Henrietta Eliza Judson, sole issue of 
Henry and Nancy Judson, May 1, 1848, and had 

238 I. Henrietta Elizabeth," b. Oct. 18, 1849. 

239 II. Eliza II.," b. Oct. 14, 1851. 

Leman G.,^ (236) m. Delia Melinda, dan. Laurens Judson, 
and had 
240. I. Helen Ophelia," b. March 20, 1842. 

241 IL Howard Harvey," b. Feb. 10, 1852. 

John,^ (36) m. 1. Concurrence Hurd. 2. Martha Brooks- 
3. Phebe Northorp, and had by 1st, 

242 I. Lucy," m. 1. Joel Martin. 2. Col. Curtis Tomlinson. 

^^ IL Truman," b. 1772 ; m. Matilda Picket, New Milford ; d. 
Sept. 12, 1834. 

244 III. Anna," died young. 

?§ IV. James," b. 1775; m. 1. Prudence Stoddard; 2. widow 
Abigail Lewis ; 3. Rosetta Cherevoy ; 4. Aurilla Hine, (divorced.) 

246 V. Michael," b. 1777 ; m. 1. Mabel Peat ; 2. Polly Northorp. 

247 VI. Concurrence," b. 1779; d. young. 
By 2d wife, 



500 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



248 VL Philo,' b. 1782; m. 1. Fairchild; 2. Harriet 

Atwood. 

249 VIII. Ruth Ami/ b. 1783 ; m. Chjunicey Hall, Dec. 5, 1803 ; 
had Fred'k and Chauncey. 

250 IX. Polly,^ b. 1785 ; ra. Daniel Bellamy, Oct. 9, 1802. 

251 X. Minerva," b. 1787 ; m. Henry Oaks, N. H.; had issue. 

252 XI. Martha," d. young. • 
Truman," (243) had 

253 I. Currence,'* in. Bethuel Foot. 

254 II. Delia,^ m. Norton, Berlin. 

255 III. Mills,^ m.; had a son David Judson." A. 
25G IV. Hector,^ 

James," (245) had by 1st, 
257 L Olive,^ m. Elmore Judson, and had I. Minerva, m. Elijah 
D. Judson. II. Thomas, m. Ann Millard. III. Wesley. 

'^ IT. Frederick S.,^ m. 1. Maria Tuttle ; 2. Wid. Armilla Scott ; 
3. Wid. Sarah Hurd. 

259 III. Sylvia S.,^ m. Niram Warner and had I. Sarah, ra. Geo. 
Camp, of New Preston. II. George. 
re" IV. John Bird,^ m. Maria Lewis. 
Fred'k S.,^ (258) had by 1st, 

261 Abiram S.," m. Cornelia North; had Eugene," b. March 14, 
1847. 

262 Chauncey H.," m. Abby Hamblin, of Bristol ; had a son. 

263 Jannet," m. Nathan Warner, Jr.; had a dau. 

264 George," m. Huldah Carrington, of Bristol, 1853. 
John B,,* (260) had by Maria, 

265 I. Estella." 

266 II. Victoria^ 

267 III. Frances," 

268 IV. James,« 

269 V. Helen Ada," and parted from her. 

Henry,* (156) m. Margaret Ann Mcintosh in 1825 and had 

270 I. Ruth Ann.« 

271 II. Jane M.« 

272 ITT. Sarah.« 

273 IV. William Henry,« 

274 V. James Alfred. 

275 VI. Matilda R.,« and a pair of twins, (sons.) 

Nathan W.,* (89) ra. Sarah Gillette, dau. Althea G.,and had 

276 I. Laura," m. Burwell. 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODDURY. 501 

277 II. ]\Iinerva," m. JMarsli. 

278 III. Martha Jane,*' m. Ilichanlson, and two sons, one 

1844, and the other ^Yas drowned in AVaterburj. 



AMBLE K FAMILY 



Abraham Ambler, of Stamford, Conn., m. Mary , Dec. 25, 

1662, He was probably son of Richard Ambler, of Watcrtown, 
Mass, Abraham and Mary had issue, 1, Mary, b, Jan, 15, 1G63 ; 
2. Abraham, b. .Jan. 5, 1GG5; 8, John, b. Feb. 18, 1667 ; 4. .Joshua, 
b. Sept. 8, 1670; 5. Saveas, (a dau.) b. Oct. 6, 1G72; perhaps 
others. 

Abraham, Jun., of Stamford, had Sarah, b. Dec. 29, 1721 ; Abra- 
ham, b. Feb. 2, 1724, and others. 

Stephen, of Stamford, had John, b. March 24, 1728; Joseph, b. 
Oct. 4, 1727, and others. 

David Ambler, Esq, was born at Stamford, April 29, 1739, and 
came to Bethlehem society in 1773, Ilis father, Stephen, then resi- 
ding at Stamford, afterward died there. David m. Nov. 3, 1761, 
Olive Wildman, sister of Rev. Benjamin Wildman, of Southbury. 
He had for a long period the supervision of the town affairs in the 
eection Avliere he resided ; was an efUcicnt magistrate, and during the 
Revolution rendered important services to the country, as committee 
of safety, and in procuring and forwarding supplies to the army. He 
d. Jan, 8, 1808, His wife survived him many years, and resided 
with her daughter at Bridgewatcr, Oneida Co., N. Y. Cliildren as 
follows. 

1. Betty, b. Kov. 8, 17G2, m. Lebbius Camp ; 2. Billy, b. June 29, 
1764 ; 3. OHve, b. Feb. 7, 1766 ; 4. Dorcas, b. Oct. 14, 1768 ; 5. 
Polly, b. Dec, 4, 1772, m, 1, Hoi-ace Brace, 2, Ebenezer Frisbie ; 
6. Sarali, b, Jan. 21, 1774 ; 7. Daniel, b. Jan. 8, 1776 ; 8. Olive, b^ 
.Jan. 3, 1779; 9. Dorcas, b. Nov. 1, 1780, m. Dr. Lawrens Hull, of 
Angelica, N. Y-; 10. Sarah, b. June 7, 1786, m. 1. William Durand, 
2. Luther Holbrook. 

Billy Ambler, son of David, Esq., ni. Elizabeth Camp, and had, 1. 
Olive, k Sept, 4, 1791, d. May 21, 1793 ; 2. Selina, b. May 29, 1794, 
d. Aug. 19, 1796 ; 3. Polly, b. Nov. 29, 1795, d. March 9, 1820 ; 4. 

Joseph, b. Nov. 6, 1797, m. Eunice IMason, and d. 18 , without 

issue ; 5. Charles W., b. March 17, 1799, m. Melinda Tanner, and 



502 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

has an only child, John T.; G. John C, b. Jan. 3, 1801 ; 7. Betsey, b. 
June 15, 1802, m. 1. Camp Hatch, 2. Jabez Whiting; 8. SuSan W., 
b. June 11, 1804, m. JohnR. Church; 9. Cynthia A., b. May 19, 1806, 
m. Chester Hall ; 10. OHve Selina, b. Aug. 23, 1809, d. unmarried. 
David, Jr., m. Ruth Thompson, of Goshen ; removed to Augusta,- 

N. Y., both living. Their children are, Charles, Eliza, m. Rice, 

Caroline, Augusta, d. unm., Mary, Charlotte, Lucretia, David and 
Rhoda. 



bakp:r familx. 

Baker is an old name at Boston and other places in Massachusetts ; 
also at Dover, New Hampshire, at Hartford, and many other towns 
in Connecticut. 

Joshua Baker, stm of Alexander Baker, of Boston, b. there in 
1G42, moved to New London about 1670, m. and had children, among 
whom it is believed was John, b. Dec. 24, 1081, who came to Wood- 
bury from New London, and d. in 1750. The name of his first wife 
was Comfort, of the second vSarah ; children as follows. 

1. John, bap. April, 1703 ; 2. Ephrqiim, bap. Feb., 1707 ; 3. Mary, 
bap. March, 1709, m. Joseph Allen, March 11, 1736-7, father of Col. 
Ethan Allen ; 4. Remember, b. Feb. 22, 1712 ; 5. Sarah, bap. Oct.. 
1715 ; 6. Elijah, b. May 16, 1718 ; 7. Elisha, b. Oct., 1724. 

Dea. John, Jr., d. May 7, 1787, had a wife, Patience, and 
children, 

1. Mercy, b. Feb., 1726; d. July 6, 1735. 

2. Eliakim, bap. May 19, 1728 ; had children, 

1. Patience, bap. July 22, 1753, m. Benjamin Clark, Sept, 

21, 1775; 2. Phineas, bap. Sept. 21, 1755; 3. Mary, bap. 

Sept. 11, 1757 ; 4. Silas ; 5. Jacob ; Eliakim ; the three 

bap. June 9, 1774. 

' 3. Mary, bap. March 8, 1730; m. Abraham Thomas, Jan. 31. 

1751. 

4. Damaris,b. April 22, 1733 ; d. Dec. 31, 1736. " 

5. Seth, b. July 14, 1735 ; had 

I. Thaddeus, bap. May 3, 17GI, m. Ann Castle, Jan. 7, 1791 ; 2. Alplieus, 
bap. May 9, 17G2 ; 3. Abigail, bap. Sept., 21, 17(35 ; 4. Seth, bap. Nov. 9, 17G6 ; 
5 Joseph, bap. March 1, 1772; 6. Sarah, bap. Jan. 2, 1774; 7. Lucy, bap. 
Oct. 8, 1775; 8. CnrtLs, bap. Oct. 21. 17S1. 

G. John, bap. Oct. 17, 1742 ; d. young. 



H I S T O H Y OF ANCIENT W O O I) B U II T . 503 

7. Damaris, bap. Dec. IG, 1744, m. Nathan Rumsey, Aug. 19, 
1765. 

8. John, bap. April ."^ 1748 ; d. Aug. 28, 1774. 

Ephraim, second son of John, m. Sarah Blakeley, Jan., 17.33. 
Children, 1. Samuel, bap. Nov. .3, 1734 ; 2. Daniel, bap. May 15 
1737, d. 178G ; 3. Sarah, bap. July 22, 1739, m. John Woodruff' 
Feb. 3, 1756. 

Remember, third son of John, was accidentally killed on Mine 
Hill, (Roxbury,) about 1740. He left a wife, Tamer, and children, 

1. Mindwell, b. March 5, 1735, m. Selah Stone, Jan. 10, 1754; 2. 
Remember, b. June, 1737, m. De>ire Ilurlbut, April 3, 1760. 

Elijah, fourth son of John, m. 1. Thankful , d. Oct. 8, 1752 : 

2. Ruth , Nov. 28, 1753; she d. June 2, 1781. His children 

were, 1. Thankful, bap. Jan. G, 1740, m. William Castle, Feb. 23, 
1758; 2. Elijah, bap. Feb. 24, 1742. d. young; 3. Comfort, bap. 
April 29, 1744, m. Ebenezer Iluilbut, Aug. 19, 1765 ; 4. Anna, bap. 
March 11, 174G, m. Benjamin Chittenden, Jan. 23, 1765; 5. Elijah, 
bap. April 17, 1748; 6 and 7, Eldad, Medad, (twins,) bap. Dec. 1, 
1754 ; Eldad m. Jemima Hurd, Aug. 22, 1774 ; IMedad m. Sarah 
Foot, Sept. 1, 1774, and d. 1777. 8. Ruth. bap. Sept. 3, 1758, in. 
David Thomas, Nov. 28, 1784 ; 9. Eleanor, bap. IVLay 3, 17G1 ; 10. 
Lois, bap. July 10, 1763, m. Ezra Carv, 1782 ; 11. Rebecca, bap. 
Aug. 8, 1765. 

Jesse, (fifth son of John,) and wife Joanna, had, 1. David, b. April 
15, 1743 ; 2. Ann, b. March 22, 1746 ; 3. Tamer, b. Feb. 23, 1749 : 
4. Joanna, b. Sept. 15, 1754, m. Caleb Hitchcock, Jan. 4, 1776. 

Elisha, sixth son of John, had, 1. Abigail, b. Dec. 2G, 1748 ; 2. 
Eli, bap. Oct. 28, 1750 ; 3. Sarah, bap. Jan. 7, 1753 ; 4. Phebe, bap. 
Jan. 19, 1755; 5. Elisha, b. Jan. 21, 1759; 6. Sena, bap. Jan. 21, 
1761 ; 7. Ira, bap. Sept. IG, 1764; 8. Rhoda, bap. March 25, 1768. 
Lemuel Baker and wife Jerusha, had, 1, Joseph, h. yVpril 9, 1743; 
2. Jacob, b. Jan. 1, 174G; 3. Abraham, b. Sept. 13, 1747; 4. Ke- 
ziah, bap. Nov. 12, 1749; 6. Lemuel, bap. April 14, 1754. 

Elnathan Baker and wife Abigail, had Abraham, b. D(H'. 5, 1749. 

Ephraim Baker had children, 1. Elisabeth, m. 1. Logan, 2. 

John Trowbridge ; 2. Ephraim ; 3. Lucretia ; 4. Herman ; 5. Ste- 
phen Spcrry, these four bap. Sept. 5, 1782. Lucretia m. Enos 
.Mitchell. 

Lieut. John Baker, d. 1760; had a wife, Mary, and chihiren, 1. 
Elnathan, b. July 5, 1727; 2. Ezekicl, b. Nov. 12, 1729; 3. Jona- 
than; 4. Elizabeth, b. June 29, 1736, m. Samuel Judson, 1753 ; 5. 



504 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Mercy, bap. Aug. 13, 1738 ; 6. Jerusha, b. May 7, 1730, m. 

Sanford ; 7. Meliitabel, b. June 1, 1741, m. Jonathan Shepherd, April 
30, 1760; 8. Olive, b. March 25, 1744; 9. John, b. May 6, 1746 ; 
10. Samuel, b. June 12, 1748 ; 11. Amos, b. Oct, 14, 1750. 



BLAKE LEY FAMILY. 

Samuel Blakelcy, had, 1. Samuel, Meriam, Jonathan, Sarah, Han- 
nah and Mary, all bap. Aug., 1697. 

Samuel, s. of Samuel, d. 1753; had aw., Heelinah, and ch., 1. Thank- 
ful, bap. Nov., 1714 ; 2. Dea. Samuel, bap. Nov. 23, 1718, and had, 1, 
Ruth, bap. Jan. 11, 1744, m. Eldward Collins, 17G3 ; 2. Rebecca, bap. 
Aug. 25, 1745, m. Asahel Ilurd, 177G ; 3. Miriam, bap. Jan. 17, 
1748, m. Asahel Booth; 4. Anna, d. 1753 ; 5. Israel, bap. July 14, 
1754; G. Anna, bap. Aug. 15,1750 ; 7. Joseph, bap. Nov. 12, 1758 ; 

8. James, bap. Oct. 26, 1760, m. Ruth Root ; 9. Eleanor, bap. March 
10, 1765. 

Tilly Blakeley d. Aug. 3, 1769, and his wife Mary d. Feb. 26, 
1789. Children, I.^ Tilly, m. Mary Baker, March 16, 1758, who d. 
April 28, 1792. Their children were, 1. Mary, bap. Jan. 21, 1759, 
d. next March; 2. Mehitabel, bap. March 10, 1765; 3. Ebenezer, 
bap. Sept. 30, 1770 . 4. Zacheus, bap. Dec. 20, 1772 ; 5. Mercy, bap. 
May 26, 1776. 11. Dan, bap. June 14, 1741, and m. Eunice Booth, 
of Redding, March 3, 1768. III. Jonathan. IV. Justice, b. March 

9, 1735. V. Sarah, bap. Aug, 5, 1739. VI. Eleanor, bap. Sept 
18, 1743, m. Zacheus Weller. VIL Ebenezer, bap. Oct. 22, 1745. 
VIII. David, bap. July 30, 1749, ra. Phebe Hall, Feb. 28, 1776. 



B R O N S O N FAMILY 



Richard and John Bronson, were at Hartford at an early period of 
the settlement. From them most, if not all the Bronsons in Con- 
necticut, are descended. John had a son John, bap. in 1643-4, and 

tiie last-named had Ebenezer, who m. Mary and f^ettled in 

Woodbury about 1690 ^ had Stiles, bap. 1690-1. Ebenezer m. 2. 
Mary Munn, Aug. 13, 1702, and had issue as follows. 

1. Elizabeth, bap. May, 1703; 2. Sarah, b. Sejit. 10, 1705; 3. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AV O O O 15 U U Y . 505 

Bethia, b. Dec. 20, 1707, m. Lemuel Wheeler, Aug. 14, 1729; 4. 
Samuel, bap. July, 1710; 5. Mary, b. Aug. 27, 1712; G.John, b. 
July 4, 1714, d. 1775, leaving Martha, his wife, no issue ; 7. Ebene- 
zer, 8. Stiles, (twins,) b. May 9, 1717; 0. Mary, b. July 21, 1719, 
m. John Leavenworth, Jan. 29, 1747; 10. Esther, b. Jan. 3, 1724, 
m. Benjamin Galpin, Sept. 5, 1755. Ebenezer, the father, d. May 
23, 1727. 

Samuel, first sou of Ebenezer, m. Elizabclh Towner, March 9> 
1735, and had: 

L Noah, bap. Mar. 21, 173G, m. Eliz'bth Wilsun,Nov. 11, 17G0,and 
had, 1. Mary, b. March 2G, 17G1 ; 2. Rhoda, bap. March 20, 17G3, 
d. Oct. 24, 1776; 3. Aaron, ])ap. July 12, 1708, m. Anne AVard, 
Nov. 30, 1794, had Harvey, b. Oct. 2, 179.5, Abel W., b. 1798, 
Hannah, bap. Sept. 13, 1809, Betsey, bap. 1809, Augustus; 4. 
Jeremiah, b. Nov. 13, 1771, d. May 18, 1775 ; 5. Rhoda, b. April 
7, 1777, d. Nov. 27, 1793 ; G. Samuel, b. April 5, 1779. 

IL Abraham, b. July 1, 1739 ; m. Abigail , and had Joel, 

bap. May 17, 1772; Levi, bap. June 27, 1773. 

III. Eunice, bap. Sept. 14, 1745, m. Jeremiah Johnson. 

Ebenezer, fourth son of P^benezer, m. Deborah Sanford, June 25, 
1739 ; had 1. Olive, b. Dec. 20, 1740, m. Joseph Drake, Aug. 16, 
1775 ; 2. Sarah, b. Nov. 20, 1743 ; 3. Deborah, m. Elisha Judson ; 
4. Mary, bap. March 29, 1747, d. young; 5. Racliel. bap. Jan. 21, 
1750, m. John Towner, ]\Lay 9, 1774; G. Mary, b. Nov. 10, 1754, 
m. .loseph Towner, May 17, 1775 ; 7. Ebenezer, bap. Jan. 5, 1758. 

Richard Bronson, an original settler at Farmington, had sons, and 
among them was Cornelius, b. 1G48, and came to "Ancient Wood- 
bury," about 1G90, d. IMay, 1732. His ch. were 1. Richard, bap. 
May, 1692; 2. Cornelius, baj). Dec, 1G92-3; 3. Elisabeth, bap. March, 
ll]93_4; 4. Abraham, bap. 3Iay, 1(;97, d. May IG, 1727; 5.' Ste- 
plicn, b. May 12, 1G99 ; G. Tinioliiy, b. June 14, 1701 ; 7. John, bap. 
April, 1704, d. Oct. 10, 1727; 8. Amos, b. Oct., 1707, d. Jan. 14, 
1708. 

Richard, eldest son of Cornelius, m. IMercy Bronson, of Water- 
bury, Nov. 17, 1714, and had an only child. 

Mercy, !>. D.-c. -J'), 1715. in. 'J'Iim,i]-.i.s H^'inict, of Newlovvn, Xuv. Is, 17.'iG, 
;i;i(l Irul iwo il:i ii^ditri s, !ili()il;i and Aim; K lioda ni. Hin-. No:ih Bciirdict , of 
Wo.j'lbury, ;uid l).'c-;nn • nrith-r ofilif Hon. .Xnah 1'. F.-.-iicdict, of Gm. Tlionias 
r>. U.'iicdiiit, and lliuh, •.vln) in. Hon. LVatljanii.-l Siailli; Ann, ilie oilier daughter 
orTlioniM^ Kt-niiet, m. I^icnt. William Fn-ncdi, of ."^oiuhbm-y, and had ninn cdiil- 
dr\^n, aniorif^ wlnan was .'-yK niia, I'lr wife of (Irn. ]•!. liiinnari, and inolher of 
i\i:' Hon. R. R. liiiiinan, tln' di^liiiiiuishrd aiili([iiaiian. 

33 



506 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Richard, the father of Mercy, d. Aug. 21, 1769, and his relict d. 
June 8, 1786, aged 92. 

Cornelius, Jr., second son, m. Abigail Jackson, Nov. G, 1717, wKo 
died Nov. 2, 1772. Their children were : 

I. Stephen, b. June 20, 1718, m. Mary , had 1. Cornelius, b. 

June 11, 1749, ra. Elizabeth Frisbie ; 2. Abijah, b. Dec. 31, 1750; 
m. Ann Kurd, Jan. 17, 1773 ; she d. Dec. 17, 1775 ; m. (2d) Euth 
Hurd, Feb. 14, 1782 ; 3. Thomas, b. Jan. 7,1753, m. Ann Rumsey, 
Dec. 12, 1785 ; 4. Mercy, b. Jan. 23, 1754; 5. Luman, b. Nov. 15, 
1756; 6. Aaron, b. May 27, 1758; 7. Hannah, b. Oct. 1, 1760, m. 
David Rumsey, 1782. 11. Elijah, b. March 12, 1720, m. Damaris 

, and had 1. Marsh, bap. 1763, d. May 24, 1841 ; 2. Gideon, 

bap. April 17, 1763, d. March 11, 1841 ; 3. Hannah, b. 1766, d. 
1843; 3. Aaron, b. 1769, d. 1811. III. Gideon, b. Feb., 1722, d. 
young. IV. Jedidiah, b. April 20, 1724, m. Nathaniel Baldwin, 
Nov. 80, 1763. Y. Anna, bap. Aug. 20, 1726, m. David Norton, 
Jan. 29, 1752. YI. Abraham, bap. Jan. 12, 1729, d. at Bcthlem, 
1802. VII. John, b. Feb. 7, 1730, d. 1758, '"in the army of the 
north," VIII. Mary, bap. Sept. 1733, m. Col. Ethan Allen, June, 
23, 1762. IX. Israel, bap. July, 1735, had a dau. Ann, bap. April 
21, 1765, he d. 1785. X. Gideon, bap. June, 1737. XL Patience, 
bap. March 18, 1743. 

Timothy, son of Cornelius, Sen., m. Abigail Jenners, April 30, 1729, 
and had I. Iluldah, b. May 22, 1730, m. Andrew Squire, March 22, 
1755. II. Amos, b. June 9, 1732, m. Dorcas Strong, Dec. 14, 1757, 
and had 1. Abigail, b, Nov. 20, 1758, m. Isaac Merwin, Dec. 22, 
1795; 2. Bethuna, b. Aug. 10, 1760; 3. Joel, b. May 12, 1762. 
III. Timothy, bap. July 1, 1734. IV. Richard, bap. May 8, 1737. 
V. Gideon, bap. Oct. 4, 1739. VI. Nathan, b. May 14, 1742. VII. 
Elisabeth, b. May 17, 1744. VIII. Asa, bap. May 5, 1746. IX. 
Eli, bap. June 5, 1748. X. Abigail, bap. July 15, 1753. 

Moses Bronson, probably a descendant of John, of Farmington, re- 
moved from Berlin, Conn., to Hillsdale, N. Y., and had a son 
Ephraim, who m. Bcthia Virgil, of Hillsdale, and had 14 children. 

Ira v., the fourth ch. of Ephraim, Avas b. Oct. 18, 1778, went to 
Simsbury, Conn., when young, and studied medicine with Doctor 
Everest. In 1804, he settled in Washington as j)hysician, and m. 
Sarah Ann Moseley, and had: I. Moseley Y., b. Jan. 12, 1806. II. 
William V., b. Sept. 15, 1807, d. June 8, 1811. HI. Desius C, b. 
Oct, 2, 1809, d. June 1, J 811. lY. William C, b. Dec. 12, 1811, 
m. Lucy A. Whittlesey, April 15, 1840, and has 1. Martha A., b. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKY. 507 

April 3, 1841 ; 2. Muiy A., b. April 3, 1845; 3. Walter W., b. Feb. 

18, 1848 ; 4. Harriet A., b. Dee. 21, 185l'. V. Susan M., b. May 

19, 1814. VI. Harriet E., b. Sept. IG, 1816, m. John P. Andrews. 



BELLAMY FAMILY. 

Matthew Bellamy settled first at Fairfield, afterward at Killing- 
worth ; had a son, Mattliew, who resided at Wallingford, m. Mary 

, and had Matthew, Samuel, Moses, Aaron, John, James, Joseph, 

D. D., and daughters, Sarah, Hannah and Mary. 

Joseph, D. D., was b. in 1719, settled in Bethlehem society, in 
1740, m. Frances Sherman, of New Haven, April 27, 1744, who d. 
Aug. 30, 1785. He m. (2d) the widow of the Rev. Andrew Storrs, 
of Watertown, Conn. ; ch. 1. Lucy, b. Aug. 1, 1745, m. Abijah 
Guernsey, Aug. 1772 ; 2. Rebecca, bap. Oct. 15, 1747, m. Rev. Mr. 
Hart, of Preston, Conn., Sept. G, 1769, d. Dec. 24, 1788; 3. David, 
b. Nov. 10, 1750, d. May, 182G; 4. Jonathan, b. Nov. 18, 1752, d. 
at Oxford, N. J., in 1777 ; 5. Samuel, b. March 13, 175G, d. Nov. 
11, 1802; G. Elisabeth, b. Dec. 23, 1759, m. Charles Sheldon, of 
Springfield, Mass.; 7. William, b. June 28, 1770 ; 8. Joseph Sher- 
man, b. 1773. Dr. Bellamy died March G, 17G0. 

David, Esq., ni. Silence Leavitt, who d. July, 1814, a. Gl ; ch. 
Joseph Hart, bap. Jan., 1789 ; David, bap. Nov. 27, 1791. 

Joseph Hart, Esq., m. Sarah G. Hillhouse, of New Haven, and 
had: 1. David, bap. Nov. 10, 1816, d. unm. ; 2. Charlotte IT., bap. 
Sept., 1819 ; 3. Elisabeth M., m. Rev. Aretas G. Loomis, June, 
1853 ; Joseph H., Esq., d. Nov. 2, 1848. 

Samuel, son of Dr. Bellamy, m. Anna Steele, of Bethlem, and had 
Jonathan, Daniel, Joseph, Edward, and a dau. Charlotte, b. Jan. 30, 
1779, d. Feb. 22, 1802. The children of Samuel are all deceased, 
but some of his descendants now reside in western New York. 

William, son of Dr. Joseph, m. in early life, and left one or more 
!<ons to perpetuate his name. After his decease, his widow removed 
to Brooklyn, N, Y., where she died about 1848. 



508 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

BATTELL FAMILY. 

John* Battell came to America from France, settled at Dedham, 
Mass., and d. Sept. 30, 1713, leaving a son, Jolin,^ who was born in 
1G89, m. Abigail Draper, Jan. 17, 1710, d. Sept. 14, 1729, leaving 
a son John,'* who was born April 30, 1716, m. Mehitabel Sherman, 
sister of the patriot Roger Sherman, signer of the Declaration, and 
died Nov. 18, 1800. Among his children was a son named William, 
b. Aug. 12, 1748, emigrated from Dedham to Milford, Conn., and 
m. Sarah Buckingham, in 1753. His ch.Avere : 

I. William, b. at Milford, March 25, 1773, and d. unm. at Tor- 
ringford, July 8, 1841. II. Joseph, b. at Milford, July 21, 1774; 
settled at Norfolk, Conn., and m. Sarah, dau. of the Rev.Ammi Rob- 
bins, July 24, 1805. He was an estimable citizen, and an enterpri- 
sing and successful business man. He d. Nov. 30, 1841, leaving his 
wife and nine children, all living at the present time. III. Josiah 
Buckingham, b. at Woodbury, March 1, 177G, m. Sarah Gillett, of 
Torrington ; had three daughters, all deceased. He d. May 7, 1843. 
IV. John Brinsmade, b. at Woodbury, July 21, 1779, d. in Virginia} 
Nov. 7, 1819, unm. V. Sally, b. at Woodbury, May 29, 1781, and 
m. the Rev. Abel McEwen, D. D., of Nev/ London. VI. Nancy, b. 
at Woodbury, Feb. 20, 1783, m. the Rev. Harvey Loomis, of Ban- 
gor, Maine, deceased, and has two sons. She now resides at Tor- 
ringford, Conn. VII. Harriet, b. at Torrington, June 7, 1785, d. 
Feb. 24, 1822, unm. VIII. IJrana P., b. at Torrington, May 15, 
1787, d. Jan. 23, 1814, unm. IX. Charles Isaac, b. July 23, 1789; 
now resides in Evansville, Indiana, unm. X. Charlotte, b. Feb. 19. 
1796, m. Austin. 

William, father of the above, m. a second time in 1807, Mrs. Mar- 
tha Mitchell, his cousin, and dau. of the Rev. Josiah Sherman, of 
Goshen and Wol)urn, Mass., and sister of tlie Hon. Roger M. Sher- 
man, of Fairfield, Conn. Mr. Battell d. Feb. 29, 1832; liis s<>cOnd 
wife d. Oct. 25, 1829. 



BOOTH FAMILY. 

Richard Bootli was born in England, in 1607; emigrated to this 
country and settled at Stratford, in 1640. From him have descended 
the Booths of Trumbull, Bridgeport, " Ancient Woodbury," &c. He 



HISTORY OK ANCIENT WOODBUKY. 509 

m. a Miss Hawley, sister of Joseph Hawley, of Stratford, and had 1. 
Elisabeth, b. Sept. 12, 1641, m. John Minor, of Stratford; 2. Anna, 
b. Feb. 14, 1643 ; X Ephraim, b. Aug. 1G48; 4. Ebenezer, b. Nov. 
19, 1651 ; 5. John, b. Nov. 6, 1653 ; 6. Joseph, b. Feb. or March 8, 
1756 ; 7. Bethia, b. May 18, 1658 ; 8. Johannah, b. March 21, 1661. 

John, the son of Richard, m. Dorothy Ilawley, June 14, 1678; 
settled at Woodbury, and had 1. Thomas, b. March 13, 1679 ; 2. John. 

John, Jr., m. Elisabeth Mallory, of New Haven, June 9, 1717 ; 

ch. 1. Nathan, b. Oct. 25, 1718, m. Comfort , and had Samuel, 

b. Dec. 23, 1743 ; 2. Gideon, b. April 9, 1721 ; 3. Bethia, b. May 
28, 1724; 4. Abiah, b. Sept. 10, 1729, d. Nov. 4, 1735; 5. Mabel, 
b. Oct. 11, 1735, m. John Skeel, Dec. 13, 1758. 

Gideon, son of John, Jr., m. (1st) ; m. (2'd) Sarah " Koy," 

(McKoy,) Dec. 4, 1764; ch. I. Gideon H., bap. Dec. 18, 1755; 11. 
Elisha, bap. Dec. 18, 1755 ; III. Isaac, bap. May 7, 1758 ; IV. Ann, 
bap. July 6, 1760 ; . V. Rachel, bap. Jan. 23, 1762 ; VI. Martin Lu- 
ther, bap. Oct. 8, 1765, m. Sarah Simons, (formerly of Colebrook, 
Conn.,) in Albany co., N. Y., and had 1. Rachel, b. Nov. 1789, m. Bar- 
nard Eighmey; 2. Sarah, b. Feb. 18, 1791, m. Isaac Dymond ; is 
now a widow and resides in New York ; 3. Susannah, b. 1793, m. 
Tompkins; 4. Mabel, b. 1795, m. William Kerr; 5. Martin, b. 
1797, m. Ede Babcock ; resides in Woodstock, N. Y. ; 6. Mary, b. 
1799, m. Joseph Dymond; resides in Pa.; 7. James, b. 1801, m. 
Hannah Hubbell ; resides in Indiana; 8. Elizabeth, b. 1803, m. 
James McDaniels ; resides in Ulster co., N. Y. ; 9. Harriet, b. 1805, 
m. Charles Jones, of England; 10. Calvin, b. 1808, d. a. 10 ; VII. 
Moses, bap. Aug. 30, 1767 ; now living in Ohio; VIII. Sarah, bap. 
July 9, 1769 ; IX. John C, bap. June 6, 1773 ; X. Aaron, bap. June 
1, 1777. 

The following are descended from Richard, of Stratford : 

Elijah Booth, son of Ebenezer, m. (1st) Anna Ilinman, Oct. 14, 
1772 ; she d. April 15, 1804 ; m. (2d) Anna Deming, Aug. 22, 1806. 
He d. Sept. 24, 1S23 ; his 2d wife d. Aug. 4, lt;43. 

Ch. I. Esther, b. Jan. 18, 1774; II. Polly, b. May 1, 1778 ; III. 
Anna, b. Oct.' 3, 1779, m. Alanson Beecher, April 3, 1800; IV. 
Noah Hinman, b. May 4, 1781, d. young; V. Noah Hinman, b. 
June 31, 1783, m. (1st) Lucenah Pardee, who d. Nov. 17, 1832 ; m. 
(2d) DamarisFairchild; she d. March, 1847; m. (3d) Cynthia Peck, 
June 22, 1847 ; his ch. were 1. George, b. March 21, 1807 ; 2. Fer- 
net, b. Dec. 4, 1809, ra. Nancy Smith, of Orange ; 3. Ellsworth, b. 
May 4, 1813, d. Nov. 13, 1825 ; 4. Erastus, b. Jan. 6, 1815; 5. Ma- 



510 HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

riett, b. March 27, 1818, m. Ephraim Shelton ; 6. Noah Horace, b. 
March 19, 1820, d. Dec, 1846 ; 7. Benjamin, b. Nov. 18, 1812, m- 
Caroline Andrew; 8. EUery, b. June IG, 1826; 9. Ransom P., b. 
Nov. 15, 1827, m. Caroline Jones; VI. Sally, b. Oct. 5, 1786, d. 
Oct. 26, 1798 ; VII. Lyman, b. June 22, 1788, d. July 22, 1811 ; 
VIII. Ebenezer, b. April 7, 1790, m. Sibilla Beecher, Nov. 30, 
1812 ; ch. 1. Lyman, b. Jan. 16, 1814 ; 2. Sally, b. April 22, 1815 ; 
.3. Jerusha, b. Dec. 25, 1817, d. Feb. 28, 1834 ; 4. Milo, b. Oct. 12. 
1829 ; m. Huldah Squire; 5. Gratia, b. Aug. 4, 1821. 

Samuel Booth, son of Joseph, of Stratford, m. Sarah Walker, Dec, 
1767 ; ch. I. Joseph, b. Dec 25, 1768, m. Betsey Edwards ; 11. Sa- 
rah, b. Nov. 5, 1770 ; m. James Booth, of Newtown ; III. Ebenezer, 
b. March 7, 1773, m. Comfort Smith; IV. Ely, b. June 23, 1775, 
m. Abigail Minor, of Roxbury, and had 1. Lemira; 2. Richard, dec ; 
3. Jerusha, m. Charles Beardsley; 4. Harvey M.; 5. Henry, resides at 
Towanda, Pa; V. James, b. April 19, 1777, d. Oct. 13, 1778 ; VL 
Iluldah, b. Oct. 15, 1779, m. Peter Castle; VIL Ruth, b. May, 
1782; VIIL James Walker, b. Jan. 5, 1785, d. Feb., 1785; IX. 
Richard, b. Feb. 26, 1786, d. Dec 11, 1789. 

David Booth, d. April, 1753, leaving his wife, Mary, and ch. Ma- 
ry, Rebecca, Eunice, Mehetable, Joseph and Sarah. Mary m. Peter 
Castle. Sarah m. Doct. Azariah Eastman. 

Nathan Booth and his wife Comfort had Samuel, b. Dec 23, 1743. 



BURRITT FAMILY 



Doct. Anthony Burritt, the first of the name in ancient Woodbury, 
was b. in Newtown, Conn. He m. 1st, Anna, dau. of Agur Curtiss, . 
who was b. 20 July, 1759, and d. 30 Sept. 1808; m. 2d, Abigail, 
wid. of Justus Hinman, 26 March, 1809. Cliildren : 

Mary Ann, b. 4 March, 1783 ; m. Bronson French. 

Josiah, b. 8 Oct., 1784 ; m. Urania Ilawley, d. 1851. 

Nancy, b. 6 Feb., 1787 ; m. Truman Wheeler. 

Benjamin, b. 17 Oct., 1791 ; d. young. 

Selina,b. 29 May, 1789 ; m. William Hinman. 

Ransom, b. 18 Dec, 1792 ; m. Nancy Judson. 

Flora, b. 13 Sept., 1795 ; m. George Hinman. 

Harriet, b. 19 Nov., 1797 ; m. 1st, Daniel C Bacon ; m. 2d, Ben- 
jamin Hinman. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUUY. 511 

Sally, b. 12 March, 1800 ; m. Nathan Hinman. 

Dr. Anthony B., b. 12 July, 1810 ; m. Mary Ilawley, in 1830. His 
ch. are, Benjamin A., b. 1831) ; Susan, b. 30 Dec. 18-13 ; Frances, 
b. 29 Jan., 184G. Doct. Anthony, Sen., d. 12 April, 1839. 



BRINSMADK P^AMILY. ^ 

Persons of the Brinsinade name appeared early in the Massachu- 
setts colony; one at Charlestown, between 1G30 and 1640, John 
Brinsraade was one of the early settlers of Stratford, Conn., and was 
elected May 13, 10(59, a representative to the General Court, for 
that town. He was also elected to the same office Oct., 1G71 ; was 
enrolled among the freemen of Stratford, in 1GG9, as John Brinsmade, 
elder. Lieut. Daniel Brinsmade, (probably son of .John) d. March 
27, 1757, aged 70. Mary, his wife, d. 1731, at the age of 35. They 
had two sons, Daniel and Abraham. Daniel was born in 1718; 
graduated at Yale College, in 1745 ; settled as minister over the 
Congregational church in Judea society. He died April 23, 1793. 
Abraham lived at Stratford, in that part of the town now Trumbull, 
and d. Nov. 27, 1801. Daniel m. Rhoda Sherman, of New Haven, 
and had two sons, Daniel Nathaniel and Daniel Sherman. Daniel 
N. graduated at Yale College, in 1772 ; studied law and lived and 
died in his native place, Oct. 29, 1826, aged 75. He m. Abigail Far- 
rand, Nov. 23, 1779, and had one son, Daniel B., born Oct. 15, 1782; 
Daniel S. m. Lydia Elliott, and died Jan. 31, 1813, aged 58 ; has one 
son, Daniel E., now living, and two daughters ; one m. John Mosely, 
of Southbury, and the other m. C. McMahon. Daniel B. m. Irene 
Merwin, for his first wife, and had one son. She d. May 2, 1812, 
aged 22 ; m. second, Mary W. Gold, of Cornwall, and had two sons 
and two daughters, Thomas F., William B., Abigail Irene and 
Mary M. 



CAPT. THOMAS BULL, 

From England, came to Hartford, Conn., with the first company 
which settled in that place, in the year 1635, from Newtown, now Cam- 
bridge, Mass. He was born in 1006, and died in 1684, aged seventy- 



512 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

eight years. His wife, Susannah, died 1680, aged seventy. His 
tombstone says, that he was engaged in tlie fight at the Pequot fort 
in 1037. He received an arrow in a hard piece of cheese which he 
had in his clothes, and by it was saved harmless. For his services 
on that occasion, the Legislature of Connecticut, granted to him and 
to four others, five hundred acres of land, as stated in the ancient 
records at Hartford. He was sent in 1675, with a body of militia, 
to Saybrook, to resist the oppressive demands of Sir Edmund An- 
dross, which duty he successfully performed, and was told by Sir Ed- 
mund, " that his horns ought to be tipped with silver." Among his 
sons were: 

2. Dea. Thomas Bull, one of the " first and principal settlers of 
Farmington." He m. Esther Cowles, who d. 1691, aged 42 ; after- 
ward, in 1692, m. Mary Lewis, who d. 1728. Among his children 
were John, Samuel and David. John, b. 1670, m. in 1698, Esther 
Royce, and died 1705, aged 35. He lived on the border of West 
Hartford. His youngest son, John, m. Mercy Buck in 1734, and 
settled in Woodbury. He d. July 21, I7lif7, aged — , leaving one 
child, Elizabeth, two days old at her father's death. 

Dea. Samuel Bull, son of Thomas Bull, of Farmington, was the 
first settler of the name in Woodbury. He m. Elizabeth, only dau. 
of Rev. Zach. Walker, who d. Sept. 22, 1741, aged 67. He after- 
ward m. the widow of Thos. Hicox, of Westbury, (now Watertown,) 
who survived him, d. in 1756. He, Samuel Bull, d. Oct. 27, 1749, 
aged 72, leaving no children of his OAvn, but adopted Major Thomas 
Bull, son of his brother David Bull. 

3. David, son of Thomas Bull, (2) lived on his father's place in 
Farmington ; b. 1687, d. 1762, aged 75. He m. Sarah Ashley, of 
Westfield,in 1717, who d. 1747, aged 54. 

4. Major Thomas Bull, son of the above, and adopted son of Sam- 
uel Bull, of Woodbury, b. 1729, d. Feb. 24, 1804, aged 74 years; 
m. Elizabeth, dau. of Nathan Curtiss, Sen. She d. April 30, 1770, 
aged 32. He afterward m. Amaryllis Prindle, from Newtown, a 
widow, who d. Dec. 10, 1800, aged 61. He w-as an officer in the Rev- 
olutionary war ; was at the capture of Gen. Burgoyne. At the bat- 
tle on York Island, he served as captain of cavalry, and also during 
the cami)aign in New^ Jersey. His children were, Esther, (who m. 
Rev. Abner Smith, of Derby, and d. about 1816, leaving one dau., 
Elizabeth, now wife of Rev. S. T. Babbitt, of Galesburg, Illinois,) 
and one son, viz., David S. Bull, b. March 30, 1763, and d. at Wood- 
bury, Oct. 10, 1810, aged 47. He m. Ruth E. Hinman, who d. Oct. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT W O O D i; U U Y . 1 3 

•24, 17'JG, aged 2t). Afterward m. Elizabeth Mitoheil, who d. May 
2, 184?), aged G5. Their cdiildren were Thomas, and David 8.. whd 
d. Dec. 8, 132;), aged 18. 

He was educated as a shi]i|)iiig mercliaiit at New ]jondiMi. n\u} 
made many voyages to the West Indies. 

Thomas Bull, son of the above, now lives in Woodbury ; m. Susan 
Sherman. Their children are Elizabeth, David S.. Jidin E. and 
Susan J. 

Esther, sister of Major Thomas Bull, m. Isaiah Gilbert, and lived 
for many years in Middle Quarter, Woodbury ; afterward removed 
to Vermont. Two of the daughters m. Linsleys, a son of one of whom 
became afterward distinguished in public life. 

Ebenezer Bidl, son of Moses and Mal)el Bull, of Farmington, a sin- 
gle man, settled in Woodbury, and d. of fever at the house of Preserved 
Strong. Jan. 2G, 1760. His brothei', Moses Bull, a young physician, 
recently located at Sheffield, Mass., came to take care of him in his 
sickness, and afterward remained liei'c to settle his estate, died at 
Woodbury, April 15, 17G0, of the same disease as his brother. Their 
tombstones are still legible in the old cemetery in Woodbu.rv. 



B E E R S F A ]\I I L Y . 

In 1087, the town of Fairfield was discovered by Roger Ludlow, 
Lieut. Gov. of Connecticut, in pursuing the Pequot Indians to. tlie 
Great Sasco Swamp, whci-e a battle was fought, from which it ob- 
tained the name of the Pequot Swamp. In IG'JO, Ludlow and oth- 
ers from W^indsor, to the number of eight or ten families, commenced 
a plantation there. Shortly after, a company from Goncord. and 
another from Watertown, Mass., joined them ; among whom were 
Anthony and James Beers, from the latter place, supposed to have 
been the sons of 

I. Capt. Richard Beers, of Watertown, who was killed near North- 
field, Mass., in Philip's Indian War. Anthony Beers had lands 
granted to him by the town of Fairfield in 1GG7, which he sold in 
1G69, and, as nothing further appears in relation to him, it was 
supposed that he was soon afterward drowned ; and such is the 
tradition. 

II. James Beers, purchased a house and land there in 1G.59-G0, 
and, in 1661, the town confirmed to him eight acres in Sasco Fields, 



514 niSTOUY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

"which the Indians gave him." In 1664, the General Assembly 
*' acccpt(3d iiini to be made a freeman of Fairfield," and two men were 
designated to administer the oath of freedom to him at the next meet- 
ing, "• if nothing fall as a just exception in the interim." Sept. 30, 
1667, the town appointed a committee to view his lands, and report. 
They amounted to £194, lO^. In April, 1G81, he purchased lands 
in Woodbury, which he sold to John Thomas, of New Haven, in 
1693. He d. in Nov., 1694. His widow (Martha) d. in Feb., 1698. 
His children were, 1. James, who died before his father, in 1691 ; 
had five children, James, Sarah, Joseph, David and Mary. 

2. Joseph ; see below. 

3. Martha; m. Joseph Bulkley. 

4. Deborah ; m. Samuel Hull. 

0. Elizabeth ; m. Joseph Darling. 

III. Joseph Beers, above named, lived in Faii'field ; d. there in 
1696-7. The inventory of his estate was exhibited for probate, 6th 
March, 1696-7. The General Assembly, at May session, 1699, 
granted liberty to his administrators to sell lands to pay his debts. 
*' As the distribution of his estate could not be found," his three chil- 
dren divided the real estate by deed of 6th of March, 1718-19. See 
Fairfield town records, B. 3, p. 292. He had three children : 

1. Joseph ; see below. 

2. James. 

3. Abigail, who was b. 24th April, 1692, m. Jno. Blackman, of 
Newtown. 

IV. Joseph Beers, son of Joseph above, was born at Fairfield, 18th 
March, 1688; m. Sarah, daughter of John Clarke; removed to 
Stratford about 1722, where he purchased of Nathan Beers, of Mid- 
dletown, the 4th of Aug., 1722, a dwelling-house, shop and lot of 
land for £22. On the 13th March, 1725, John Clarke deeded his 
•• daughter Sarah, wife of Joseph Beers," four acres of land in Strat- 
ford. He had nine children, viz. 

1. Ephraim, b. June 25, 1722. 

2. Daniel ; see below. 

3. and 4. Joseph and John, b. Oct. 13, 1727. 

5. Andrew, b. Feb. 3, 1729. 

6. Abel, b. Sept. 27, 1732. 

7. Sarah, b. Feb. 18, 1734. 

8. Matthew, born Dec. 10, 1736, (died young.) 

9. Matthew, 2d, b. Feb. 12, 1738-9. 

V. Daniel Beers, above named, was born at Stratford, Oct. 17, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 515 

1725. Removed to Woodbury, and purchased two acres of land 
there tlie lotli of Dec, 1749; m. Phebe Walker, daughter of Jo- 
siah Walker, Aug. 9, 1750; d. March 9, 1781). His widow died 
Dec. lo, ISi;!. Her fatlier was son of Deacon Zechariah Walker, 
,and grandson of the Rev. Zecliariah Walker, the first pastor of the 
Congregational church in Woodbury. Daniel Beers had seven chil- 
dren, viz. 

1. Josiah ; see below. 

2. Sarah; b. Sept. 20, n.VJ ; ni. Dr. Bennet Perry, of New- 
town ; had tight children, viz., 1. Josci)h, an Episcopal clergyman at 
Ballstown ; 2. Polly, m. Hon. Asa Chapman, of Newtown; S.Bet- 
sey, m. Marcus Botsford ; 4. Herman, m. Orpha Shepard, he d., she 
m. Garry I'acon ; 5. Nathaniel Preston, an attorney at Kent ; 6. 
Sally, m. Curtis Ilinman, Esq., of Southbury; 7. Nancy, m. Eli- 
sha T. Mills, Esq., of Huntington ; 8. Sylvia, m. Benj'n F. Sliellon, 
P^sq., of Newtown. Polly Chapman had four children, viz., Charles, 
now a member of Congress ; Charlotte, m. A. A. IloUey and d.; Wm., 
residing at Brooklyn, N. Y., and Henry, of Brooklyn, who m. the 
daughter of Lemuel Hurlbut. 

3. Lewis, b. Feb. 12, 175G; m. ElizalxUh i\Iunn ; had one ch., 
Eliza, who m. James Preston. 

4. Zechariah, b. June 3, 1758 ; had nine children ; 1. Orva, m. 

1. to Thos. I. Root, 2. to Benjamin B. Watson; 2. Edwin, m. N. 
Hutchinson, of Tully ; 3. Sabina, m. Wm. Drakeley ; 4. Sally, m. 
Milton Chapman ; 5. Daniel, in Illinois ; G. Philo, in Illinois ; 7. 
Sally, 2d, d. young ; 8. Harriet, d. young ; 9. Arkas ; 10. Maria, m. 
Wilmot Lake. 

5. Philo ; left home at about 21; never heard from. 

6. Polly, b. Feb. 2, 17G2 ; ra. Cyrus Prindle, of Newtown, April 
3, 1782 ; had four children ; 1. Lewis B., b. Feb. 2, 1702, m. Betsey 
Ferris; 2. Maria, d. at 14; 3. Polly Ann, b. March Ki, 1703; 4. 
Charles W., b. Sept. 17; 1801. 

7. Phebe, m. Reuben Mallory, by whom she had two children, both 
d., he also. She then m. John B. Foote, had two children. Foote 
is dead ; she is living. 

VI. Josiah Beers, (above named,) was b. April 12, 1751 ; m. 
Elizabeth, daughter of Seth Preston, Jan. 1, 1778 ; had five chddren. 

1. Seth Preston ; see below. 

2. ]\kiry, b. Nov. 10, 1783 ; m. Jolm N. Sherman ; had three cliil- 
dren ; 1. George P., m. Harriet Brown, had five children, three dead ; 

2. John N., m. Margaret Hotchkiss ; he is dead ; 3. Henry Beers, 



•"> 1 G ir 1 S T O K Y OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 

an Episcopal elergyruaii at Belleville, N, J. Mary and her husband 
are dead. 

3. Frederick, b. July 23, 1785 ; d. single. 

4. Betsey, b. March 7, 1789 ; d. Nov. 21, 1841. 

5. Henry, b. Sept. 14, 1791, Avas a merchant in New Yoi'k ; d. 
there Feb. 5, 1825. 

VII. Seth Preston Beers, (above named,) was born July 1, 1781 ; 
m. Belinda, dau. of Reuben Webster, Sept., 1807. They have had 
five children, viz., Horatio P., George W., Henry A., Julia M. and 
Alfred H. Horatio and Mary are not living. 

VIII. Horatio Preston Beers, was born March 24, 1811; d. at 
school in Derby, Dec. 11, 1824. 



BACON FAMILY 



Nathaniel Bacon, Esq./ was a nephew of Mr. Andrew Bacon, a 
magistrate of Hartford, in 1G37. He (Nathaniel) was for a time at 
Hartford, and became an early and important settler at Middletown. 
He acted as magistrate at New Haven, in 1761, as appears from the 
records of the Colony of New Haven, p. 297, where the affidavits of 
John Fletcher and some others of Milford, were taken Oct. 17, 1661, 
before Nathaniel Bacon, Esq., at New Haven, (though he was an in- 
liabitant of Middletown,) in which the deponents stated their knowl- 
edge of Henry and William Bacon, of Stretton, Rutland Co., Eng.; 
tliat Henry removed to Clipsam, in the same county ; that he had 
but one son, Thomas, who was reported to have died at Barbadoes, 
W. I.; and also stated that Nathaniel Bacon, Esq.; then present, Avas 
the eldest son of William Bacon, who must have been a brother of 
Andrew Bacon, Esq., of Hartford, in 1037, which renders it probable 
that Andrew and Nathaniel Bacon Avere from the same county in 
England. He m. Ann Miller, July 6, 1680, and d. Jan. 27, 1705-6. 
He had nine children, one of whom, Nathanid, Jr., whose name was 
afterward changed to Thomas, was b. July 20 or 25, 1659. Ann d. 
July 6, 1680. He then m. Elizabeth Pierpont, April 17, 1682. 

This Nathaniel or Thomas, m. Hannah Wetmore, Feb. 5, 1702, 
and had seven children. His wife Hannah, d. Sept. 7, 1722. He 

1 Hiuman's Catalogue of first Puritan Settlers. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 5l7 

m. 2. Anne, wid. of John Lane, Jan. 31, 1722-3. The latter d. Dec 
2G or 22, 1751. He ra. 3. Rebecca Doolittle, Nov. 28, 1752. He 
d. Jan. 6, 1759. 

Nathaniel, son of a])ove and w. Hannah, m. Jane Bevin, July 30, 
1724, and had nine ehihlren. This Nathaniel resided at Middlefield, 
in the town of Middletown. 

Jabez, son of the last-mentioned Nathaniel, was by trade a tanner 
and currier, but afterward engaged in mercantile pursuits, as has 
been seen in tlie preceding chapter, and d. at Woodbury, worth nearly 
hah' a million dollars. He was b. at Middlefield, a parish in Middle- 
town, July 5 or IG, 1731. He in. Lydia Hungerford, who was b. at 
Bristol, June 5, 1739, a descendant of Thomas Hungerford, first of 
Hartford, and afterward of Stonington. He d. Sept. G, 180G, aged 
75. She d. Nov. 25, 1812, aged 73. Their children Averc: 

Jabez, Jr., b. June 2S, 17C0 ; m. Sal)ra, dau. of Jolm and Putty 
Belts, 1781, who Avas 1). in 17(j.'). Children, Lorena, b. Marcli IG, 
1782, m. Matthew Minor, Jr., Es(i., Oct. 22, 1802, d. May 30, 1848 ; 
John,b. June 30, 1784, d. May I'J, 1S07 ; Betsey, b. July 21, 1787, 
d. Sept. 21, 1787 ; Nathaniel, b. Oct., 1788, d. Dec. 5, 1823. 

Jemima, dau. of Jabez, Sen., b. jMay 1, 17G2, m. Isaac Tomlinson, 
April, 1784. She d. at New Haven, April IG, 1787. 

Asahel, s. of Jabez, Sen., b. Dec. 3, 17G4, m. Hannah, dau. of Wil- 
liam and Ann French, in 178G. He d. March 31, 1838, aged 73. 
Ch., Polly, now Mary, b. Feb. 9, 1787, m. Chauncey Whittlesey 
Nov. 15, 1815 ; Charles, b. March 14, 1781), m. Betsey Tomlinson 
about 1811. She was b. 17i»2, d. Dec. 2, 1821. 

Lorena, dau. of Jabez, Sen., b. Dec. 29, 17Gii, m. Hon. David Tom- 
linson, 1784, d. Oct. 25, 1837, a. 71. Had six sons and eiglit daus. 

Nathaniel, Esq., son of Jabez, Sen., b. Nov. IG, 17G8, m. 1. Rebec- 
ca Strong, .Jan. 10, 170G, Slie d. Sept. 10, 1837, aged 03. He m. 
2. Mrs. Sophia Hull, of Derby, b. at Eden, Me., July 22, 1793, m. 
April 11, 1838. He d. more than eighty years of age, at New Ha- 
ven, and left a large estate. Ch., Albert Strong, b. Feb. 12, 1797; 
Nathaniel Almoran, b. Aug. 27, 1798 ; Harriet, b. March 8, 1804, 
ra. Jolm J. P>arnard, Nov. G, 1825 ; d. Dec. 18, 1828. 

Lydia, dau. of Jabez, Sen., b. Jan. 1, 1771, m. lion. Noah B. Ben- 
edict, an eminent lawyer and senator of the state, June 27, 1793. 
She d. July 5, 1808, aged 37. 

Daniel, Esq., son of Jabez, Sen., b. Dec. 8, 1772, m. Rebecca 
Thompson, June 22, 1793. He d. July 2G, 1828, aged 50. His 
wid. survives. Ch., Maria, b. Sept. 3, 1794, m. Gen. Chauncey 



518 HISTOKY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Crafts, Sept. 11, 1811 . Fanny, b. .Ian. 12, 1796, d. Jan. 28, 1829 ; 
Rebecca, b. March 10, 1798, d. Oct. 1, 1815 ; Julia, b. Sept. 8, 1800, 
ra. John Marvin, Sept. 9, 1824, had nine children ; Lydia, b. April 
27, 1805, m. Charles C. Thompson, P:sq., of New York city, Oct. 11, 
1826, d. Dec. 2, 1840, in that city; John, b. March 24, 1807, ra. 
Augusta Walker, March 17, 1830 ; they had one son, Wm. Thomp- 
son, b. May 18, 1832, d. Dec. 10, 183G; Daniel, b. July 11, 1809; 
William Thompson, b. Aug. 24, 1812. 

Mary, dau. of Jabez, Sen., b. Feb. 23, 1770, d. March 11, 1777. 

Garry, son of Jabez, Sen., b. Api'il 5, 1778, m. 1, Sally Minor, 
April 4, 1798, and had a son George, b. March 21, 1804 ; m. 2. Mrs. 
Orphia Perry, dau. of Moses and Sarah Shepard, ,of Newtown, Ct., 
Jan. 17, 1813, and had three daus.: Sarah, b. Oct. 27, 1813, m. John 
Derby Smith, March 17, 1838, d. May 11, 1848; Juliet, b. July 20. 
1816, d. March 24, 1845 ; Orphia Jane, b. Aug. 2, 1819, m. Samuel 
Breese, July 12, 1845. 

Albert Strong, son of Nathaniel and Rebecca, m. Sarah, dau. of 
Walker and Martha Mallory, March 31, 1819. She was b. March 
5, 1797. He d. May 6, 1828. Ch., Harriet Martha, b. July 9, 1821 , 
m. Russell Smith, Sept. 10, 1844 ; Sarah Rebecca, b. Feb. 5, 1824, 
m. Charles P. Marks, Dec. 5, 1844, d. March 29, 1847 ; Elizabeth 
Strong, b. April 4, 1826, m. Edward C. Graham, June 5, 1849. 

Nathaniel Almoran, son of Nathaniel, m Almira, dau. of Calvin 
and Phebe Selden, May 28, 1826. She was b. Sept. 20, 1 803. Ch., 
Ellen, b. Sept. 8, 1827 ; Mary, b. March IG, 1831, d. July 16, 1835 ; 
Rebecca, b. Aug. 21, 1833 ; Susan, b. Aug. 11, 1835 ; Alice, b. Sept. 
5, 1838, d. Sept. 18, 1839. 

Daniel, son of Daniel, m. Jane, dau. of James and Altha Green, 
Oct. 22, 1828. She was b. Oct. 12, 1808. Ch., Charles Augustus, 
b. July 15, 1831, d. Nov. 28, 1831; George Horatio, b. Jan. 28, 
1833 ; Fanny Thompson, b. Sept. 4, 1835 ; Charles Bronson, b. July 
3, 1837 ; Julia Lavinia, b. March 7, 1839; Rebecca Jane, b. May 
17, 1841 ; Martha Green, b. Aug. 23, 1843 ; Mary,b. Oct. 10, 1847 ; 
Daniel Pearl, b. March 19, 1850. 

Rev. William T., son of Daniel, m. Elizabeth Ann, dau. of Doct. 
Jonathan and Elizabeth Kniglit, of New Haven, Aug. 7, 1839. She 
wash. Feb. 20, 1817. Ch., Jonathan Knight, b. Aug. 10, 1840; 
Rebecca Thompson, b. May 18, 1842; William Thompson, b. June 
27, 1844; Elizabeth hockwood, b. Feb. 28, 1846, d. Aug. 4, 1849 ; 
Annie Fitch, b. April 10, 1848; Frederick, b. May 20, 1849. 



HISTORY OF ANCMENT TVOODBURY. 



ni!) 



George, son of Garry, in. Mary Ann, daii. of Charles and Frances 
Piunpclly, Nov. IG, IS'iG. She was b. Dec. 81, 180G. Ch.. George 
Albert, b. March G, 1832; Sarah Francis, b. Oct. 16, 1835. 



COCHRANE F A M I L Y 



^pf^ 




The ancient Dundonald arras recorded in the Lyon otTice at Edin- 
burgh, are : 

" Argent, a cheveron gules betwixt three boars' heads erased azure, 
armed and langued of the first. Crest, a horse passant argent. Sup- 
porters, two gi-eyhounds argent, collared or., leaslied gules. Motto 
above the crest, Virtute et laborc. Date 1G72. 

And by a later matriculation of date, 7th December, 1774, tlie 
above arms are quartered with those of Blair of tliat Ilk, with the 
same Crest, Motto and Supporters. 

W'hen surnames were first assumed by men, they had a significa- 
tion, and represented some characteristic of the appropriator, or some 
circumstance in relation to his person or history. Thus from the 
occupation of individuals came the surnames, Cook, Farmer, &c. 
From complexion came White, Brown, Black and others. Some 
were derived from names of places, as Thornton, "Woodbury. Oth- 
ers again were intended to describe some mental or physical quality 
or personal incident of the first possessor. Of the latter class is the 
name " Cochrane." 

The name is derived from two Gaelic words, which together sig- 
nify " the roar of war," " the battle-cry," viz., Cog, v. n., to war, to 
fight, whence comes Cogach, or Cogaiche, adj., warlike, and Kan, 
genitive Rain, a roar, loud cry, a shriek. It was variously spelled 
by the Highland Scots, Cogachran, Cogaicheran, Cogachrain, Cog- 



520 HISTORY' OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

aicherain, Cogran, Cograin, the guttural sound in the first syllable of 
which being afterward represented by the proper letters of the mod- 
ern Gaelic, gives Cochran, Cochrane, Cochrain. 

The reason for taking this cognomen is not now known. The 
" Cochranes" belonged to the great and warlike clan or tribe of Camp- 
bell, and in the numerous military expeditions in which they were 
engaged, frequent occasions might occur and reasons arise, sufficient 
to warrant a brave vv'aiTior in assuming such a title with propriety. 
In the early history of the name, there is certainly sufficient proof to 
establish a just title to it. The Earl of Dundonald, the head of those 
who have borne the name of Cochrane, had much to do in the vary- 
ing fortunes of Mary, Queen of Scots. Sir John Cochrane, second 
son of the first earl, was a fugitive under the reign of Charles II., 
and engaged under the Earl of Argyle, in the Duke of Monmouth's 
rebellion against James II. He was arrested and taken to London 
to be tried for treason, but was pardoned by King James, on a bribe 
of i\yii thousand pounds being oifercd to the priests of the royal house- 
hold by his father. Lord Dundonald. It would seem, therefore that 
the name was well taken. 

The earldom of the Earl of Dundonald is at Dundonald, in Lan- 
arkshire. It was in close proximity to, or embraced in the lands and 
royal residence of the Stewart family for a long period of years down 
to the time of the ill-fated Mary, Queen of Scots, who resided there 
witli Darnley. 

The •' Cochranes" have been numerous. The principal families 
of the name resided in Renfrewshii-e and Ayrshire. Another fam- 
ily of note resided in Barbachlacke, in Linlithgowshire, and others at 
Rochsoills and Dumbreck. John, son of Sir John Cochrane, lived 
at Watersyde. Alexander Cochrane, resided at Balbarchan ; Wil- 
liam, son of James 2d, brother of Alexander, at Rochsoills, in the 
Lordship of Newbottle and Baronry of Monkland, Lanarkshire ; and 
William, son of AVilliam, " heired the same lands." Others resided at 
Kilmai'onock, Polskelly, Bollinshaw, Paisley and Ochiltree. Sev- 
eral of these families have ermine in their arms, showing their con- 
nection with the royal family. 

The present earl and head of the family name, (1853,) is The Right 
Honorable Thomas (Cochrane,) [1G69] Earl of Dundonald, co. of 
Ayr, [1G47] Baron Cochrane of Dundonald, and Lord Cochrane of 
Paisley and Ochiltree, in the Peerage of Scotland, &c. He is an 
Admiral of the Blue, and a highly distinguished oflicer in the naval 
service of his country. Born Dec. 14, 1775, and succeeded his 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 521 

father as tenth earl, in 1881, lie is consequently about seventy- 
eight years old. When he was in New York some years ago, he be- 
came acquainted with some of the name residing there, and pointed 
out to them their relationship to him. 

From the first Earl of Dundonald arc descended all of the name 
in this country. Some of the Cochranes of Paisley, emigrated into 
the north of Ireland, a long while ago, and thence a few removed to 
this country and settled in Pennsylvania. From these are descended 
Hon, John Cochran, of New York city, and those of the name i-esid- 
ing at "Cochransville," in Pennsylvania.'; The first of this branch 
were distinguished in the war of the Revolution. Others came over 
at a different period, and their descendants are now residing in Mas- 
sachusetts, New York, Ohio and Tennessee. S. W. Cociiran, Esq., 
of Troy, Tenn., is one of these. 

But the " Cochrane," the genealogy of whose descendants, it is 
pro})osed at this time more particularly to trace, was WILLIAM 
who emigrated from Paisley, in Scotland, to Plymouth, England, 
about the year 1740. He had previously married, and had one son, 
whom he also named William, from himself. He was a large man- 
ufacturer and ship ownei-, of great wealth. After liis removal to 
Plymouth, his first wife died, and he was afterward married to a sec- 
ond. Soon after his second marriage, his son, being then about nine- 
teen years of age, disagreed (as is often the case in families) with his 
mother-in-lav,'. Matters grew worse and v/orse, and one day when 
William had been out hunting, and returned after the regular hour 
for dining, having asked for his dinner, he was served, by his piother- 
in-law's order, with food that remained from the servants' kCble, Tliis 
Avas too much for his '^Scofrh hlood" and of course he declined eating. 
In the evening his father was made acquainted with the '• affair," 
who, taking his wife's side of the (luestion, locked his son in " an up- 
per chamber," to reflect on the fruits of disobedience. The same 
night he let himself to the ground by means of a bedcord, and, going 
to the dock, he went on board a ship, just getting under way for North 
vVmerica. Leaving home so suddenly, he was entirely destitute of 
means, and agreed to work for his passage over. Before the next 
morning, he had left the shores of " nnuMy England" forever. He 
landed at Wood's Hole, Falmouth, Mass. This was about 1750. 
His father, owning vessels that sailed to various parts of the world, 
made inquiries in all directions. He did not learn where he was {\]\ 
about 1775. This information he derived from a Falmouth sea-cap- 
tain, one day, after he had nearly ceased inquiring for his son. On 
34 



522 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

receiving a description of him from tlie captain, he burst into tears, 
and exclaimed, " He is my son." He sent by the captain on his re- 
turn voyage, a purse of gold for his son, containing also a letter for 
him, but the cabin-boy stole it on reaching the shore. He again sent 
word to him to come home immediately, as he had no other child to 
heir his property. The resentments of former years had subsided, 
and he commenced preparations for his return. Before this could 
be accomplished, the war of the Revolution broke out, and put a stop 
for a time to his preparations. He had married, had several chil- 
dren, and a " handsome property." Being a stern republican, he en- 
listed into the service of his country, and served a year aS lieutenant. 
After this he made further preparations for a return to his father, 
expecting a close of the war, and had turned into money most of his 
estate. He was a pilot by occupation, and having gone one morning 
to pilot a ship out of Falmouth harbor, he did not return, and was 
found four days afterward floating on the water. The paper money 
he had been collecling, was reduced to a paste in his pocket by the 
action of the water. This event occurred in 1778, in the fortieth 
year of his age. Previous to his marriage, he had resided at Chil- 
mark, on the island of Martha's Vineyard ; but after that event he 
resided at Falmouth, in a house since owned by the late Dea. Fish. 
After the war was over, William,' of Plymouth, Eng., was still liv- 
ing, and sent again for his son, or if he was not living, for his eldest 
son, to come to England immediately, but he never went. William, 
of Plymouth, died in 1785, aged about eighty years. 

His son (2) William," of Chilmark, Mass., m. Experience Weeks, 
of Falmouth, Mass., Nov. 1, 1758. She was admitted to the church 
Oct. 15, 1780, and her eight children were baptized at the same time. 
She d. at Chatham, Conn., in 1823. Ch., 

I I. David,-' b. Nov., 1768. 

4. II. Maria,-' b. Nov., 1771 ; m. John Smith of New York, dead. 

5. III. Tamar,^ b. Nov., 1771 ; m. Ilildreth, of New York; 

both dead. 

6. IV. Hannah,^ b. April, 1773; m. Joseph Small, March 30, 1796. 
He d. at Eastport of small pox. 

7. V. Jane,^ b. July, 1774; m. Loudon Fish in 1793. He d. in 
1812, and she survives. 

8. VI. William,^ b. Dec, 1775 ; was a sea-captain, and died with- 
out issue at Ilavanna in 1801. 

f, VII. Peter,-' b. June 7, 1777. 

10. VIII. Mary,' b. 1778; d. unmarried. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 523 

David' Cothrin, (3) b. Nov., 17G8, at Falmouth, Mass., m. Eunice 
Backhouse, of the same place, March 15, 1788. He moved to Maine 
in May, 1705, and settled in the " Wild Woods" of Farminuton, in 
that state. Not liking the Yankee pronunciation of his Scotch sur- 
name, he changed the spelling into Cothrin. lie was a man of fee- 
ble health, and obliged to go south every winter. In Aug., 1801, his 
brother William having previously died at Havanna, he went to New 
York to settle his estate. The winter following he repaired to the 
south, as usual, was taken sick in North Carolina, and died tliere in 
Feb., 1802. His wid. Eunice m. Stephen Dillingham, in 1808, and 
d. at Farmington, Me., April 1, 1841, aged 73. Children, 

11 I. Keziah,'* b. Oct. 14, 1789; m. Montgomery Morrison in 
1808. He was b. April 14, 1783, and d. March 10, 184G, at Fay- 
ette, Me. 

12 II. William,^ b. Oct. 31, 1791. 
i^ III. Nathaniel,* b. Oct. G, 1793. 

14 IV. Tamar,* b. Feb. 12, 1797, in Farmington, Me., m. Rufus 
Dresser. He was b. in 1795. They live in Illinois. 

Peter' Cochran, (9) b. June 7, 1777. Lives at Feeding Hills, 
Springfield, Mass. He m. Eunice Sandford, of Fal- 
mouth, Mass., Jan. 24, 1804. Ch., 

15 I. IVIaria S.,* b. Oct. 28, 1804, m. James Bagg, d. June 24, 
1835. 

16 II. William,^ b. Feb. 8, 180G, d. June 22, 1817. 

17 HI. Hiram,* b. Oct. 29, 1808, d. Nov. 23, 1823. 

18 IV. Samuel," b. Dec. 18, 1809, d. April 3, 1811. 

19 V. Samuel,* b. March 9, 1812, d. Dec. 31, 1812. 

20 VI. Emily,* b. Oct. 16, 1813, m. Charles Baldwin, of New 
York, and lives at New Orleans. 

21 VII. David,* b. May IG, 1815, m. • . Lives at New 

l>edford, Mass., and is captain of a \v^ialing ship. 

Capt. William Cothren,* (12) b. Oct. 31, 1791, at Falmouth, Mass. 
He and his brother, on account of the pronunciation, have always 
spelled the name Cothren. He resides in Farmington, Me., whither 
he removed with his father at four years of age. The town was then 
a wilderness. The little spot of land taken up by his father, is now 
owned by him, and constitutes part of his homestead. He served 
three months as a soldier in the war of 1812. He ra. 1. Hannah 
Cooper, Jan. 1 4, 1819. She was b. at Pittstown, Me., Feb. 1 0, 1798, 
and d. at Farmington, Me., Nov. 29, 1831 ; m. 2. Wid. Nancy Tit- 



524 HISTOKT OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

comb, of Farmington, Nov. 15, 1835. She d. at that place, April 
19, 1840, .aged 45. 

Children of Hannah : 

g I. William,^ b. Nov. 28, 1819. Grad. Bowd. Coll. 1843. 

23 II. Charles,^ b. June 16, 1822. Grad. Bowd. Coll., 1849, and 
resides at Eatontown, N. J. 

24 II. Nathaniel,^ b. June 21, 1825. Grad. Bowd. Coll., 1849, 
and resides at Eatontown, N. J. 

25. IV. George Webber,^ b. July 12, 1829. 

Child of Nancy : 

26 V. Wesley Eogers,^ b. Dec. 15, 1837. 

Nathaniel Cothren,^ (13) b. Oct. 6, 1793, at Falmouth, Barnstable 
county, Mass., and d. Sept. 18, 1845, at Byron, Ogle county, Illinois. 
While young he emigrated to the state of New York, and m. there 
Clarissa Weed, of Milton, Saratoga county, N. Y., Oct. 8, 1815. He 
afterward resided in Michigan and Illinois. Children, 

(f,) I. James W.,* b. Oct. 19, 1817. 

(I) II. Montgomery Morrison,* b. Sept. 18, 1819. 

29 III. Charles,^ b. Oct. 21, 1821, d. Aug. 30, 1839, at Bloom- 
ingville, Illinois. 

30 IV. Eunice Cordelia,* b. May 8, 1823, at Jerusalem, Yates 
county, N. Y.; m. Albert Brown, Dec, 1842 ; had one dau., Hen- 
rietta. 

31 V. Francis,' b. Oct. 19, 1824; d. in infancy. 

32 VI. William,* b. April 9, 182G ; drowned in the Erie Canal, 
Lockport, N. Y., May 16, 1831. 

33 VII. George Henry,* b. Dec. 25, 1827, at Jerusalem, N. Y.: 
c\ March 6, 1846, at Byron, Illinois. 

William Cothren,* (22) b. at Farmington, Me., Nov. 28, 1819, 
graduated at Bowdoin College in 1843, received his second degree 
there in 1846, and master of a?>ts, ad eundem, at Yale College in 1847. 
Removed to Woodbury, Conn., in Nov., 1844, and commenced the 
practice of law at tliat place, Oct., 1845. Was elected corresponding 
member of the New England Historic, Genealogical Society, May 
5, 1847, and a member of the Connecticut Historical Society, Nov. 
23, 1852. Was elected county commissioner for Litchfield county, 
at the May session of the General Assembly, 1851. He m. INIary J. 
Steele of Woodbury, Conn., Sept. 3, 1849. 

James W. Cothren,* (27) b. Oct. 19, 1817, in Chatauque co., N. Y.;, 
moved to Galesburgh, Michigan, where he now resides, having pre- 
viously lived in Detroit. He was there m. to Christiana Mackie, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUUY. 525 

Dec. 22, 1839. Slie was b. Nov. 22, 1818, at Aberdeen, Scotland. 
He has been for some years postmaster of the place where he re- 
sides. Children, 

34 I. Charles Fernando," b. Sept. 25, 1840, at Galesburgh. 

35 II. Mary Isabella,*^ b. April 16, 1843, " " 

36 III. Clara,« b. July 12, 1847, " " 

Hon. Montgomery M. Cothren,^ (28) b. Sept. 18, 1819, at Jerusa- 
lem, Yates CO., N. Y., moved to Mineral Point, Wisconsin, and com- 
menced the practice of law several years ago. Was a member of 
the convention which formed the constitution of that state, and was 
a member of the upper or lower house of the Legislature of Wiscon- 
sin, from its organization as a state, till his election as judge of the 
court of common pleas, a year or two since. In 1852, he was one of 
the presidential electors of the state. He m. Esther Maria, dau. of 
Dr. Schuyler Pulford, Aug. 24, 1848. She was b. July 16, 1830, in 
Fayetteville, N. Y. Children: 

37 I. Cordelia Maria," b. July 14, 1849 ; d. March 6, 1853. 

38 II. George Pulford," b. April 23, 1851. 

Something more than a hundred years ago, there was a branch of 
the Cochrane family residing in '• Ancient Woodbury." The author 
has not been able to discover the name of the place whence they 
came. Samuel Cochrane, the iirst of the name here, seems to have 
been quite a literary man. His library consisted of more than four 
hundred volumes, which was an exceedingly large one for a farmer 
in a country town in those early days, and would be a large library 
for a man in like condition, even at this day. It is believed that this 
was the largest collection of books that has ever been owned by a pri- 
vate, non-professional citizen of the territory, since the first settle- 
ment. His children were as follows : 

James, bap. May 30, 1747. 

Martlia, bap. May 19, 1749 ; m. Abel Brownson, Aug. 1, 1770. 

Ruth, bap. May 12, 1751 ; m. David Perry, Nov. 3, 1789. 

Samuel, bap. March 3, 1754. 

Elizabeth, bap. June 29, 1756; m. Robert Jackson, Mar. 23, 1775. 

Sarah, bap. Nov. 30, 1758. 

Stephen Peet m. Hester Cochran, 1760. 

Benajah Strong m. Jean Cochran, Feb. 3, 1761. 

All of this family have passed into the female line, or gone out of 
the territory. 



526 HISTOKY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

CRAFTS FAMILY. 

The fii'st person of the name of Crafts, who settled in Connecticut, 
was Samuel, who located at Pomfret in 1686. Joseph, supposed to 

be the son of Samuel, m. Susannah , and d. Jan. 25, 1754. His 

w. d. aged 84. Joseph had nine sons and six daus. Samuel is the 
only one of the fifteen children whose descendants the author has the 
means of tracing in his possession. He was b. July 15, 1722 ; m. 

Judith . Ch., Griffin, b. July 18, 1748 ; Sarah, b. April 13, 

1750; Edward, b. April 19, 1752, d. March 17, 1821; Samuel, b. 
May 19, 1754; Samuel, b. Jan. 15, 17G1. 

Edward, son of the above, m. 1. Abigail Clark, b. in 1759, d. Oct. 23, 
1796 ; 2. Ann Baldwin, b, in 1757, d. June 8, 1813. Ch. by first w., 
Julia, b. 1781, d. Sept., 16, 1801 ; Samuel, b. 1783, d. June 5, 1810, 
at sea ; Pearl, b. 1785, d. Dec. 29, 1821 ; Chauncey, b. June 1, 1787, 
d. Oct. 12, 1828; Laura, b. 1789, d. June 15, 1805; Edward, b. 
1790, d. Feb. 20, 1792; Abba,b. 179G, d. Aug. 24, 1811. 

Pearl, s. of Edward, m. Sarah Blakeley. Ch., Edward B,, b. 
Jan., 1814; Elizabeth M., b. 1816 ; Julia M., b. Dec. 31, 1817; d. 
Oct. 14, 1818 ; Samuel Pearl, b. 1820, d. July 31, 1822. 

Gen. Chauncey, son of Edward, m. Maria Bacon, Sept. 11, 1811. 
Ch., a dau. b. May 30, 1813, d. same day; Julia Maria, b. Aug. 20, 
1814, m. Rev. B. Y. Messenger, Feb. 7, 1838, d. Aug. 25, 1839 ; 
twins, b. July 1, 1816, d. same day ; Charles Bacon, b. July 18, 1817 ; 
Chauncey, b. March 20, 1820 ; d. June 18, 1841 ; Rebecca Bacon, 
b. May 7, 1822, m. Wm. B. Hotchkiss, June 6, 1843 ; Samuel Pearl, 
b. March 30, 1824; Fanny Augusta, b. June 4, 1826, m. Samuel W. 
Andrew, Esq., Jan. 4, 1848; Lydia Thompson, b. Dec. 2, 1828, d. 
July 25, 1846. 



CHURCH FAMILY 



Richard Church emigrated from England, and settled at Plymouth, 
Mass. He came in one of the early companies to that place. As 
nearly as can now be traced, he was an uncle of Col. Benjamin 
Church, who commanded the party which killed King Philip, in 1G7G, 
and who was sent on an expedition against the eastern Indians of 
New England, in 1704, and did them and the French much damage. 
He removed to Hartford, Conn., with Mr. Hooker's congregation, in 
1636. He had several sons and daughters. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 527 

2. John Church was one of the sons of Richard, mentioned above. 
He resided in Hartford, and died there in IGOl, leaving several chil- 
dren. 

3. Samuel Church was the second son of John, and died in Hart- 
ford about the year 1718. He had several children. 

4. Samuel was one of the sons of the above named Samuel, and re- 
moved to Bethlehem society, Woodbury, about the year 1740, where 
he died during the " Great Sickness," which visited that parish in 
1760. He married Mary Porter, of Farmington, and had a numerous 
family. His sons were Joshua, Samuel, Ebenezer and Nathaniel. 

5. Nathaniel, youngest son of Samuel, was but three years old when 
his father died. He was bound an apprentice to a weaver, to be 
taught the mysteries of his art. His master was a hard-hearted man, 
and at about the age of eighteen, he left him and enlisted into the Rev- 
olutionary army. He was severely wounded at the battle of White 
Plains, by a grape-shot larger than a hickory nut, which is now in the 
possession of his son. Chief Justice Samuel Church, of Litchfield. He 
married Lois, second daughter of John Ensign, Esq., of Canaan, and 
settled in Salisbury, Conn. His sons were as follows, viz. 

1. Ensign, whose only daughter Mary married Hon. Eben Newton, 
member of Congress from Mahoning county, Ohio. 

2. Hon. Samuel, LL. D., who Avas born in 1785. He graduated at 
Yale College, in 1803, and settled in his native town as a lawyer. He 
was representative to the General Assembly at six sessions, senator 
three years, judge of probate eleven years, and a member of the con- 
stitutional convention, in 1818. Li 1832, he was appointed a judge of 
the superior court and supreme court of errors, and in 1847, he was 
elected chief justice. In 1845, he removed to Litchfield, his present 
residence. His son, Albert E. Church, is professor of mathematics 
at West Point. Samuel P. Church, M. D., of Ansonia, is another son. 

3. Leman, late one of the most eminent and successful lawyers at 
the Connecticut bar, died in 1849. 

4. Hon. John R., judge of the court of common pleas for Trumbull 
county, Ohio. 

5. Nathaniel, a wealthy merchant of Troy, N. York, now deceased. 
G. Frederick H., a wealthy merchant and iron manufacturer of 

Philadelphia. 
7. William. 



528 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

CASTLE FAMILY. 

Henry Castle came from Stratford to Woodbury, with the early 
settlers, and died in 1697-8. His children were Henry, Samuel, 
Isaac, Abigail, Mary and Mercy, all bap. Sept., 1686 ; William, bap. 
July, 1688; Mary m. Joseph Hurlbut, Jr., May 17, 1698; Samuel 
had a dau. Susanna, bap. Sept., 1693. 

Henry, Jr., m. (1st) Hannah Squire, Aug. 12, 1699. She d. May 

7, 1714, m. (2d) Kuth , who d. ih 1725. His ch. were I. Henry, 

b. Feb. 2, 1700, m. Hannah Strong, Sept. 18, 1736; he d. in 1777 ; 
shed. 1783 ; ch. 1. Ann, b. Oct., 1736, d. Sept. 16, 1787 ; 2. Rachel, 
b. Nov. 10, 1737, m. Nathan Leavenworth ; 3. Ann, b. April 30, 
1739. IL Hannah, b. May 22, 1702. IIL Ruth, b. Aug. 6, 1705. 
IV. Jemima, b. March 3, 1709. V. Luke, b. March 21, 1711, m. 
Mary Squire, Dec. 15, 1736 ; he d. 1797 ; his wife Sept. 13, 1777 ; 
ch. 1. Nathan, b. Dec. 25, 1739, d. 1760 ; 2. Ruth, b. 1741, d. 1746 ; 
3. Mary,b. Oct., 1744, d. Sept., 1777 ; 4. Luke, bap. April 27, 1746, 
d. Dec. 11, 1769; 5. Hannah, b. Dec. 1, 1753, d. 1777; 6. Jemima, 
bap. April 23, 1758. VL Nathaniel, b. Nov. 7, 1716, d. Sept. 11, 
1720. 

Isaac, son of Henry, m. (1st) Sarah , who d. Feb., 1708, m. 

(2d) Joanna , and had I. Isaac, bap. Aug. 9, 1707. IL Samuel, 

bap. Aug. 9, 1707, m. Martha , and d. 1781 ; ch. 1. David, b. 

Dec, 1725, m. Phebe Sanford, Sept., 1747, and had David, bap. Jan. 
29, 1748; Jonathan, bap. Oct., 1751; 2. Isaac, bap. May 11, 1729, 
m. Anna Hurd, Jan. 24, 1750, from whom he was divorced ; she had 
a dau. Lucy, bap. in Aug., the same year of their marriage. This 
Lucy m. William Torrance, March 30, 1768. Isaac, after his di- 
vorce, m. a second time, and d. in 1775, leaving wife Grisel, and ch. 
Isaac, Jehiel, Andrew, Sarah, Chloe and Mary ; 3. Lucy, bap. Aug. 

8, 1781 ; 4. Samuel, Jr., bap. March 31, 1734, m. Abigail , and 

had lluldah, bap. Dec. 24, 1758, Silas, Abigail, bap. Aug. 9, 1769 ; 
•5. Hannah, bap. Sept. 7, 1735 ; 6. Peter, bap. Aug. 8, 1736, m. Ma- 
ry Booth, and d. 1808; she d. 1830 ; 7. Reuben, b. Dec, 1738, m. 

Eunice , had Reuben, b. April 4, 1704 ; 8. Rebecca, bap. Jan. 

11, 1744, m. Benjamin Warner, Nov. 2, 1761 ; 9. Esther, bap. 
March 17, 1746. III. Sarah, bap. March, 1708. IV. Daniel, bap. 
Oct. 13, 1717, m. and had 1. Samuel, b. Jan. 3, 1740, m. Abigail 

, had Joanna, bap. June 23, 1762; Esther, bap. Nov. 13, 1763; 

2. Joanna, bap. March 6, 1743 ; 3. Gideon, bap. July 23, 1745 ; 4. 
Jerusha, bap. Nov., 1752 ; 5. Eunice, bap. Jan. 3, 1759. V- Israel, b. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 529 

April 18, 1722, m. (Ist) Eunice Terrill, IT-lfi, who d. Nov., 178G. m. 

(2d) , and liad Timothy, b. April 22, 1747 ; 2. Simeon, baj). 

May 20, 1750; 3. Sarah, bap. March 10, 1754, m. Daniel Bootli, 
Jan. 28, 1773 ; 4. Eunice, d. March 18, 1759 ; 5. Eunice, bap. July 
27, 17G0; G. Israel, bap. April 29, 17G4, ni. Electa Dewey, 1787. 
Doct. Silas, son of Samuel, Jr., had eh. Harvey H., Chauncey N., 
Abigail R., who m. Ileman Pattei'son. .Chauncey N. m. Amanda 
Minor, and had Chauncey J. and Henrietta V. 

AVilliam, son of Henry, had ch. as follows, 1. Ann, bap. Jan. 1, 
1721, m. Benajah Hawley, in 1757 ; 2. Ruth, bap. June 2, 1723, m. 
Jonathan Lum, in 174G ; 3. Jolm, bap. May 29, 172G; 4. Mercy, b. 
May, 1727 ; 5. Seth, bap. June 29, 1729, had Hepzibah, bap. Dec, 
1758; Tabitha, bap. Jan. 27, 17G2 ; G. Phineas, baj). JNlay 2, 1731; 
7. Tabitha, bap. Oct. 14, 1733. 

It is at present unknown to which branch of the family the follovT- 
ing belong. 

Jabez Castle had 1. William, bap. April 1, 1739, m. Thankful Ba- 
ker, Feb. 23, 1758, and had Zuba, bap. Feb. 1, 17G2 ; Elijah, bap. 
Jan. 20, 17«J5 ; 2. Susanna, ba}». Sept. 13, 1740, m. Noah Ilurd, 
1759 ; 3. Mary, bap. Aug. 8, 1744 ; 4. Tabiatha, bap. April 28, 
1751 ; 5. Selah, bap. Feb. 2, 1755 ; G. Triel, bap. Jan. 2, 1757. 

Ebenezer Castle had Ebenezer, bap. June 23, 1776 ; Jerusha, bap. 
Feb. 28, 1779. 



CANFIELD FAMILY. 

Thomas Canfield, Sen., of Milford, Conn., was not one of tlie early 
settlers of the place, but probably was there as cftrly as 1C47 ; had a 
wife, Phebe, and ch. His son Jeremiah m. Judith Mallory, and 
among his ch. is found Jeremiah, Jr., who was an original purchaser 
of the town of New Milford, in 170G, and who had a son Zerobabeb 
Thjs Zerobabel resided in the society of Bridgewater, New Milford ; 
he m. and had ch., one of which was Lemuel, who m. Sarah Burton, 
and had issue as follows : Daniel, Burton, Lemuel, Augustine, and 
Orlando, who d. young. 

Burton, Esq., settled at South Britain, in Southbury, about 1800, 
m. Polly Mitchell, and had L Harriet, b. Dec. 27, 1802, m. Anson 
Badley, 1824, and had 1. Lemuel M., b. Dec. 1, 1826; 2. Burton C, 
b. Jan. 9, 1830 ; 3. Polly A., b. Feb. 10, 1832 ; 4. Sarah, b. Dec. G, 



.530 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

1835 ; 5. Eliza, b. Sept. 21, 1839. II. Mitchell M., b. Marc-h 31, 
1809, m. Eliza Averill, Nov. 24, 1830, had 1. Avei-ill B., b. Nov. 6, 
1831 ; 2. Henry M., b. Aug. 15, 1841. III. Lemuel M., b. April 
• J9, 1820, m. Emeline Northrop, March 16, 1843, and had Harriet 
E., b. March 16, 1850 ; Sarah E., b. April 29, 1852. 

Lemuel, brother of Burton, m. Betsey Mitchell, and had Jerome, b. 
March 26, 1808, who m. Hannah Smith; ch. Lemuel, Cornelia and 
Chandler. 

Rev. Thomas Canfield, of Roxbury society, was b. at Durham, 
Conn,, m. Mary Russell ; ch. I. Sarah, b. Sept. 3, 1749, m. Rev. Je- 
hu Minor. II. Thomas, b. July 21, 1751, m. Sarah Mallory, Aug. 
3, 1775, and had 1. Polly, m. Ira Sanford; 2. Russell, d. in N. Y. ; 
3, Sally, m. Benjamin Wheeler, of Bridgejiort ; 4. Philemon, who is 
the only survivor of the family, now residing in Hartford. III. Rus- 
sell, b. Aug. 5, 1754, d. 1769. IV. Mary, b. May 8, 1764, d. 1786. 
V. Elihu, b. July 12, 1759, m. Sarah Frisbie, Aug. 3, 1775; ch. 1. 
Betsey, b. IMarch 11, 1784 ; 2. Augustine, b. May 15, 1786, d. Sept. 
2, 1810 ; 3. Russel, b. Aug. 28, 1789 ; 4. Sally, b. Oct. 9, 1791 ; 5. 
Caroline, b. March 30, 1799 ; G. Polly, b. Feb. 15, 1801 ; 7. Thom- 
as, b. Jan., 1804. 

Rev. Thomas d. 1795, a. 79 ; his estate inventoried £3,049, lOs. 
Sd. His wife d. Oct. 4, 1790, a. 70. It is believed that Rev. Thom- 
as was a descendant of Thomas, Sen., of Milford, though tradition in- 
fovms us that his father came from England. 



HISTORY OK ANCIENT WOODBUIiY. ASl 



CURTISS FAMILY. 




Az. a cUl'V. danccttee betw. tliiXH-' iiuual coronrts, or. Crest — A limi sejant 
))Iir., supporting with his dcxler loot a shield ol" the anus. JSIiiltu — Sai'pere 
nude. 

The arms of the London family are Az. a fesse dancet'e betw. 
three ducal coronets, or; as borne by the name of Curtis, and was con- 
firmed to John Curtis, of London, Gent., son of William Curtis, of 
Hatton, in the county of Warwick, Gent., son of Eustace Curtis, of 
Malestack, of said county, Gent., son of William Curtis, who was son 
and heir of John Curtis, of Malestack, Gent. This bearing was con- 
firmed the 9th of May, 1G32, in the 8th year of the reign of Charles I. 

William Curtiss' embarked in the ship Lion, June 2-, 1G'')2, and 
landed Dec. 10, 1632, at Scituate, Mass. He brought with him four 
children, Thomas,' Mary,- John" and Philip.^ He removed with his 
family to Roxbury, Mass., whence they removed to Stratford, Conn. 
By the records of Stratford it appears that the father of these must 
have died before the removal of the family thither, and that previous 
to that event, a son William had been born to him, as the first of the 
name that appears on those records, are John," William,'^ and their 
mother, AVidow Elizabeth Curtis. It is stated that at the date of 
their removal to Stratford, John was about 28 years of age, and Wil- 
liam about 18. Thomas d. in Mass. "7 month, 1050." Widow Eliz- 
abeth d. in 1658. Will proved Nov. 4, 1G.j8. Devisees were sons, 
1. John^ and 2. William," and grandsons, John, son of John, and Jon- 
athan, son of William. This Jonathan d. in 1681, leaving two sons 
and two daughters, names not given in the will. 

I, 



5 

1 ^. 



532 HISTORY OK ANCIENT WOODBURY. /T/TX 

Johir (1) ni. 1st, Elizabeth , who d. in lG8i2, m-.^cl^MftPgai'et 

, who d. in 1714. lie d. Dec. 6, 1707, aged ninety-six years. 



His children were : 
G I. John,^b. 1G42. 
.1 II. Israel,' b. 1644. 

8 IH. Elizabeth,^ b. 1G47. 

9 IV. Thomas,^ b. 1G48. 

10 V. Joseph,^ b.lG50. 

11 VI. Benjamin,'^ b. 1652. 

12 VII. Hannah,^ b. 1G54. 

Capt. William" Curtiss, (2) mentioned above, was one of the original 
grantees of Woodbury, in 1G72, though he never moved there, butd- 
in Stratford, Dec. 21, 1702. His will was dated Dec. 15, 1702, by 
which it appears he had children : 

13 I. Daniel.^ 

14 II. Ebenezer.^ 

15 III. Zachariah.-' 
It IV. Josiah.^ 

17 V. .Joshua,^ had a son, William, and daughters, Anna, Bulayah 
and Mary. 

18 VI. Sarah,^ m. Wells. 

19 VII. Elizabeth,^ m. Ross. 

20 VIII. Jonathan,^ deceased, leaving son Jonathan. 

IsraeP (7) b. 1644, m. Rebecca . lied. Oct., 1704, ch. 

f, I. Israel," b. May 20, 1668. 

fi II. John,M). Oct., 1670. 

t III. Stephen," b. Aug. 24, 1673. 

i IV. Peter." 

25 V. Hannah," m. Thomas Minor. 

•20 VI. Rebecca,^ m. Ephraim Minor. 

Cjlpt. Josiah' (16) m. Mary , lived and d. in Stratford, 

in 1745; will proved in Jan. of that year. CJhildren, 

27 I. William." 

28 II. Josiah." 

29 III. Abraham." 

f^ IV. Benjamin," b. Dec. 25, 1704. 

31 V. Peter." 

32 VI. Matthew." 

33 VII. Charles." 

34 VIII. Abigail," m. Capt. Hezekiah Hooker, of Woodbury. 

35 IX. Eunice," m. Lieut. Robert Wells, of Stratford. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 533 

36 X. Mary,' m. John Patterson. 

37 XI. Mehetable.^ 

Israel, Jr.,^ (21) m. Mary ; children. 

38 I. Samuel,^ bap. Jan., 1G94-5. 

39 II. Josiah,^ bap. April, KJ'JT. 

40 III. Stephen,M)ap. April 22, 1G99. 

41 IV. Rebecca,^ bap. July 22, 1701. 

Ens. John'' (22) m. Johannah , who d. Sept. 1, 1749. 

Hed. April 14, 1754. Ciiildren, 

42 I. Elizabeth,^ bap. Sept., 1G97, m. John Mitchell, Jan. 17, 
171C.-17. 

43 II. Harriet,^ b. Nov. 1, 1(;99. 

^ III. Nathan, 5 b. Feb. 2, 1701-2. 

45 IV. Abigail,' bap. Marcli, 1704, m. David Ilurd, Jan. 6, 
1723-4. 

46 V. Esther,^ b. Sept. 5, 1706. 

47 VI. Joanna,^ b. Sept. 5, 1708, in. Eliakim Stoddard, Dec. 4, 
1729. 

tt VII. John,-^ b. Feb. 3, 1711. 

49 VIII. 01ive,M3ap. May, 1713. -''^ 

50 IX. Peter,Mj. Jan. 1, 1716, and had ch. by wife Mercy, 1. 
Mabel, bap. 1747 ; 2. Mary, b. 1752. 

II X. David,' b. Jan. 21, 1718. 

52 XL Eunice,' b. March 20, 1720. 

Stephen^ (23) m. Sarah Minor, Nov. 2, 1699. He d. June 
1, 1723. Children, 
II I. Joseph,' b. Oct. 20, 1700. 
II II. Daniel,' b. Jan. 12, 1703. 

55 III. Sarali,' ) m. Richard Peet, March 11, 1724-5. 

C (twins,) b. July 28, 1705. 
5G IV. Rebecca,' \ ni. Elisha Stoddard, Esq. 

57 V. Ruth,' b. Jan. 14, 1707, m. Samuel Galpin. 

58 VI. Dea. Stephen,' b. Feb. 23, 1710, m. 1st, Lois Hicock ; m. 
2d, Wid. Hnldah Hicock. He d. in 1781. No issue. 

59 VII. Mary,' b. Sept. 15, 1713, m. Caulkins, and removed 

to Sharon, Conn., about 1733. They had nine sons, who settled com- 
pactly in that part of the town now known as Caulkinsville. 

S VIIL Israel,' b. July 23, 1716. 

61 IX. Elizabeth,' b. Sept. 19, 1718, d. aged about 18, uiun. 

62 X. Grace,' b. July 7, 1720, m. Eldad King, March 3, 1743. 

Peter,^ (24) d. 1713. Child, 



534 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

G3 I. Olive,'^ b. May 6, 1713, m. Gideon Stoddard, Jan. 24, 1733. 
Benjamin," (30) b. Dec. 25,* 1704, d. July 28, 1783. He and 
two of his brothers, Josiah and Matthew, removed from 
Stratford, and settled at Newtown, Conn. Children, 

64 I. Nehemiah,^ b. Feb. 20, 1728, and others. He had a son 
Salmon," b. Aug. 16, 1759, d. Jan. 2, 1814. The latter was father 
of the lion. Holbrook Curtis,'^ of Watertown, Conn., lately judge of 
the Litchfield county court. Judge Curtis is the father of William 
E. Curtis, Esq., a lawyer of New York city. 

Nathan^ (44) m. Martha Preston, May, 173-2. He d. Oct. 
17, 17G1, and Martha d. June 23, 1764. Children, 

65 I. Elizabeth," b. Oct., 1733, m. Thomas Bull, Oct. 19, 1754. 

66 n. Martha,^ b. March, 1737, m. Doct. Andrew Graham, June 
.5, 1753. 

67 III. Ann," b. March, 1740, m. Edward Hinman, July 18, 1764. 
fo^ IV. Nathan," bap. April 3, 1748. 

John'^ (48) Avas killed by lightning in 1743, while standing in 
the door of his house. He had his dau. Abia in his arms, 
who was uninjured and afterward m. as specified below. 
His children by his wife Abia, were, 

69 I. Joanna," b. June 26, 1730. 

70 II. Abraham," b. Feb., 1732. 

71 III. Amos," bap. Oct., 1733. 

Z IV. Gideon," bap. June 8, 1735. 

73 V. Joanna," bap. May 22, 1737 ; m. Henry Cramer, Dec. 5, 
1753. 

74 VI. Abiah," bap. Jan. 21, 1739 ; m. Stephen Galpin. 
,^| VII. John," bap. Oct. 12, 1740. 

76 VIII. Eve," bap. May 16, 1742. 

77 IX. Hester," bap. Dec. 11, 1743; m. Elijah Hinman, Jan. 3, 
1771. . 

78 X. Hannah." 

David-' (51) d. Sept. 15, 1782. Ch., 
,',2 I. David" bap. Jan. 30, 1743. 
,^»9 II. Asa," bap. Aug. 3, 1740. 

81 III. Eunice," bap. Feb. 26, 1750, m. Ithiel Hicock. 

82 IV. Olive," bap. April 5, 1752. 

83 V. Love," bap. Aug. 31, 1755 ; m. Graham Ilurd. 

Josei)h-^ (53) m. Mary Walker, who d. May 27, 1727. He 
a. June 5, 1727. Ch., 

84 I. Prudence,** b. June, 1724. * 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 535 

1*:^, II. Thaddeus, bap. April 24, 172G. 

Dca. Daniel^ (54) m. 1. Phebe Martin, June 3, 1730 ; 2, 

^Yk]. Sarah Ilinman, Sept. 2, 17G0. He d. Aug. 14, 1784 ; 

second wile d. Jan. 12, 1807. Ch., 
80 I. Phebe,*' b. Oct. 18, 173G ; m. Amos Hicock, Jan. 15, 1750. 

87 II. Elizabeth,® bap. June, 1738; d. young. 

88 III. Sarah,' bap. Aug. 6, 1762; m. Col. Joel Ilinman, April 
10, 1778. 

89 IV. Mary," bap. June 7, 1767 ; ra. Park Brown, May 2, 1785. 

IsraeP (60) m. Martha Towner, Jan. 31, 1738. He died in 
1796. Ch., 
,% I. Joseph,® b. March 22, 1740. 
I'as II. Israel,'^ b. April 24, 1742. 

92 III. Stephen," b. Jan. 8, 1744. 

93 IV. Daniel," b. May 18, 1746 ; m. and had two daus. 

94 V. Eunice,® b. July 8, 1748 ; m. Stephen Bateman, Sept. 26" 
1768. 

95 VI. Sarah,® b. April 3, 1749; m. Thomas Strong, Dee. 16, 
1767. 

■f, VII. Benjamin,® b. May 18, 1751. 

97 VIII. Kuth,® b. Aug. 24,1753 ; m. Luther Bateman, Nov. 18, 
1773. 

98 IX. Reuben,® b. Feb. 25, 1755 ; ra. Hannah Peck, who d. 
March 13, 1804. He d. March, 1804. 

99 X. Abijah,® b. Sept. 26, 1756 ; d. Oct. 12, 1805. 

100 XL Olive,® b. Nov. 24, 1759 ; m. Solomon, son of Gideon 
Johnson. Shed. Oct. 18,1797. 

Nathan® (08) m. 1. Esther , who d. April 5, 1803; 2. 

Martha Preston. She d. Feb. 16, 1845. He d. Nov. 29, 
1845. Children, 

101 I. Elizabeth," bap. July 5, 1772. 

102 II. Martha,' bap. March 13, 1774. 

103 III. Betty,' bap. June 9, 3776; m. Trumau Ilinman, Nov, 
22, 1798. 

Gideon" (72) m. Mary Hicock, Sept. 28, 1756. He d. in 
1793. Children, 

104 I. Betterise," bap. June 19, 1757. 

105 IL Gideon.^ 

106 IIL Aaron,' bap. Jan. 27, 1762. 

107 IV. Susanna.^ 

108 V. Eldad King,^ bap. Aug. 7, 1773. 



536 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

109 VL Mary Eve,' bap. Sept. 24, 1775. 
John' (75) d. 1803, leaving children, 

110 I. Sherman,'' m. Sarah Benham, June 2, 1796. 

111 II. Levi.' 

112 III. John.' 

David' (79) m. Sarah Minor, Sept. 27, 17G4. He. d. in 1819, 
and his widow d. in 1820. Children, 

113 I. Phebe,' b. Feb. 14, 1765; m. Anthony Strong, Nov. 13, 
1791. 

Ill II. David Stiles,' b. Jan. 14, 17G7. 

115 III. William Preston,' b. May 11, 1769. 

116 IV. Anna,' b. Oct. 26, 1771 ; m. Aaron Sherman. 

117 V. Sarah,' b. Jan. 23, 1774 ; m. Curtis Hicock. 

118 VI. Elizabeth,' b. Oct. 26, 1776 ; m. Bennet French. 

119 VII. Currence,' bap. Oct. 5, 1783 ; m. Rev. Philo Judson. 
Asa'' (80) m. Eunice Woodward, Oct. 9, 1765. He d. 1794. 

Children, 

120 I. Levina,' b. March 4, 1767 ; m. Gideon Munn, Jan. 6, 
1785. 

121 II. Curtiss.' 

122 III. Russell,' b. March 1, 1769. 

123 IV. Truman.' 

124 V. . 

125 VL Olive.' - 

126 VII. Mary,' m. James Ilinman. 

127 VIII. Eunice,' m. David Hawley. 

Thaddeus" (85) m. Stoddard, and removed to Rutland, 

Vt., about 1761. Children, 

128 L Mary,' bap. April 8, 1750. 

129 II. Sarah,' bap. Sept. 24, 1752. 

130 III. Thaddeus,' bap. Sept. 29, 1754. 

131 IV. Mary,' bap. July 11, 1756. 

132 V. Elizabeth,' bap. Feb. 19, 1758. 

133 VL Prudence,' bap. May 25, 1760. 

Joseph" (90) m. Ketura Hatch, July 11, 1763. He d. .hin. 
9, 1798, and his Avidow d. April 19, 1797. Children, 

134 I. Hannah,' b. Aug. 29, 1764 ; m. David Mallory, Sept. 30, 
1783. 

1^^ II. Simeon,' b. Jan. 2, 1768. 
136 IIL Amos,' bap. May 19, 1771. 
l^J IV. Abel,' bap. May 10, 1776. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 537 

138 V. Eunice,' bap. Aug. G, 1781. 

IsraeP (91) m. Abigail Mallory, March 9, 1769. Children, 

139 I. Truman,' bap. April 8, 1770. 

140 II. Polly,^bap. Aug.4, 1771. 

141 III. Charlotte/bap. Oct. 30, 1773. 

142 IV. Mary,' bap. Feb. 24, 177 G. 

143 V. Martin Luther," bap. Oct. 19, 1778. 

144 VI. Alathea,' bap. Aug. 23, 1785. 

Benjamin'' (96) m. Esther Benham, who d. 1747. He d. 
July 28, 1798. Children, 
\l^ I. Japhet," b. Dec. 12, 1779. 
\t II. Sherman," b. Jan. 26, 1781 ; d. in 1848. 
\fs III. Cyrus," b. Dec. 12, 178G. 

148 IV. Anne," b. Oct. 7, 1789 ; m. David Porter, of Middlebury. 
David Stiles" (114) m. Sybilla Huntington, who d. Dec. 30, 

1837, a. 68. He d. Jan. 22, 1846. Children : 

149 I. Sybilla Cleora," bap. Nov. 23, 1794; m. Roderick Stiles, 
and d. Nov. 27, 1852. 

\f, II. David H.,« bap. April 3, 1796. 

151 III. Sarah,'' bap. Feb. 11, 1798; m. Rufus Stiles, Nov. 9, 
1822. 

152 IV. Nathan,^ bap. March 19, 1799 ; d. young. 
J^ V. Daniel,^ bap. Nov. 8, 1801. 

154 VI. Elvira,^ d. unmarried, Dec. 24, 1837, a. 34. 

155 VII. Mary Ann N.," bap. June 16, 1805 ; m. Oliver S. Weller. 

156 VIII. William,^ bap. Sept. 24, 1809 ; m. Elizabeth Stoddard. 
He d. March 19, 1844 ; no issue. 

Simeon" (135) ra. Mary Bradley, Aug. 12,1790. Children, 

157 I. Erastus,'* b. Nov. 26, 1792. 

158 II. Jason,^ b. July 11, 1794. , 

159 III. Reuben,^ b. Dec. 19, 1796. 

160 IV. Billy," b. April 25, 1798. 

AbeP (137) m. Plannah Atwater, Feb. 1. 1802. Children, 

161 I. Alford," bap. April 24, 1803. 

162 II. Charles," bap. Jan. 30, 1805. 

Japhet" (145) m. Lucy Strong, June 5, 1805. Children, 

163 L Lucy," d. Dec. 12, 1815. 

164 II. Louisa." 

165 IIL Maria." 

166 IV. Benjamin." 

167 V. Julia," d. Dec. 12, 1814. 

35 



538 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBDRT. 

168 VI. Julia.'' 

169 VII. Japhet." 

170 VIII. Theron E.« 

171 IX. Carlos B." 

Sherman" (146) m. Jerusha, daughter ofThaddeus Bronson. 
Children, 

172 I. Chester.^ 

173 11. Esther." 

174 in. Mary Ann." 

175 IV. Olive." 

Cyrus'^ (147) m. Julia, daughter of Benjamin Strong. Ch., 

176 I. Henry." 

177 11. Ames.^ 

178 III. Benjamin.^ 

179 IV. Julia.'' 

David PI." (150) m. 1. Maria Summers, in 1827, whp d. Oct. 
5, 1828 ; 2. Anna Gurnsey. Children, 

180 I. Maria S.,'^ b. 1831 ; d. April 16. 1836. 

181 II. James G.,' b. Aug. 8, 1835. 

182 III. David," b. Sept. 25, 1837. 

DanieP (153) m. Julia F. Strong, Jan. 27, 1835. Children, 

183 I. Walter." 

184 II. Emily A." 

185 III. Ellen C." 

186 IV. Horace D." 

187 V. Cordelia." 

188 VI. EdAvard J." 

189 VII. Frances." 

190 VIII. Elizabeth." 

It is not found to which branch of the family the following belong. 

Agur Curtiss, m. Mercy Hinman, Jan. 30, 1755. He d. Feb. 8, 
1784, and his widow d. June 20, 1785. Ch., I. Wait, bap. Jan. 18, 
1756 ; m. Olive Strong, June 8, 1789. He d. Oct. 17, 1798. Ch., 
1. Fanny, b. Nov. 1, 1790 ; 2. Phebe, b. Dec. 27, 1792 ; 3. William, 
b. Sept. 18, 1794, d. July 4, 1801 ; 4. Cyrus, b. Dec. 8, 1797. 11. 
Ann, b. July 20, 1759 ; m. Doct. Anthony Burritt, April 7, 1782. 
III. Josiah, bap. July 25, 1762 ; m. Olive Moseley, Dec. 13, 1787. • 

Samuel Curtiss and wife Cui-rence, had Olive, bap. May 18, 1760.^ 

David Curtiss came from Farmington, and settled in Judea soci- 
ety about 1736. He d. in 1768, leaving children, AUin, David, 
Ann, Abigail, Eunice and Sarah. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKY. 



539 



Allin m. Ruth . Ch., Chloe, b. July 31, 1738 ; Medad, bap. 

May 18, 1740 ; Ebenezer, b. Nov. 6, 1741, d. March, 1742 ; John, b. 
Nov. 30, 1742 ; Anna, b. March 24, 1748. 

David, Jr., m. Abigail . He d. in 1776. Ch., Iluldah, b. 

Nov. 20, 1738 ; Elizur, b. Sept. 11, 1740 ; Axsa, b. Aug. 25, 1742; 
Abigail, b. June 10, 1744; David, b. March 14, 1746; Ashbel, b. 
Aug. 24, 1748 ; Joshua and Sarah, (twins,) b. Jan. 2, 1751 ; Joanna ; 
Caleb, b. Feb. 9, 1755, and Hull. 



DRAKELEY FAMILY 




Ar. a chev. sa. betw. three drake's heads erased az. 

1 Thomas Drakeley,^ of London, Eng., came early to Woodbury 
via Stratford. The date of his home-lot is 1685. He was b. in 
1657, and d. April 5, 1734. He m. Lydia Brooks, of New Haven, 
who d. Dec. 4, 1762. Children, 

2 L Anna,^ bap. May, 1697; m. Jonathan Jackson, Dec. 15, 1738. 
6 n. Thomas,- bap. May, 1704. 

4 IIL Robert,^ bap. July, 1709 ; in. Mary Warner, July 4, 1751. 
He d. July 1, 1784. 

5 IV. Mary," bap. July, 1709 ; m. Jonathan Hurlbut, Dec. 11, 
1728, and d. June 28, 1765. 

6 V. William,^ bap. June, 1714; d. July 11, 1769, unmarried. 

Thomas," eJr., (3) m. Eunice Hicock. He d. in 1789. Children, 

7 I. Lydia,^ b. Jan. 12, 1730 ; m. Rood, of Vt. 

8 II. Mercy,-' b. May 20, 1733 ; d. Dec. 29, 1816 ; unmarried. 

9 III. Comfort,^' b. April 5, 1737. 

10 IV. Eunice,-' b. July 17, 1739; unmarried; d. Oct. 21, 1825. 
\i V. Samuel,^ b. May 18, 1745. 
12 VL Betterus," b. Nov. 18, 1749. 

SamueP (11) m. Olive Wheeler, Oct. 2, 1777- He d. March 
13, 1823. Children as follows : 
^ I. WiUiam," b. Aug. 9, 1779. 



540 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

14 II. Anne," b. Feb. 15, 1781 ; m. Hinman Hurd, Sept. 12, 
1802 ; moved to Ohio. Mr. Hurd d. Sept. 16, 1836. 

15 III. Martha," b. Sept. 13, 1783 ; unmarried. 

16 IV. Olive," b. March 10, 1785; unmarried. 

JJ V. Abiram," b. May 29, 1787 ; moved to Wisconsin. 

18 VI. Mary,"b. Feb. 10, 1789 ; m. Asa Mitchell, June 15, 1819. 
He was b. 1787. She d. Oct. 24, 1842. 

19 VII. Thomas," b. Oct. 6, 1791 ; unmarried ; now resides in 
Ohio. 

=3° VIII. Robert,^" b. Sept. 15, 1793. 

21 IX. Sherman," b. March 22, 1795 ; d. March 12, 1805. 

22 X. Samuel," b. June 2, 1797 ; d. Sept. 26, 1814. 

23 XL Augusta," b. Dec. 10, 1800 ; m. Orhn Rood, of Vt., Sept., 
1831 ; now in Wisconsin. 

William" (13) m. Anna Hinman, May 8, 1806. She was b. 
April 23, 1780. He d. June 19, 1825. Children, 

24 I. Sherman^ b. April 11, 1807 ; d. Oct. 6, 1833. 

25 II. Maria,' b. Jan. 7, 1809 ; m. Orem Newcomb, of Derby, 
Vt., Feb. 12, 1835. Children, Henry W., Herbert, Albert, Luther. 

'i IIL Henry W.,* b. July 21, 1811. 

27 IV. Jane E.,^ b. June 21, 1813 ; in. Lucius Kingsbury, of 
Derby, Vt., Sept. 5, 1833. 

28 V. Herbert,^ ) b. June 26, 1816 ; drowned in New Haven, 

}■ July 9, 1833. 

29 VI. Albert/) b. June 26, 1816; d. Oct. 26, 1834. 
f, VIL George,^ b. Feb. 12, 1819. 

Abiram" (17) m. Selina Beers, April 1, 1807. 
I I. Charles,^ b. Feb. 6, 1811. 

32 II. Caroline,^ b. Sept. 16, 1814 ; m.Ephraim Slauter, April 5, 
1835. (Wis.) 

33 IIL Edwin,' b. April 15, 1816; d. May 22, 1817. 
l^ IV. William,* b. July 10, 1818. 

35 V. SamueV b. May 3, 1820 ; m. Rhoda Stone, Nov. 4, 1846. 
She d. Sept. 22, 1849. M. 2. Louisa Smith Hyer, March 21, 1852. 

36 VI. Robert,=^ b. March 30, 1822 ; m. Lucretia C. Rickey, June 
6, 1850. 

Robert" (20) m. Louisa Van Hoezen, Jan. 28, 1841, and had 
children, 

37 I. Augusta* Maria, b. April 22, 1842. 

38 IL Robert* Irwin, b. March 21, 1846. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AVOODBURY. 541 

Henry W.^ (26) m. Mary E. Greenfield, (Baltimore,) Aug. 
1, 1843. Children, 

39 I. George," b. Aug. 8, 1844. 

40 II. Thomas," b. June 10, 1846. 

41 III. Henry," b. Feb. 29, 1848. 

42 IV. WiUiam," b. April 16, 1850. 

43 V. Herbert,") d. Feb. 13, 1853. 

•b. March 21, 1852. 

44 VI. Albert," ) d. Jan. 20, 1853. 

George^ (30) m. Laura M. Hollister, Nov. 11, 1844. She 
was b. Jan. 2, 1822. Their children are, 

45 I. Harriet Maria," b. June 18, 1846. 

46 II. Lucius," b. May 23, 1849. 

Charles^ (31) m. Feb. 22, 1837, Betsey Ann Fuller. Ch., 

47 L Henry Charles," b. Oct. 13, 1838. 

48 II. Paulina Elizabeth," b. Feb. 20, 1841. 

' William^ (34) m. Julia Eliza Barnes, Dec. 6, 1840. Shed. 
Sept. 22, 1849. 

49 I. Abiram Thomas," b. June 8, 1844. 

50 IL George," b. July 22, 1846; d. March 23, 1847. 



EASTMAN FAMILY, 



I am indebted for the account of this family, to one of the descend- 
ants of Azariah Eastman. 

The genealogy of the Eastman line of ancestry, has been so imper- 
fectly kept, that it can hardly be traced farther back than the year 
1746, although it is certain, that Azariah Eastman and his wife Ruth 
(Jenkins,) lived at New Fairfield, Conn., previous to the above date, 
as reliable records show they had the following children, viz., Aza- 
riah, Esther, Hannah, Benjamin, Ruth, Eli, Vespasian, Mary, Deliv- 
erance, Frederick, Alvin and Prudence. All these settled in the 
state of New York, except Prudence and Doct. Azariah. Prudence 
m. Matoon, and settled in Massachusetts. 

Doct. Azariah was b. Aug. 5, 1746, at New Fairfield, Conn., (now 
Sherman,) and settled in Roxbury society; m., in 1770, Sarah, dau. 
of David Booth, of said society, and grand-dau. of Deac. Joseph 
Booth, of Stratford. He d. May 27, 1818, and was interred on the 
old burial-ground, (so called,) near where the first meeting-house 



542 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

stood. His Avife, after his decease, m. Lemuel Leavenworth, of 
Whitestown, N. Y., and d. there April 2, 1828, in the 77th year of 
her age. They had four children, one son and three daughters. 

Doct. Josiah R., the eldest ch. of Doct. Azariah, was b. Feb. 14, 
1771 ; m. Amarilla Hurd, dau. of Dea. David Hurd, Jr., and had 
three sons and two daus. The eldest son, Richard H., was b. at Rox- 
bury, Nov. 27, 1800, studied medicine Avith his father, attended lec- 
tures, was licensed in 1821, at New Haven, and the same year com- 
menced practice in the town of Summit, Scoharie co., N. Y., where 
he was favoi-ed with an extensive practice for a number of years ; 
but at the solicitation of friends in Pennsylvania, he removed to 
Mount Pleasant, in that state, where, after a short period, he d. Oct. 
12, 1831, leaving one child, Caroline S., now the wife of the Rev. 
Charles Fabrique. 

John Randolph, the second son, was b. Api-il 14, 1805 ; also stud- 
ied with his father, and with Doct. Sherald, of Poughkeepsie ; at- 
tended lectures, was licensed in the city of New York, and after prac- 
ticing his profession about twenty years in Pawling, N. Y., he died 
Dec. 8, 1851, and was interi'ed in the Pearce family burying-ground 
in Pawling. 

Harmon B., third son of Doct. Josiah, was b- July 17, 1807 ; m. 
Emily Painter, and has children. 

Amarilla, eldest dau. of Doct. Josiah R., is unm. Mary Ann, sec- 
ond dau., m. Grandison Beardsley, of Roxbury. 



EDMONDS FAMILY. 

Robert Edmonds, whose father was a native of Scotland, was born 
in Dublin, Ireland, married Mary Marks, in Cork, emigrated to this 
country in 1754, landed at Philadelphia the 23d of Dec, and re- 
mained at or near the last named place, about two years. From 
thence he went to New York, soon after which he removed to South- 
bury society, and settled in the district of South Purchase, where he 
resided several years. He then removed to Ridgefield, Conn., and 
died at the advanced age of 93. His children were, 

1. John ; 2. WiUiam, b. Sept. 28, 1755 ; 3. George ; 4. Martha, 
who m. Samuel Pierce; 5. Margaret, m. Elias Lee and went to 

Ballston, N. Y. ; 6. Esther, m. Jackson ; 7. Mary, bap. Aug. 

21, 1761, d. Feb. 5, 1778; 8. Ann, bap. April 27, 1764, m. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKT. 543 

Jackson, of Danbury ; 9. Robert Stiles, bap. Jan. 24, 1770 ; 10. Cy- 
rus, bap. Jan. 3, 1773 ; 11. Daniel. 

John, first son of Robert, m. Comfort Pierce, and had, 1. Eunice, 
b. Sept. 27, 177G,d. March 10, 1781 ; 2. David P., b. July 13, 1781, 
m. Clai'a Pierce, and had two children, Chai'les and Harriet; Charles 
m. and had Helen, Margaret and Augusta ; 3. John, b. June 4, 1783, 
m. Lucy Park, of Salisbury ; cli. Mary and William ; Mary m. Dun- 
ning Babbitt, Esq. ; William m. (Sarah Hall, and had John, Mary 
and AYebster; 4. Molly, b. March 15, 1787, d. Nov. 1, 1701. 

Judge William, second son of Robert, m. 1st, Elizabeth J. Chand- 
ler, dau. of Col. .lohn and Mary Chandler, Nov. 30, 1784. She d. 
Feb. 17, 179;"). He m. 2d, Elizabeth, dau. of Benjamin Payne, of 
Hartford, Feb. 14,1796 ; ch. 1. Mary Elizabeth, b. in 1785, m. Col. 
Elias Starr, of Danbury, now of New York. She d. May, 1825, 
leaving six children ; 2. Elizabeth P., b. March 17, 1798, m. Hon. 
Holbrook Curtis, of Watertown, Conn., Oct. 7, 1822 ; 3. Sarah, b. 
June 24, 1800, m. Doct. Cyrenius H. Booth, Oct., 1820 ; 4. William 
P., b. July 4, 1802, d. Aug. 10, 1829 ; 5. Ann, b. April 5, 1804 ; 6. 
Robert, b. Sept. 12, 1805, m. Mary Delaplaine, Nov., 1833. 

George, third son of Robert, m. and had three sons and two daugh- 
ters. 

Robert Stiles, fourth son of Robert, m. Polly Lee, and had five sons 
and tliree daughters, who reside at Ridgefield and vicinity. 

Cyrus, fifth son of Robert, m. Esther Lee, of Ridgefield ; ch. 
William, David, Daniel, Esther, Eliza and Polly, who with their 
families now reside in Ridgefield. 

David, the youngest son of Robert, went to Vergennes, Vt. He 
had six children. This David is said to be the ancestor of Judge J. 
W. Edmonds, of New York. This is found to be a mistake. 

It is said that Robert had a half-brother James, Avho came to this 
country with him, or soon after, and that he also settled near Robert, 
in Southbury, but we find no record evidence to substantiate the fact. 
James Edmonds, Jr., settled as above stated. He m. Ruth Kasson, 
Nov. 1, 1768, and d. April 27, 1787. His children were, 1. James, b. 
Sept. 17, 1769, now resides at Windham, N. Y. and has ch. 2. Wil- 
liam, b. July 22, 1774, d. unm. ; 3. Elizabeth, b. Jan. 20, 1772, d. 
unm. ; 4. John Park, b. July 15, 1778. ' 

James, Jr., had two sisters, who came Avith him, Mary and Betsey; 
Mary m. John Pierce ; Betsey m. Samuel Tweedy. 



544 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

FARRAND FAMILY. 

Jonathan Farrand m. Abigail Wooster, of Milford, and settled in 
Judea society, ("Washington.) He had a son John, and daughters 
Abigail and Esther ; John m. Catherine Baldwin, of Milford ; Abi- 
gail m. Nov. 23, 1779, D. N. Brinsmade, of Washington ; Esther m. 
Simeon Mitchell, Nov. 16, 1780 ; Abigail, the wife of Jonathan, d. 
young, and he m. Rebecca Powell, of "Washington. His ch. were 
Nathaniel, b. 1773, and m. Hetty Frisbie, May 18, 1800; Mary 
Ann, b. in 1775, m. Matthew Elliott, of Kent, in 1804 ; "William P., 
b. 1778, and went to Philadelphia; Daniel; Charles, m. Polly Bald- 
win, of "Washington, in 1819 ; Rebecca m. Doolittle, July 10, 

1806. Mr. Farrand d. Sept., 1812, and his w. Rebecca in 1810. 



GALPIN FAMILY. 



Benjamin Clalpin and wife Rebecca, came from Stratford to 
Woodbury, about 1680. Mr. Galpin d. in 1731, and his widow d. in 
1743. Their children were Elizabeth, bap. March, 1683 ; Martha, 
bap. April, 1685, and m. Doct. Ebenezer Warner, in 1704; Benja- 
min, bap. May, 1687, d. Feb. 3, 1705 ; Rebecca, bap. Nov., 1689 ; 
Joseph, bap. April, 1693; Sarah, bap. Feb., 1696-7, m. David 
Mitchell, in 1718; Rachel, bap. Sept., 1699; Samuel, b. April 6, 
1703 ; Thankful, b. Oct. Ig, 1706, m. Timothy Terrill. 

Joseph, son of Benjamin, m. Joanna , and had Joanna, b. Nov. 

20, 1740, m. Ebenezer Thomas, 1760 ; Rachel, bap. March 6, 1743 ; 
Joseph, bap. July 21, 1745. 

Samuel, son of Benjamin, m. Ruth . He d. 1789 ; his w. d. 

Nov. 13, 1745. His children were, 

1. Benjamin, bap. Aug. 24, 1729, m. Esther Bronson, Sept. 5, 
1757, and had Israel, b. Feb. 11, 1757 ; Elizabeth, b. Aug. 3, 1758; 
Benjamin, b. Nov. 7, 1759, d. Jan. 18, 1761; Esther, b. May 20, 
1761. 

2. Samuel, b. July 8, 1732, d. young. 

3. Stephen, b. Oct., 1734, m. 1st, Esther Culver, Nov. 8, 1753, m. 

2d, Lydia , and had ch. Jerusha, b. Aug. 8, 1756 ; Stephen Cur- 

tiss, b. Nov. 2, 1763 ; Lydia, b. Feb. 19, 1767 ; Sarah, b. July 24, 
1768 ; Neri, b. Aug. 8, 1771. 

4. Samuel, b. Jan. 8, 1738, m. Abia Wheeler, and had Samuel 




0M'dkdUi. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUUT. 545 

Asa, b. Nov. 2, 1757, d. young ; Ann, bap. Oct. 28, 1759 ; Samuel, 
b. May 3, 1761 ; Selleck, b. INIay 13, 1762, d. young; Abraham, b. 
Nov. 1, 1764 ; Curtiss, b. Nov. 1, 1767 ; Selleck, b. May 13, 1772 ; 
Nathan, b. June 29, 1773; Samuel Asa, bap. Nov. 30, 1777. 

5. Moses, b. 1740, m. 1st, ; m. 2d, Hannah Gregory, Jan. 

8, 17G7 ; ch. Sarah, bap. Feb. 6, 1763 ; John, b. Oct. 6, 1765 ; Sarah, 
b. July 23, 1770 ; Hannah, b. Dec. 1, 1773. 

6. Ruth, bap. Nov. 17, 1743. 

Stephen Curtiss, son of Stephen, m. 1st, Judson ; ra. 2d. 

Treadwell ; m. 3d. Polly Sharp, went south and m. twice afterward ; 
ch. by 2d w. 1. Neri, now living in Ohio ; 2. Sabra ; 3. AVarren ; 4. 
Judson ; ch. by 3d wife, 1. Stephen F. ; 2. Maria ; 3. Curtiss ; 4. 
Leman, who went west. 

Stephen F., son of Stephen Curtiss, m. Mary A. Roberts, April 
10, 1819 ; ch. 1. Frederick S., b. March 15, 1820, d. Feb. 22, 1851 
2. Harriet M., b. Sept. 17, 1821 ; 3. Charles F., b. Dec. 12, 1823 
4. Almon D., b. Feb. 13, 1826 ; 5. William R., b. March 11, 1828 
6. Edgar, b. May 20, 1830 ; 7. Leman G., b. Feb. 16, 1833 ; 8. Han- 
ford,.b. Sept. 16, 1834 ; 9. John, b. March 23, 1837 ; 10. Sarah E., b. 
Dec. 10, 1839, d. Dec. 17, 1840; 11. Julia A., b. Dec. 29, 1841, d. 
July 20, 1849 ; 12. Mary E., b. July 20, 1844. 



GRAHAM FAMILY. 



ARMS. 



Quarterly, first and fourth, or, on a chief sa., three escalops of the 
field, for Graham ; second and third ar., three roses gu., barbed and 
seeded ppr., for the title of Montrose. Crest — An eagle, winga 
hovering, or, perched upon a heron lying upon its back, ppr., beaked 
and membered gu. Motto — Ne Oubliez. 

An engraving of this coat appears on the opposite page. 

The Grahams boast great antiquity, and trace their descent from 
Sir David Graeme, who held a grant of land from King "William, the 
Lion, who reigned from 1163 to 1214. His descendant, Patrick 
Graham, was made a Lord of Parliament about 1445, whose grand- 
son, William, Lord Graham, was by James IV. created Earl of Mon- 
trose in 1504. He died 1513. His son William, second earl, died 
36 



546 IIIbTORT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

1571, and was succeeded by his grandson John, third earl, who died 
1608, leaving John, fourth earl, who died 1626, leaving James, fifth 
earl, who made a very great figure in his day, as appears in all the 
histories of those times. He was born 1612, and originally joined 
with the Covenanters against Charles I., but soon came over to the 
king, who, in 1644, created him Marquis of Montrose. The renjain- 
der of his illustrious career, may be read in the account of those 
times, as also that of his heroic death, which happened by the ax of 
the executioner, May 21, 1645. His son James, second Marquis of 
Montrose, led a quiet life, and died in 1669, being succeeded by his 
son, third marquis, who died in the prime of life, April 25, 1684, 
leaving James, fourth marquis, who, in 1705, was made Lord High 
Admiral of Scotland, and in 1707, was created Duke of Montrose. 
On the accession of the Hanover family, he held many high offices, 
and died January 7, 1742. His eldest son, David, Marquis of Gra- 
ham, who died during his life, was, on May 23d, 1722, created an 
English peer, by the titles of Earl Graham and Baron Graham, with 
remainder to his brother, Lord William, Avho, on his brother's death, 
unmarried, in 1731, became second Earl of Graham, and on bis fa- 
ther's death, in 1742, became also second Duke of Montrose, in Scot- 
land, who died September 23, 1790. He was succeeded by his son 
James, as third Earl of Graham of England, and third Duke of Mon- 
trose, in Scotland, who died in 1842, and his only son James, the pres- 
ent peer, succeeded to these titles, being the fourth Duke of Mon- 
trose. In November, 1790, the late duke was appointed master of 
the horse, which he held till 1795. He was afterward a commission- 
er of India affairs, knight of the thistle, lord justice general of Scot- 
land, chancellor of Scotland, &cc. 

The Rev. John Graham,' A. M., the second son of one of the Mar- 
quises of Montrose, was born in Edinburgh, in the year Queen Mary 
died, 1694. He received his education, and was a graduate at the 
University of Glasgow, in Scotland ; studied theology at Edinburgh, 
and there received orders for the ministiy. In the year 1718, he em- 
igrated to Boston in New England. He married Abigail, daugh- 
ter of the celebrated Doctor Chauncy. He settled in the ministry at 
Exeter, N. H., where he remained till Dec, 1722, when he removed 
and settled over the church in Stafford, Conn. After remaining at 
this place ten years, he again removed, and became the first minister 
in Southbury society, Woodbury, in 1732. In this field of labor, he 
remained till his death, Dec, 1774, in the 81st year of his age. Dur- 
ing the last eight or nine years, however, through bodily infirmity, he 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 547 

was unable to minister to his people. He was a learned theologian, 
and a consistent, devoted and indefatigable pastor, universally re- 
vered for his piety, and exercised an extensive influence in all church 
affairs throughout the state. His original manuscript sermons, which 
contain a powerful elucidation of the whole Christian system, display- 
ing great biblical and classical learning, were bequeathed to his grand- 
son, whom he christened himself with his own name, John A. Gra- 
ham, LL. D., of New York, who left them to his son, Jolm Lorimer 
Graham, Esq., of New Yoi-k, who now possesses them. This learned 
divine made, during his ministry, two visits to London and Scotland ; 
upon each occasion on a mission from Yale College, to procure aid 
in books, &c., for that institution, in the success of which he always 
felt a deep interest. In both these missions he was successful. 
Children, 

2 I. John," admitted to the church. Jan., 1738-9. 

3 11. Robert.- 

4 III. Chauncey,- admitted to the church, April, 1741. 

i\ IV. Andrew," admitted to the churcli, 1741, d. June, 1785, 
aged 57. 

6 V. Elizabeth,^ m. Daniel Bull in 1744. 

7 YJ. Love,- bap. Oct. o, 17.32 ; m. John Brinkerhoff; May 19, 
1755. 

8 VIL Sarah,-^ b. March 18, 1735 ; m. Gideon Kurd, May 20, 
1752. 

9 VIII. Abigail,- b. March 13, 1737 ; d. young. 

10 IX. Richard Crouch,'- b. Mai-ch 11, 1739; m. and had child, 
William D., bap. March 21, 17G2. 

11 X. Abigail,- b. Aug. 23, 1741 ; m. John Hinman, 1772. 
John, above, graduated at Yale College, 1740; Chauncey in 1747, 

and Richard Crouch in 1760. All three settled in the ministry. 

Andrew and Robert were educated as physicians, and practiced 
with success and ability. All the sons walked in the steps of their 
noble and pious Scotch fatlier, were men eminent in their day, and 
proved themselves worthy of the rock from which they were hewn. 
Andrew married and settled in Southbury, in Woodbury, where he 
resided until his death in 1785. He was a worthy son of a worthy 
sire, and during a long life enjoyed the respect and esteem of the 
whole population of " Ancient Woodbury." His practice as a physi- 
cian, was extended to neighboring counties. His popularity arose 
equally from his active benevolence and admitted skill. Wherever 
he went, he was hailed as the " good Samaritan." 



548 HISTORY OF ANCIENT -WOODBURT. 

At an early day in our Revolutionary struggle, Dr. Graham es- 
poused the cause of independence. By his generous hospitality and 
means, he encouraged and aided the friends of the Revolution. His 
devotion to the cause impoverished his family, for he would never al- 
low Continental money to be discredited in his presence ; and after 
his death, a large chest, filled with this worthless paper, issued by 
authority of an American Congress, was found in his possession. He 
was one of the " Committee of Safety," in the perilous period of 1775, 
and onward, when such committees held legislative, judicial and ex- 
ecutive powers. iPhese were times which not only tried men's souls, 
but their understandings and generosity also ; for every one had to 
bring into a common stock, all the wealth, intellect and corporeal 
strength he had, and fear no sacrifice in the discharge of his duty. 
He performed, temporarily, the duty of a surgeon in the American 
army, and being taken pi'isoner by the British, was sent to the city 
of New York, and confined several months in the old Dutch church 
in Nassau Street, where he contracted disease from tainted provis- 
ions, (said to have been poisoned,) of Avhich he died a few years after 
his release. It is worthy of note, that his gi-andson, sixty years after 
his imprisonment, as postmaster of the city of New York, converted 
that charnel house, afterward the Middle Dutch Church, into a spa- 
cious post-office. Pie was the devoted adherent of Gen. Washington, 
and the only time that illustrious man passed through Southbury, he 
spent the night under the roof of his friend. His children imbibed 
the political feelings of their sire, and imitated his self-sacrificing ex- 
ample in the cause of liberty. He died in 1785, leaving nine chil- 
dren. He m. Martha Curtiss, June 5, 1753. Children, 

12 I. Curtis,^ b. May 23, 1754 ; d. unmarried. 

13 II. Martha,^ b. Sept. 10, 1756; m. Matthew Mitchell, Sept. 
10, 1782. 

14 III. Andrew," b. Aug. 14, 1758; d. without issue. 
II lY. Isaac Gilbert,^ b. Sept. 10, 1760. 

16 V. Mary Ann,^ bap. June 27, 17G2 ; m. David Hinman, 1784. 
ij VI. John A.,^ bap. June 10, 1764. 
l^ VII. Nathan B.,^ bap. Dec. 20, 1767. 

i? VIII. William Hackaliah Preston,^ b. Sept. 30,1770; m. Ma- 
ria Curtiss, July 23, 1804. 

20 IX. Molly Matilda,^' b. Oct. 1, 1775 ; m. John Moseley, Esq., 
Oct. 31, 1798. 

All these children are deceased. 

Isaac Gilbert^ (15) married and settled in Westchester county. 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURT. 549 

N. Y., where he resided on the same spot over half a century. He 
was an assistant surgeon in the army of the United States during the 
Revolutionary War, and served under Gen. Washington at West 
Point, whose warm regard he possessed for Ms medical knowledge, 
and patriotic devotion to the great cause which engaged their united 
energies. He was present at several important engagements with 
the enemy. When he retired from tlie army, he received from his 
superior officers the highest proofs of their respect and esteem, for his 
alacrity and fidelity in the performance of his military duties. Upon 
the close of the war, he commenced the practice of medicine, which 
he successfully prosecuted over half a centuiy. He died on the 13th 
Sept., 1849, aged 88 years. His whole life was a display of useful- 
ness and benevolence. He was always ready and prompt to visit, 
without reward, the dwellings of the poor and afflicted, however re- 
mote or desolate, as a humane and ministering brother. Those who 
knew him long and intimately, estimated his sterling qualities. With 
steadiness of purpose, and regularity of life, he combined an incor- 
ruptible integrity, which secured for him through life, unlimited con- 
fidence, and an unblemished fame. He died as he had lived, a sin- 
cere and humble believer in the Christian faith. He left seven 
children : 

21 I. Andrew,* now deceased, leaving four childi*en. 

22 II. Frederick,* a physician ; settled in Ohio. 

23 III. Henry,* now deceased, leaving three children, one of them 
Curtis B. Graham, residing at Washington City, D. C. 

24 IV. Gilbert,* has two children, and resides upon the homestead 
at Unionville, Westchester co,, New York. 

25 V. Betsey,* married Benjamin Scofield, residing in Westchester 
CO., N. Y.; has no issue. 

26 VI. Patty,' married S. Newman ; has no issue. 

27 VII. Harriet,'' married A. Wordon, residing in Michigan. 
Has ten children ; one of her sons, John Lorimer Wordon is a lieu- 
tenant in the United States navy, and a very meritorious officer. 
He is married and has two children. 

John A. Graham' (17) was born June 10, 1764, at Southbury, in 
Woodbury. He was educated under the tuition of the Rev. Jehu 
Minor, until 1781, when he entered upon his judicial studies with 
Edward Hinman, Esq., of Southbury, a lawyer of eminence, and 
continued with him until the death of his father, in 1785. Being at 
that date only twenty-one years of age, and left dependent on his 
own exertions, with that ardor and promptitude which characterized 



550 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

his after life, he decided to emigi-ate to a new state.. The calamities 
of war, long continued, and the depreciation of continental currency, 
had put nearly all the people upon a level. The agrarian law had 
virtually passed, and all men had to commence anew in this country. 
Enterprise was the order of the day, and the young lawyer started 
for Vermont, to commence practice, with scanty means, but with a 
stout heart, and a determination to succeed in spite of all obstacles. 
Soon after he reached Rutland, Vermont, then a wilderness, and de- 
ciding to locate there, he sent for his two younger brothers, Nathan 
B. and William H. P., thus reclaiming his promise to his father, to 
educate and protect them in their youth. He practiced in the com- 
mon pleas court, where most of the litigated business was done, until 
1790, when he was called to the bar of the supreme court of the 
state. In June, 1792, John Jay, chief justice of the United States, 
held a circuit court for the district of Vermont at Bennington. This 
was the first time the Vermonters had seen a United States Court, 
for they had come reluctantly into the Union. Judge Jay organized 
his court in due and solemn form, to lay its foundation deep in the 
respect and reverence of the people. He admitted to practice in his 
court as attorneys and counselors, such as had practiced wdth reputa- 
tion in the highest courts of the state. In 1794, he was appointed 
by Governor Chittenden his aid-de-camp with the rank of lieutenant 
colonel. In 1794, the Episcopal church in Vermont, appointed Col. 
Graham their special agent to the ecclesiastical courts of Canterbury 
and York at London, and to the Society for propagating the Gospel 
in Foreign Parts, the prominent object of the mission being to obtain 
the recognition and confirmation of the Eev. Samuel Peters, Bishop 
elect for the state of Vermont. The difficulties which attended his 
course of duty, and the ability and spirit with which they were met, 
although not surmounted, are exemplified in the correspondence be- 
tween Col. Graham and the Archbishop of Canterbury, and in the 
reports from the records of the mission, which were extensively pub- 
lished and noticed at the time. They displayed both tact and talent, 
and greatly aided to establish the reputation of the young diploma- 
tist, as an adroit and reliable negotiator. Col. Graham returned to 
Vermont in 1795, and shortly afterward revisited England. While 
in England, he received, unsolicited, the honorary degree of 
doctor of laws from the ancient and Royal College of Aberdeen, 
Scotland. The state of Vermont was scax-cely known to the British 
nation, and Dr. Graham devoted some of his leisure hours to writing 
a history of the new state, as it was called by the other states of the 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 551 

Union. The elements of the history of Vermont were scanty in 
1797, when " A Descriptive Sketch" of it was given by Dr. Gra- 
ham. The face of the country, its forests, its minerals, mountains 
and lakes, with its patches of cultivation, and its incipient forms of 
civil society, with a few pleasant anecdotes, were all he had from 
which to form his book. He adorned, it however, with brief and 
graphic sketches of biography, which will increase in interest with 
every passing year. This work was dedicated to the Duke of Mont- 
rose, the head of the Graham family, which Avas received very kind- 
ly by his grace. After residing in London a few years, he returned 
to the United States in the year 1800, and commenced his residence 
in the city of New York, where he remained until his death. He 
resumed the practice of his profession, and devoted a large share of 
his time and talents to the defense of those accused of crime. His 
warmth of heart, quick perception, and ready talents, peculiarly fitted 
him for this department of jurisprudence. Always seizing upon the 
strong points of the defense, and urging every favorable view with 
pathos and eloquence, he was one of the most popular advocates of 
the New York courts, and few were equally successful in their de- 
fenses. The argument which obtained for liim the most celebrity, 
was delivered in a case involving the right of a magistrate to exam- 
ine in private, without the aid of counsel, a person brought before 
him charged Avith crime, and then makmg use of that examination 
as evidence against him on his trial. Upon the appearance of the 
ai'gument, it produced a great sensation, and for the first time direct- 
ed public attention to alarming abuses, then in ])ractice, and the doc- 
trines he advanced in favor of human life and liberty, were resj^onded 
to by the ablest jurists in every part of the country. John Adams, 
Thomas Jefferson, John Jay, Chief Justice Marshall, Andrew Jackson, 
Chief Justice Si)encer, Cadwalader D, Colden, De Witt Clinton, 
Thomas Addis Emmett, Pierre C. Van Vyck, Chancellor Kent and 
many others in and out of the profession, wrote to Dr. Graham on 
perusing the argument, in the most approving terms, commending its 
doctrine, ability and elo(pience. This effort was followed by a legis- 
lative enactment, securing for the first time to every one accused the 
right of consulting counsel before examination by the committing 
magistrate ; and to Dr. Graham is to be awarded the high credit of 
having unalterably secured this inestimable privilege. In 1828, Dr. 
Graham wrote and published an elaborate essay on the subject of 
the letters of Junius, claiming for his friend, John Home Tooke the 
9.uthorship of those celebrated productions. It is an interesting and 



552 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

ingenious book. How far he has succeeded in his hypothesis, he has 
left the reader to decide. The work is dedicated to Chief Justice 
Ambrose Spencer, between whom and the author there had existed a 
long and close friendship. 

Dr. Graham died August 8, 1841, aged seventy-seven years. He 
had suffered for two years from the effects of a paralytic shock, but 
retained his faculties. He died full of the hope of a blessed immor- 
tality. He was a firm believer in the Christian religion, to which 
he had given deep investigation. All his hopes centered in the re- 
deeming power of the Son of God. He passed from life without a 
murmur or regret. His first wife was the daughter of Dr. Hodges 
of Clarendon, Vermont, by whom he had one son, 28 I. John Hodges 
Graham.'' His second wife, Margaret, whom he married in England, 
was the daughter of James Lorimer of London, by whom he had 
one son, 29 H. John Lorimer Graham.' 

John H. Graham^ (28) was born in Vermont, March 6, 1794. 
His life has been an eventful one. He was destined by his father 
for the bar, but after pursuing judicial studies for two years, he im- 
bibed a partiality for nautical pursuits, and sailed on a voyage to 
China. Upon his return he obtained a midshipman's warrant in the 
United States navy, and soon after sailed on a cruise with Commo- 
dore Rodgers, in the frigate Constitution. 

In a few months, he resigned and resumed his legal studies, but 
soon after the declaration of war with Great Britain, in 1812, he 
again returned to the navy, and within a few weeks after joining 
Commodore Chauncey on Lake Ontario, he Avas engaged in the first 
conflict of the war, on the Canada side, under the command of Capt. 
Argus. It was a gaUant affair ; nine out of eleven naval ofiicers 
were killed, or severely wounded. He lost his leg in the action, and 
his life was almost miraculously preserved by a noble tar, who car- 
ried the young and wounded midshipman on his back to the last boat, 
which had just put off for the American side. He was then only 
nineteen years of age. Having sufiiciently recovered to substitute 
an artificial for a real limb, he applied for orders, reported to Com- 
modore Perry on Lake Erie, and had command of the magazine on 
board of his flag-ship, in the memorable conflict on that lake, 
which won for all who partook in it, an imperishable fame. 

In this action. Midshipman Graham, had his organs of hearing 
severely impaired, from the heavy cannonading, from which he has 
never been relieved. After this battle, he made a voyage to the 
Mediterranean Sea, since which he has been engaged on shore duty, 



HISTOUY OF ANCIENT "WOODBUUY. 553 

attached to the navy yard, Brooklyn, N. Y. He has now reached 
the grade of post-captain. He resides at Brooklyn city, is a promi- 
nent member of the Episcopal church, highly respected for his ex- 
emplary character and diffusive benevolence. He has married three 
times ; his first wife was the daughter of William Inman of Utica, 
N. Y., and sister of Capt. Inman, U. S. N. His second wife was 
tlie daughter of Isaac Clason of New York, and his present wife is 
the daughter of the Rev. Philip Millidores, D. D., of New Bruns- 
v/ick College. He has no issue. 

Col. John Lorimer Graham' (29) was born in the city of l^ondon, 
England, March 20, 1797. He was educated in New York, where 
he has resided since ISOO. He prosecuted part of his judicial 
studies with the venerable Judge Tapping Reeve, at Litchfield, Con- 
necticut, and terminated them in New York, in the office of John 
Anthon, Esq. He was admitted to the bar in 1821. Few lawyers 
in the state have had a more extensive business. In 1817, he was 
called into military service by Governor Tompkins. In 1819, he 
was selected by the then Governor Dc Witt Clinton, as one of his 
aids-de-camp v/ith the rank of colonel. He continued in the staff" of 
Gov. Clinton for several years. Although subsequently tendered 
the commission of a brigadier-general, he declined it and other mili- 
tary distinctions, preferring to terminate his military career with the 
life of the illustrious Clinton. 

Notwithstanding his incessant professional employments. Col. Gra- 
ham has been an active and liberal patron of scientific, literary, 
charitable and religious institutions. At an early day, he became a 
member of the Historical, the New England, the St. George's and 
the St. Andrew's Societies ; a life director of the American Bible 
Society, and an efficient member of the council of the University of 
(he city of New York, in which lie founded a free scholarship. 

In 1884, he Avas appointed by the legislature of the state of New 
York, and now continues, a regent of the State University ; the duties 
of which station, frequently require attendance at the capitol at 
Albany, and visitations to the colleges and academies throughout the 
state. In the year 1840, the President of the U. S., (confirmed by 
an unanimous vote of the Senate,) conferred upon Col. Graham the 
otuce of postmaster of New York. His administration of the office 
v/as marked with intelligence, industry and system. He reformed 
every department of that extensive and complicated establishment, 
and created order out of chaos. His efforts accomplished many use- 
ful reforms, and he signalized his administration by succeeding in 
37 



554 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

effecting, after a long struggle, the removal of the post-office to a 
location which enables the mercantile class to have their letters de- 
livered at the earliest moment after the arrival of the mails. The 
value of this an-angement to a large commercial community like 
New York can not be too highly estimated. 

The fitting up of the new post-office, (formerly the Middle Dutch 
Church,) was performed with an order, an adaptation, which received 
not only universal approbation in New York, and throughout the 
country, but obtained very liberal praise from the European press. 
Upon his retirement from office in 1843, he resumed his practice at 
the bar in New York, where he still resides. He married the young- 
est daughter of the late Isaac Clason, Esq., one of New York's oldest 
merchants, by whom he has had nine children, eight of whom are 
now living, viz. 

30 I. John Lorimer.^ 

31 II. Dc Witt Clinton.^- 

32 III. Ambrose Spencer.'' 

33 IV. Augustus Clason.* 
84 V. James Varnum.'^ 

35 VI. Malcolm.5 

36 VII. Emily Matilda.* 

37 VIII. Margaret.* 

The eldest son, J. Lorimer,* (30) after admission to the bar, and 
practicing two years in New York, received in 1845, a commission in 
the U. S. army, and immediately joined the first regiment of dragoons, 
then under the command of General Scott, in Mexico. He joined the 
army at Jalapa, and remained Avithhis company, commanded by Capt. 
(now Major) Philip Kearney, until the termination of the campaign. 
He won great distinction for his good conduct at Chalco, where with 
sixteen men he gallantly resisted an attack of 150 guerrillas in am- 
bush, rescuing one of Gen. Scott's aids, vrho v/as severely wounded. 
For this daring deed the President and Senate of the United States 
awarded him an honorable brevet. He was also distinguished at the 
battle of Churubusco, being engaged in the memorable pursuit of the 
•enemy, under the command of the gallant Capt. Kearne)', lo the 
gates of the city of Mexico, where he was severely wounded in his 
left arm. For his conduct at that battle, he was also awarded another 
honorable brevet. He was subsequently appointed the aid of the 
late Gen. Kearney, and has been engaged on duty on the plains of 
New Mexico. 

Nathan B. Graham^ (18) studied law with his brotlier, John A.. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKT. 555 

at Rutland, Vermont. For many years he filled with reputation the 
otlices of district attorney and first judge of the county. lie married 
in England, Jean, the daughter of James Lorimer, Esq., of London, 
March 27, 1797. He removed to New York in the year 1810, and 
pursued his profession. He died there in 1832. He was a sound 
lawyer, most estimable in all the relations of life, an exemplary Chris- 
tian and truly an honest man. He died greatly lamented and be- 
loved. He left eight children, viz. 

38 I. Louisa,'' married John F. Gould, now deceased, had issue 
one daughter, Elizabeth Boyd, who mai-ried Alexander Kelsey, of 
Rochester, New York ; since married James McCall, of New York, 
and had issue : Louisa, who married James O. Sheldon, and died 
without issue. 

39 II. Mary Ann,^ married Joseph B. Varnum, of New York. 
Has issue three daughters. 

1. Mary Jane, married Henry A. Mott, Esq., of New York, and 
has issue, three children. 

2. Margaret Ann, and 3. Julia. 

40 III. James Lorimer Graham,"* a member of the bar in New 
York, married Julia, the only daughter of Charles Graham, Esq., de- 
ceased. Has no issue. Had an extensive practice for many years, 
and is now the president of the Metropolitan Fire Insurance Com- 
pany. In 1833, he was appointed by his excellency E. T. Throop, 
then governor of the state of New York, one of his aids, with the 
rank of colonel, and he subsequently received the commission of a 
brigadier-general in the militia of the state. 

41 IV. Nathan B. Gi-aham,' resides in New York, married March 
2, 1829, Marie Antoinette McCoskay, of Scotland, who died June 8, 
1850. Had issue: 

1. Robert M. C.,-' born Sept. 28, 1830. 

2. James Jjorimer,"' born Jan. 21, 1834. 

3. Douglass,"' born March 31, 1838. 

4. Marie Antoinette,' born August 9, 1843. 

5. Jean Louisa,^ born Feb. 19, 1845. 

He married April, 1852, Catharine, daughter of John TV. Yates, of 
Albany, and widow of Francis Dwight,of the same city. He entered 
the state militia at an early age, and reached the rank of brigadier- 
general. 

42 V. John A.,"* married Helen, only daughter of Henry Beck- 
man, of New York ; now resides in Maryland ; has issue, three 
children, viz., 1. Henry Beekman ; 2. Helen; 3. Wallace. 



556 HISTORY OF ANCIENT AVOODBURY. 

43 VI. Henry Montrose,'' married Rebecca Porter, now deceased. 
He has since married Margaret Brower, by Avhom lie bas one son, 
James L. 

44. VII. Edward Cbauncey,'' is a merchant, residing in New 
York ; married Elizabeth Bacon, of New Haven ; has issue, one 
daughter, Louisa. 

45 Vni. Susan Matilda,'' married Joseph B. Varnum, Jun., Esq., 
of "Washington City, D. C, now a member of the bar in New York ; 
has issue, one son, James M. 

William Hackaliah Preston,^ (19) married Maria Curtiss, of New 
Haven ; lived many years in Rutland, Vermont, where he officiated 
as sheriff of the county ; removed to New Y'ork, in 1832, where he 
died in 1847, leaving two children: 1. Maria, since deceased. 2. 
William. 



IIINMAN FAMILY. 

For the sketch of this lamily, I am indebted to Hon. R. R. Ilin- 
man, of Harlem, N. Y. 

From recorded evidence and tradition, the following facts are col- 
lected. Sergeant Edward Ilinman appears to have been the only one 
of the name who came from England to this country, either in the 
early settlement, or since. Edward located at Stamfoi'd, before 1 650, 
(probably as early as 1645.) Being an unmarried man when he 
came to Stamford, he married Hannah, the daughter of Francis 
Stiles, of Windsor, who subsequently removed to Stratford. In 1651, 
he resided in the present Main street, at Stratford, upon the west side, 
a few rods below the Episcopal church. He had, before his emigra- 
tion, belonged to the body or life guard of King Charles I. He had 
not resided many years at Stratford, before he, with Stiles, became 
the principal purchaser of the south part of Pompcraug, (Wood- 
bury,) now Southbury. It does not appear that he removed to 
Woodbury with his wife and family, but some of his children, with 
the Stiles family, located at Soutlibury, where many of their descend- 
ants yet reside. He died at Stratford, Nov. 26, 1G81. His will was 
proved at Fairfield, in 1682. To his son Titus, he gave his lands at 
Woodbury ; he also noticed his son Benjamin and daughter Sarah 
Roberts ; his son Samuel, and daughters Hannah, Mary and Pa- 
tience ; he also noticed his brother, Ephraim Stiles, of Stratford. 
Hannah, his wife, died before him, in 1677. Children, 1. Sarah, b. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 557 

iti 1G53, m. William Roberts, of Woodbury, Jind had Hannah, bap. 
Oct. 27, 1677 ; Zechary, in May, 1682 ; Sarah, in 1685 ; Hannah, 
in May, 1686; Amos, in July, 1689, perhaps others ; 2. Titus, b. in 
1656 ; 3. Benjamin, in 1662 ; 4. Hannah, b. in 1666 ; 5. Mary, b. in 
1668 ; 6. Patience, b. in 1670 ; 7. Edward, b. in 1672. By his will 
he directed his youngest son to be placed as an apprentice to Jehiel 
Preston, of Stratford. That part of the family who removed to 
Woodbury, settled in the section of Southbuiy Main street, called 
White Oak, near where the dwelling-house of John Moseley, Esq., 
now stands. 

Capt. Titus, the eldest son of Sergeant Edward, m. for his first 
wife, Hannah Coe, of Stamford. After her decease, he m. Mary 
Hawkins, of Woodbury, Jan., 1701-2 ; he d. April, 1736, aged 80 
years. Ills children were, Ephraim, bap. July 26, 1685 ; Joseph, in 
June, 1687 ; Andrew, b. April, 1()90 ; Titus, June, 1695 ; Ebenezer, 
1). Jan. 4, 1702-3; Titus, in March, 1703-4; Eleazer, in May, 
1706 ; Timothy, bap. in March, 1708-9 ; Mary, b. in Feb., 1713-14, 
m. David Bostwick, July, 1739 ; Hannah, b. in March, 1720-21, m. 
Samuel Twitchcll, Dec, 1739 ; Patience, in July, 1722. He was a 
member of the General Assembly in 1715, '16, '19 and '20. 

Samuel, second son of Sergeant Edward, lived on the place called 
the Doctor Graham place, in Southbury Main street, where Nathan 
Hinman now resides. He had a wife but no children. Sfirah, his 
adopted child, was bap. Sept. 28, 1707. He died about 1720, and 
his place was purchased for a parsonage. 

Benjamin, third son of Sergeant Edward, m. Elizabeth Lamb, at 
Woodbury, July 12, 1684. He lived at Bullet Hill, in the Main 
street at Southbury, d. 1727. Children, Annis, bap. 1685, d. young ; 
Hannah, bap. Oct., 1686, m. Benjamin Hurd, Jr. ; Adam, bap. Jan., 
1687; Noah, in July, 1689 ; Benjamin, in April, 1692 ; Elizabeth, 
Feb., 1693, m. .John Hurd ; Eunice, in May, 1696, m. Nathan Hurd, 
supposed grandmother of the Hon. Judge Smith, and Hon. Nathan 
Smith, deceased, of New Haven ; Annis, in Sept., 1697, m. Samuel 
Martin; Rachel, b. Dec, 1700, m. Ephraim Baldwin; Edward, b- 
Oct., 1702 ; Samuel, in Dec, 1704 ; AVait, in Oct., 1706 ; and Mercy, 
in Dec, 1709. 

Edward, Jr., youngest son of Sergeant Edward, drew eighteen acres 
in the land division at Woodbury, in 1702, yet he appears to have 
uniformly lived in Stratford and vicinity. He was brought up, after 
his father's decease, by Jehiel Preston. The sons of Edward, Jr., 
were, Samuel, John and Ebenezer. Samuel moved to Goshen, and 



558 HISTOET OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

was the father of Lemuel, of North Stratford, and ancestor of the Fair- 
field county Ilinmans. He removed a short time to Southbury, and 
thence back to Fairfield county, perhaps Trumbull. He had five 
sons, viz., Ephraim, Edward, Jonathan, Michael and Bethuel. He 
left two daughters, one m. Gideon Perry, the other m. Jonathan Hin- 
man, of Southbury, and became the mother of Gen. Robinson S. Hin- 
man, deceased, of New Haven, of Daniel, Simeon and John, of Betsey 
Canfield, and Orra Wheeler, of South Britain. 

Ephraim, eldest son of Capt. Titus, left no family. 

Joseph, second son of Capt. Titus, m. Esther Downs, Nov., 1714, 
and had children, Ebenezer, b. Oct., 1715; Joseph, bap. June 1, 
1718; Tabitha, in Feb., 1721, m. Joseph Richards, in 1746; Es- 
ther, b. June 23, 1723, m. David Munn, Nov., 1749 ; Eunice, Jan. 
9, 1725 ; Mabel, Aug. 11, 1728, mother of Justus Hinman ; Amos, 
Nov., 1730, d. young; Elijah, April 8, 1733 ; Daniel, July G, 1735 ; 
and Lois, b. Sept. 9, 1737, m. John King, Dec, 1784. 

Andrew, third sou of Capt. Titus, m. Mary Noble, Aug., 1711. 
Their children were, Andrew, bap. Aug., 1712; Hannah, Dec, 1714, 
m. Josiah Everest, March, 1739, ancestor of Dr. Solomon Everest, 
deceased, of Canton ; Coe, in Aug., 1718 ; Mary, March 8, 1720, m. 
Garwood Cunningham, of Woodbury, Dec, 1751 ; Margaret, Aug. 
11, 1723, d. unm. ; Aaron, Oct. 23, 1726, d. young ; Nathan, Dec. 
14, 1729; Elisha, March 10, 1734; Noble, April 26, 1737; he went 
to Nine Partners, in the state of New York ; perhaps he afterward 
went to New London, with his brother Elisha, Avho was commander 
of a government ship, called the Alfred, during the war of the Revo- 
lution, which sailed out of New London. Elisha left no sons, but 
several daughters ; one m. Mr. Day, one Sheriff Dimond, of Fair- 
field, and one Mr. Kellogg, of Stamford ; perhaps others. 

Titus, Jr., fourth son of Capt. Titus, m. Sarah . Their chil- 
dren were: Titus, bap. May 2, 1725, d. young; Ephraim, Feb. 19, 
1727; Sarah, (Gingle,) in Nov., 1728, m. Dea. David Hinman; 
Rachel, in Oct., 1731 ; Titus, in Nov., 1733 ; Amie, Feb. 15, 1736 ; 
Prudence, Sept. 8, 1738, m. David Hurlbut, Nov., 1757, and moved 
to Vermont ; Lucy, in May, 1740, m. a Hurlbut, and also removed 
to Vermont ; Enos, July 25, 1742, m. and -went to Vermont ; he had 
a son Dea. Calvin, who m. Miss Wheeler; Annis, in March, 1747. 

Ebenezer, fifth son of Capt. Titus, m. Hannah Scovil, of Water- 
bury. Their children were : Jonas, bap. Feb., 1730 ; John, Sept. 3, 
1732 ; Eleazer, Dec, 1734 ; Dorcas, Nov., 1736, m. Phineas Porter, 
Nov., 1757 ; Hannah, May 27, 1739, m. David Hinman, Dec, 1759; 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT M'OODBURT. 559 

Peter, Aug., 1742 ; Molly, in 1744, ra. B. Basset, of Derby ; Miri- 
am, May 22, 1748, m. Benjamin Richards. 

Timothy, sixth son of Capt. Titus, m. Emma Preston ; he d. Dec. 
II, 17G9, and wife d. June 20, 1794. Their children were : Olive, 
bap. in Sept., 1739 ; she m. Capt. Truman Ilinman ; Timothy, in 
1741 ; Ruth, Nov. 20, 1748, m. Aaron Ilinman, Oct., 1772 ; Pa- 
tience, Dec, 1754, m. Col. Increase Moseley, of Southbury, 17G9, 
father of Col. William Moseley, of New Haven ; Mary, Jan., 1757, 
m. Sherman Ilinman, Feb., 1777. 

Adam, eldest son of Sergeant Benjamin, died single. 

Noah, second son of Benjamin, m. 1st, Anna Knowles, Feb., 1711 ; 
after her death, he rn. Sarah Scovil, of Waterbury. For several 
years was judge of the court at Litchfield. Children by first wife 
were: Elizabeth, bap. May, 1710 ; Gideon, b. Jan., 1715, d. young; 
Adam, named after Adam Winthrop, bap. July 13, 1718 ; Thcinkful, 
Jan., 1719 ; Gideon, Nov., 1725. By his second wife his children 
were : Edward, bap. April 5, 1730; Abigail, in 1733; Reuben, Sept. 
7, 1735 ; Simeon, Dec. 4, 1737, d. single, graduated at Yale Col- 
lege, in 1762; Noah, June 21, 1740; Sarah, Aug. 1, 1742; Jeru- 
sha, Oct. 7, 1744; Arnold, Sept. 14, 1740, m. Elijah Booth, Oct., 
1772 ; Damaris, Dec. 18, 1848, m. Simeon Minor, Sept., 1GG9, (the 
ancestor of Simeon H. Minor, Esq., deceased, of Stamford, who was 
many years state attorney for Fairfield county.) Dea. Noah above, 
d. in 17GG, (7G.) For sixteen sessions he was member of the Gen- 
eral Assembly. 

Benjamin, third son of Sergeant Benjamin, m. Sarah Sherman, a 
relative of Roger Sherman, Dec, 1718, died in May, 1727, in the 
great sickness, and his wife died same month, aged 35 years. Their 
children were : Benjamin, bap. April 1, 1720 ; Jerusha, Feb. 11, 
1721; d. single; David, March 8, 1722; Benjamin, his son, here 
spoken of, was a colonel, and served as quarter-master of the ti'oop 
in the thirteenth regiment of the Connecticut colony, against the 
French in Canada, as early as 1751. He died at Southbuiy, March, 
1809 or '10, over 90 years of age. There were more commissioned 
officers during the war of the Revolution, by this name, than any 
other in Connecticut, being in all thirteen, from the town of South- 
bury. Col. Benjamin's children were : Aaron, the father of Judge 
William; Col. Joel, the father of Joel, judge of the superior court, 
and of Hon. Curtiss, who d. when a member of the state senate in 
1820 ; Sherman, who d. young; and another Sherman, who was bap. 



560 III ST OUT OF ANCIENT AV O O D B U R Y . 

Oct., 1752, and graduated at Yale College, in 1776. Col. Benjamin 
was a member of the General Assembly twenty-seven sessions. 

David, a brother of Col. Benjamin, m. Sarah Hinman, daughter of 
Titus, Jr. ; ch. Annis, who m. Daniel Hinman, March 31, 1754, and 
moved to Vermont ; Gen. Ephraim, bap. 1753 ; David, Jr., who lived 
and (lied at Southbury ; and Capt. Benjamin, of Utica, the father of 
Col. John E. ; Lieut. Asa, who served during the Avar of the Revo- 
lution, was also a son of Dea. David. 

Samuel, fourth son of Sergeant Benjamin, died single. 

Wait, fifth son of Sergeant Benjamin, m. , ch. Samuel, 

bap. March 8, 1730; Truman, (Capt. Truman,) June 27, 1731; 
Wait, Dec, 1732; Mercy, Sept. 20, 1735; Ann, Dec. 12, 1737; 
Currence, April 12, 1740 ; and Bethuel, June 27, 1742. 

Ebenezer, eldest son of Joseph, m. Hannah Mitchell, Jan., 1737 ; 
she soon d. and he m. second, Elizabeth Pierce, April, 1743 ; ch. 
Jonathan, bap. in 1738, d. young ; Rhoda, April 1, 1740, m. Seth 
Mitchell, Dec, 1762 ; Hannah, Feb. 12, 1744, m. Gideon Hicock, 
Jan., 17G8; Betty, April 6, 174G, m. Seth Wheeler, No\\, 1767; 
Annis, d. young; Comfort, Oct. 28, 1750; Daniel, Sept. 22, 1752, 
m. Annis, dau. of Dea. David, and removed to Vermont; Annis, Feb. 

16, 1755, m. Lieut. Asa Hinman, son of Dea. David; Esther, Oct. 
23, 1757 ; Jonathan, Feb. 22, 1761, d. young ; Jonathan, May 13, 
1764, the father of Gen. Robinson S., late deceased, of Ncav Haven. 

Joseph, second son of Joseph, ra. and removed to Farmington ; ch. 
Justus, bap. Aug. 6, 1750 ; Joseph, Aug. 6, 1750 ; and Hester, March 

17, 1754. 

Elijah, third son of Joseph, m. and removed to Verm.ont ; ch. Eli- 
jah, bap. Aug. 22, 1763 ; Amos, and other children. 

Andrew, Jr., eldest son of Andrew, m. Mabel Stiles, Feb., 1734; 
ch. Betty, bap. Sept. 12, 1735; Daniel, Feb. 6, 1737; Margaret, 
Dec. 17, 1738 ; Mabel, June 8, 1740, m. Shadrack Osborn, Esq. ; 
Francis, Oct. 5, 1742 ; David, in 1744, ra. Hannah Hinman. He 
was a member of the General Assembly in 1725, '28, '20, '36, '39 
and '40. 

Coe, second son of AndrcAv, m. and removed to the state of New 
York. Ch., Nathan, bap. June 10, 1751 ; Abncr, July 2, 1754, and 
others. 

Noble, third son of Andrew, m. and had a family in Massachusetts 
or Vermont. 

Titus, fourth son of Andrew, m. Joanna Hurd, Nov., 1757. Their 
children Avere, Solomon, bap. Nov., 1758 ; Hester, Nov. 22, 1761 and 



rilSTOKY OF AN C IK NT WOODKnUY. oGl 

Titus. The latter removed to Wyoniing, Pa., was an (ni.<igii in ihe 
regiment of Col. Zebuloa Bntler, and was killed ,Tnly 3, 1778, in llie 
bloody massacre at that place. 

Ephraim, son of Titus, m. Kebecca Lee, Aug., 1750. CIi., Andrew, 
bap. Feb. 0, 17ol, d. young; Patience, Feb. 17, 1753, m. Ebenezcr 
Strong, Jan., 1771 ; one of her daughters ni. Nathaniel Bacon, of 
New Haven. 

Enos, son of Titus, in. and removed to Vermont. 

Jonas, son of Elcazer, m. Sarah Downs, Feb.', 175G. Children, 
Silas, bap. Jan., 1757; Agar, Jan. 14, 1759 ; Jojias, Feb. 15, 17G2 ; 
Abner, Sarah, Mary, Reuben and Currence. 

John, second son of Eleazer, ni. Abigail Ciraham in 1772. She d. 
and he m. a second wife and removed to Betlilem. 

Eleazer, third son of Eleazer, m. Phoda Mitchell in 17G'J, and had 
Nathan, bap. Feb. 2, 1771; Patty, March 7, 1770; Eleazer Pres- 
ton, Jan., 1776; Mitchell, Sept. 3, 1778, and Livingston, July 1, 
1784. This family removed to th(i state of New York. 

Peter, fourth son of Eleazer, m. and had eh., William, who m. Sa- 
rah Mamdng, March, 1790; Seovill, (Dea. Scovill Ilinman, of New 
Haven ;) Nathaniel, John, Hannah and Mary. Dea. Scovill, Avhile 
I'csiding in Woodbury, had Erastus, Herbert, Jane, Charles W., all 
four bap. Aug. 12, 1810. 

Gideon, eldest son of Dea. Noah, m. Hannah Curtiss, Sept., 1745. 
Tiieir ch. were Zipper, bap. March 9, 1747 ; Asahel, Nov. 14, 1749, 
d. young; Love, April 28, 1751 ; Asahel, April 22, 1753, Gideon, 
April 22, 1753, (twins ;) Moses, June 29, 1755, removed to the state of 
New York ; Love, Nov. 10, 1757 ; Curtiss, April 25, 17(51 ; Sarah, 
July 1, 1704. 

Adam, son of Noah, m. and removed to Vermont. Ch., Isaac, bap. 
Dec. 29, 1754, supposed to be living; Mary, Dec, 1750; Slartha, 
March 11, 1758, m. Frederick Hurd, Dec, 1783 ; Timothy, 1700, 
for many years a judge of the court in Derby, Vt.; Adam, Jan. 15, 
1764; Sarah, Jan., 1704. The two last were twins. 

Reuben, son of Dea. Noah, m. JNIary Downs, Sept., 1750. Ch., 
Currence, bap. April, 1760 ; Abraham, Sept., 1762, and others. This 
family removed to Williamsiown. 

Noah, Jan., son of Dea. Noah, m. and with his family removed (o 
Vermont. 

Col. Benjamin, son of Benjamin, m. Molly Stiles. Ch., Aaron, b. 
1746; Joel, bap. April 10, 1748; Sherman, June, 1750, d. young. 
Sherman, Oct. 20, 1752, graduated at Yale College in 177(), m. and 
had Ruth Emm, who m. William Forbes, of Derby, Vt., formerly 



562 msTOPwT or ancient woodburt, 

of New Haven, Conn., and Clara, who m, Jared Hawley, Esq. Shci- 
man, also, d. a young man, a few years after he was married. 

Aaron, son of Col. Benjamin, had Judge William ; Anna, b. April 
23, 1780, m. AYilliam Drakeley, May 8, 1806 ; Benjamin, of Vt., 
George, of Sullivan, Me., and Harry, of Southbury. 

Col. Joel, son of Col. Benjamin, m. Sarah Curtiss, dau. of Dea. 
Daniel Curtiss. Ch., Daniel, dec'd ; Irene, m. Eli Hall ; Jason, Esq., 
in Vt.; Sally, ra. Jedediah Hall ; Hon. Curtiss, d. Dec., 1820 ; Phebe, 
single; Nancy, single; Robert, d. 1813; Albert, d. 1842; Sophia, 
m. Truman Mitchell ; Sherman, an attorney, d. in Mississippi in 
1832 ; Hon. Joel, is the present judge of the supreme court ; he m. 
Miss Scovill, of Waterbury ; Marietta, ra. Isaac Johnson, and Maria, 

m. Pulford. 

Hon. Edward, more familiai'ly known as Lawyer Ned, son of Dea. 
Noah, m. Ann Curtiss, July 18, 17G4. Ch., Sarah Ann, bap. July, 
1765, m. Timothy Ilinman, son of Capt. Truman, July, 1792, he 
graduated at Yale; Simeon, Esq.,' March, 1766, graduated at Yale 
College in 1784, was a lawyer, and d. single in 1830. Cyrus, also 
graduated at Yale in 1789, was a lawyer, and d. young, unm. He 
was twice a member of the General Court before the incorporation 
of Southbury. 

Abijah, son of Dea. Noah, m. and removed to Vt. Ch., Adoni- 
ram, bap. Dec. 11, 1757 ; Wait, in 1760, and Ruth Emm, Dec. 26, 
1762 ; Abigail, 1764, and Rebecca, bap. Feb. 22, 1766. 

Dea. David, son of Benjamin, m. Sarah Hinman. He d. in 1756. 
Ch., Lieut. Asa, who served during the war of the Revolution ; he 
was bap. Aug., 1750 ; Annis, bap. Aug. 23, 1752, m. Daniel Ilinman 
and moved to Bennington, Vt., where they both died ; Gen. Ephraim, 
in March, 1753 ; he acted as captain and quarter-master, and assist- 
ant commissary of forage in the war of the Revolution ; David, Jan. 
18, 1756, and Benjamin, Esq., who moved to Little Falls, afterward 
to Utica. 

Samuel, son of Wait, m., and his children were, Ann, bap. July 8, 
1759 ; Olive and Wait, bap. July 8, 1759. 

Capt. Truman, son of Wait, m. Olive Hinman, and had ch., Tim- 
othy, father of the present Edward, Es({., graduated at Yale College 
in 1784; Ruth Emm, m. David S. Bull, and d. Oct. 24, 1796, aged 
29 years ; Olive, m. Nathan Judson, Dec, 1800 ; Col. Truman, m. 
Betty Curtiss, Nov. 22, 1798. 

Bethuel, son of Wait, m. Hannah Hicock, Nov., 1770, removed to 
Greenfield, N. Y., and had sevei-al sons, and one named Shadrack. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKT. [)(]?> 

Lieut. Asa, son of Dea. David, m. Annis Ilinman. Their ch. were 
Davitl, who sailed for China in 1802, and never returned ; Rhoda, 
in. Elisha Pierce, and Sarah, m. Nathan Rumsey, of Sonthbury. An- 
nis, only dau. of Dea. David, m. Daniel Iliniuan, and moved to Ben- 
nington, Vt. They had but one child, (Betsey.) She m. Samuel 
Brown, and had one child, Samuel H. Brown, Esq., of Bennington. 
Samuel H. m. Sarah Brown, dau. of Park, of Southbury, and had 
several children. 

Gen. Ephraim, son of Dea. David, m. Sylvania French, dau. of 
William French, of Southbury, Feb. 3, 1779, and had four ch., viz., 
John, d. in infancy ; Laura, who m. and had a dau., (Henrietta,) both 
of whom soon after died ; Royal R., born at Southbury, and Mary, 
born at Roxbury. 

Royal R., son of Gen. Ephraim, on the 14th of Sept., 18l4,m. Lydia 
Ashley, youngest daughter of Gen. John Ashley, of Sheffield, Mass. 
Children, Jane Ashley, Royal Ashley, Lydia Ann, Mary E. and 
Catherine E. Jane A. married John Bigelow, of Hartford, Oct. 
18, 1838. Children, Jane Frances, b. Oct. 11, 1839 ; John IL, b. 
Aug. 8, 1841, d. Sept. 22, 1844, at Hartford; William Henry, b. 
at Hartford, Aug. 19, 1845, and d. at Boston, June 9, 184^5 ; George 
Ashley, b. Feb. 12, 1848, bap. by W. S. Potts, D. D., St. Louis, Mo. 
Lydia A., m. Charles E. Babcock, of New York, Sept., 1845, and 
had ch., Charles IL, b. July 18, 1846, and Royal H., b. April 10, 
1848, d. Sept. 15, 1849, and interred at Hartford. Lydia, the wife 
of Royal R., died at New York, Aug. 27, 1853. She was mild in 
her disposition, possessed a kind heart, and was loved by all that 
knew her. She was directly descended, by lineal gradation, from the 
original Puritan fiithers of New England, whose character she has 
sustained by a uniform life of piety, charitable deeds, and an exem- 
plary character, to its close. She was interred at the North Ceme- 
tery, in Hartford. 

David, son of Dea. David, m. IMary Ann Graham, daughter of 
Doct. Andrew Graham, of Southbury, and had Frederick, who m. 
Fanny Mitchell ; Nathan, m. Miss Burritt ; Benjamin, m. Miss Mi- 
nor, who d., he then m. Mrs. Bacon ; Polly, m. James W. Ward ; 
Patty, m. Dea. Nathan jNIitchell. 

Benjamin, son of Dea. David, moved in early life to Little Falls, 
N. Y., m. Ann Keysor in 1779, a dau. of Capt. Keysor, of Mont- 
gomery CO., N. Y. She was born on the farm where Fort Keysor 
was built. Their ch. were Col. John E., of Utica, who m. Mary 



56i niSTOllY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Schroppel, of New York city. John E. was several years sheriff of 
the county of Oneida. 

Col. John Jay, attorney at law, son of Benjamin, m. a lady from 
Conn., and i-esides in or near Rushville, Illinois. 

Benjamin, Esq., son of Benjamin, d. unm, at Hinmanville, Oswego 
CO., N. Y., Aug. 9, 1844. Maranda, dau. of Benjamin, d. at Utica 
in July, 1806. Gen. William A., son of Benjamin, Sen., attorney at 
Rushville, Illinois, m. Miss Grace Kingsbury, of Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Annis, second dau. of Benjamin, m. Doct. Thomas Munroe, formerly 
of Baltimore, but now of Jacksonville, Illinois. Benjamin, the father 
of this family, resided at Utica, and d. in April, 1831, at Mount 
Pleasant, Pa., on a journey to N. J., where he was interred. 



II I C O C K F A M I L Y . 

A part of this family, who emigrated from Hartford to Farming- 
ton, afterward settled at "Waterbury. Joseph and Benjamin, sons of 
Samuel, of Waterbury, settled in Woodbury about 1G85. 

(1) Joseph's Family. 

Joseph Ilicock m. 1. ; 2. Ruth Fairchild, Nov. 3, 1G97. He 

d. 1723, and second wife, Ruth, d. May 28, 1728. Ch., Samuel, 
baj). Sept., 1687 ; Ruth, b. July 31, 1700 ; m. John Root ; Stephen, 
b. June 27, 1702; Susan; Eunice, b. July 11, 170G. 

Samuel, son of Joseph, d. June 5, 1727 ; had ch. by his wife Ellen, 
as follows : Abigail, b. Dec. 11, 1714 ; Josepli, b. Sept. 0,1716 ; Tab- 
itha, b. Feb. 19, 1719 ; Thaddeus, b. ApriTl2, 1721 ; NaThaniel, Oct., 
1723; Nathan, bap. April 24, 1726. 

Joseph, eldest son of Samuel and Ellen, m. 1. Sarah Wakeley ; 
2. Submit . He d. 1795. Second wife d. 1802. Ch., 

1. Eunice, b. Nov. 11, 1745; m. Peter Minor, 1773. 

2. Ithel, b. Nov. 18, 1747; m. Eunice Curtiss, 1770, and have 
children, 

I. Curtiss, b. Nov. 7, 1771, in. 1. Sarali Ciirtit^s, Sept 15, 1700; s;lie d. Anj;-. 
7, 1 7U7 ; 2. Sally Tirovvn, May 22, 179'3, and had one ch., Tthel, h. June 9, 1799, 
m. Fanny Griswold Elliott, Dec. IS, 1S22, and had Frances Amelia, b. Nov. 2, 
IS23; George Augustus, b. June 11, 1S30. II. L-wis, b. April 21, 1778; m. 
Abigail Powell, and had 1. Eunice, b. 1S03, d. Oct., 1S22; 2. Powell, b. Nov. 
•2.3, 1S06, m. Huldah P. Ihinsmade, of Trunibvill, Conn., Jan., 1S30. Ch., Ab- 



n r S T O K Y OF ANCIENT W O O D B U K Y . 505 

ijiiK h. An;,'. -J'), ISrU : Churle? Lewis, b. .Tiiiicl, LS33 ; EUoii. b. Sept. 2, 

3. Eleanor, ni. William DeFores;!. 

4. Joseph, m. Currence Richards, Feb. 2G, 1784, and had, 
I. Lyman, b. July 21, 1785 ; graduated at Yale College ; d. 1S3L 

•2. ILussel, b. Nov. 16, 178S; in. Mary Ann Brown, Feb. 15. 1818, and had 
Mary Brown, b. Feb. 21, 1820, d. July 21, ISM ; Ann Maria, b. Dec. 20, 1821 ; 
Henry William, b. May 23, 1S2-1, d. April I'.i, 182'J ; Sarah Maria, b. Aug. 0, 
182!'., d. Feb. 26, 1S4S ; Jay William, \>. Dec. 30, 182'^; Henry Dark, b. JJarcl. 
22, 1837; George Sanford,b. Aug. 23, ls3'J. 

3. Charles, b. May 31, 17yG; m. Olive Hinnian, 1.-S22, who died 183i.t. 

Thaddeus, second son of .Samuel and Ellen, m. ]!ilchitable Porter, 
Oct. 21, 1745. Ch., 1. Currence, b. Aug. 8, 1746. II. Andrew, b. 
April 24, 1749 ; m. Mary Ingrahara, 1770, and went to Cohoes, N. Y. 

III. Thaddeus, b. May 31, 1751 ; went to Vermont. IV. Elijah, b. 
June 29, 1753 ; ra. Hannah Keeler, 1770, and had two sons, Jona- 
than and Leman. V. Ruth, b. Jan. G, 1755 ; m. Thomas Hooker, 
April 9, 1783. VI. Mchitable, b. Nov. 7, 1757; m. James Guthrie. 
VII. Simeon, b. April 13, 17G1 ; went to Vermont. 

Nathaniel, third son of Samuel and Ellen, m. Sarah Johnson. He 
d. Aug. 7, 1773, and his widow d. 1820. Ch., I. Samuel, b. Sept. 
17, 1748-9; went to Otsego, N. Y., and d. there in 1840. II. Ma- 
bel, m. Richard Bryan, and d. 1824. III. Phebe, b. Jan. .3, 1755; 
m. Brinsmade Gibson. IV. Sarah, bap. March 28, 1750 ; d. 1795. 
V. Nathaniel, b. March, 1758; resided at Otsego, N. Y.; d. Feb.. 
1848. VI. Johnson. VII. Olive, b. May, 1705 ; d. Dec. 23, 1845. 

Nathan, fourth son of Samuel and Ellen, m. Eunice Hurd. He d. 
Aug. 31, 1800. His widow d. Feb. 20, 1825. Ch,, I. Gideon, b. 
Feb. 20, 1751 ; d. 1753. II. Nathan, b. April 22, 1752 ; m. Anna 
Mitchell, of Washington, and had, 1. Elisha, m. Anna Baker, and 

had Anna, who m. 1. Cary ; 2. Baker; Philo, m. Olive 

Stillson, of New Milford, where he d.; Polly, m. Schyler, of 

Sullivan co., N, Y. III. Reuben, b. June 22, 1753 ; m. Sily Evasion, 

IV. Eunice, b. March ^il, 1755 ; m. Philcmon-Trow-bridge, 1773, and 
d. in Buffalo, N. Y. V. Rhoda, b. June 11, 1758 ; m. William 
Clark; went to Otsego, N. Y. VI. Annis, b. May 7, 1700; m. 
Thomas Armstrong. VII. Gideon, b. April 22, 17G2. VIII. Tru- 
man, b. June 9, 1705 ; removed to Canada. IX. Concurrence, b. 
Jan. 9, 1705 ; m. Gideon Ilollister, Jr., Nov. 28, 1782. X. David, 
b. April 13, 1700. XI. Molly, b. Sept. 30, 17G7 ; m. Samuel Clark. 

Stephen, son of Joseph and Ruth, m. Bethia , and had, I. 

Daniel, b. June, 1724 ; m. lluldah Knowles, July 31, 1751. Ch., 1. 



566 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Huldah, m. Stephen Curtiss, 1772; 2. Eunice, bap. March 31, 1754; 
Abigail, bap. May 3, 1762. II. Ruth,b. Nov., 1727. III. Dorcas, 
b. April 10, 1730 ; m. Gideon .Johnson, 1753. IV. Ann, b. March 
22, 1732 ; ra. Joseph Sanford, 1756. V. Samuel, b. Oct., 1733 ; m. 
Margaret Squire, Jan. 24, 1760, and had, 1. Azuba, bap. Dec. 3, 
1760; 2. Samuel, b. June 30, 1764; 3. Azuba, b. Aug, 14, 1766. 
VI. Mary, b. Jan. 26, 1736 ; m. Gideon Curtiss, 1756. VII. Su- 
sanna, bap. April 2, 1738 ; m. Jeddidiah Hubbell, 1759. VIII. Je- 
rusha, bap. Aug. 17, 1740 ; ra. Roswell Franklin, 1760. IX. Aaron, 
bap. Aug. 22, 1742. X. Ichabod, bap. Aug. 4, 1745. XL Pru- 
dence, bap. April 24, 1747. 

(2) Benjamin's Family. 

Dca. Benjamin Hicock m. Hannah Skeel, March 3, 1697. He 
d. 1745, and Hannah d. 1746. Their ch. were, Sarah, b. July 23, 

1G98, m. Prime; David, b. March 4, 1701, d. 1727; Mary, 

b. Sept. 15, 1703, m. Solomon Johnson; Hannah, b. June 25, 1705, 
d. unm., 1727 ; Lois, b. March 18, 1709, m. Stephen Curtiss, 1733 ; 
Benjamin, b. Nov. 21, 1711 ; Justus, b. Aug. 2, 1714; Amos, b. 
Oct. 11, 1717, d. 1720 ; Silas, b. March 9, 1721. 

Dea. Benjamin, Jr., son of Dea. Benjamin, m. Sarah Stiles, Feb. 
28, 1734, d. 1774, and his wife, Oct,, 1772. Issue, Olive, bap. Mar. 
16, 1735, d. young; 01ivc,bap. June 20, 1736, m. E. Mitchell, 1758; 
Amos, bap. April 2, 1738 ; Sarah, bap. Nov. 22, 1741 ; Benjamin, b. 
April 20, 1744 ; Patience, b. April 27, 1746, d. Oct., 1752 ; Simeon, 
b. Oct. 22, 1748, d. in 1749 ; Simeon, bap. Nov. 4, 1750, d. 1752. 

Amos, son of Dea. Benjamin, Jr., m. Phebe Curtiss, Jan. 15, 1758. 
Ch., Patience, bap. March 11,1759, m. Amos Johnson, 1784 ; Phebe, 
bap. March 1, 1761, m. Diodate Wildman, 1758 ; Olive, bap. July 17, 
1763 ; Sarah, bap. Sept. 8, 1765, m. Joseph Pierce, 1786. 

Benjamin, son of Dea. Benjamin, Jr., ra. Mary Pierce, Feb. 10, 
1774. He d. 1829. His wife d. 1832. Ch., L Benjamin, b. Feb. 
13, 1775, d. 1831. IL Amos, b. Aug. 13, 1776, d. 1846. IIL Aa- 
ron, b. Jan. 18, 1779, d. young. IV. Simeon, b. Nov. 17, 1780; m^ 
Anna L. Wakeley, 1809, and d. 1849. His ch. are, 1. Charles, b. 
April 13, 1810 ; 2. Laura, b. Nov. 1, 1812 ; 3. David, b. April 12, 
1815 ; 4. Mary, b. Jan. 12, 1820. V. Aaron, b. July 19, 1785. VI. 
Mary, b. Dec. 11, 1788 ; m. Jloswell Shelton, and became the mother 
of Gen. Shelton. 

Justus, third son of Dca. Benjamin, m. Lois Lum, Oct. 26, 1736 
and d. 1800. His Avife d. 1781. His ch. were, L David, b. May 2' 



HISTORY OK A N C I K N T WOODBURY. 567 

1737; m. Abigail .fuhuson. lie d. 1784, and his widow in 1833. 
They had a dau. Hannah, b. 1707, whom. Zcphaniah 11. Smith, Esq., 
who was a clergyman at Newtown, Conn., several years, after which 
he remov(?d to Glastenbnry, and settled there as a lawyer, where he 
d., leaving one of the most intellectual and learned families in the 
state, consisting of his wife and five danghters. His widow d. Dec. 
27,1850. II. Gideon, bap. July 1, 173'.) ; m. Hannah liinman, Jan, 
14, 17G8 ; had, 1. Francis, b. Feb. 15, 176!), went to Granville, 
N. Y., is now living there^ 2. Gideon, b. Dec. 3, 1774, removed to 
Granville. III. Reuben, Dec. 25, 1741, removed to Vermont, and 
d. there in 1777. IV. Mary, b. Sept. 24, 1744, m. Francis Hinman. 
V. Justus, m. Amy Garritt, and removed to the state of N. Y. VI. 
Asa, m. Hester Hinman, Dec. 29, 1777, and removed to Pennsylva- 
nia. VII. Annis, bap. Oct. 31, 1756, m. Francis Garrit, in 1781. 

Silas, fourth son of Dea. Benjamin, m. Sarah Stiles, April 9, 1741 ; 
ch. 1. Hannah, bap. Feb. 10, 1743, m. Bethel Hinman, in 1770 -, 2. 
Silas, bap. March 23, 1746, m. Hannah Johnson, Feb. 20, 1782 ; re- 
moved t^ Vermont ; 3. Truman, bap. Jan. 24, 1748 ; 4. Joel. bap. 
Nov. 5, 1752, m. Anna Trowbridge, Nov. 16, 1772, and d. March 
18, 1840. He had ch. Hepsa and Truman ; 5. Asa, bap. .June 9, 
1754. 



HILL FAMILY 



William Hill came to Windsor, in 1639 ; was appointed the same 
year to view arms and military provisions, in each town; was deputy 
in 1G39, '41 and '44; in 1659, was assistant and collector of customs 
at Fairfield. The ancestors of the Hills of "Ancient Woodbury" 
came from Stratford, ])ut owing to imperfect records, it is found im- 
possible to connect the diftcrent branches of the family. 

Isaac Hill d. Feb. 7, 1775, leaving Ann, his wife, and ch. Isaac. 
Sarah, Ahirah, Jonathan, James, Submit and Huldah. Submit m. 
David Kotchkiss, Nov. 10, 1748. 

Isaac, Jr., m. Caroline Perry, Nov. 16, 1741, and had 1. Rousel, 
bap. Aug. 26, 1744, d. in 1802; 2. Abigail, bap. Sept. 25, 1749 ; 3. 
Ann, d. in 1755. 

Ahirah Hill, second son of Isaac, m. Mehitable Lewis, J:in. 29, 
1754, who d. without issue ; he m. 2. Hannah , and had Josiah, 



568 niSTOKT OF ancient woodbuky. 

b. May 8, 1774 ; Rhoda, bap. June 18, 1775 ; Ahirah, the lather, d. 
in 1777. 

Jonathan, third son of Isaac, m. Elizabeth Perry, April 19, 1758, 
and had Anne, b. Api-il 19, 1759; Reuben, b. Feb. 2G, 17G1 ; Da- 
vid, b. Feb. 10, 17 Co ; Daniel, March 22, 1767 ; Jonathan, b. March 
25, 17G9. Jonathan, the father, d. Feb. 10, 1793. 

Daniel, of the last family, m. Electa Minor, and had 1. Julia, who 
ni. Harvey Perkins ; 2. Ann Maria, m. Cephas Beach ; 3. Emily, 
in. Giles Gaylord ; 4. Rollin R., m. Susan M. Kasson, and removed 
to Illinois ; 5. Gilman E., m. Nancy Crane, and now resides in Beth- 
lem ; has Sophia J. and Gilman. Daniel above d. March 2, 1849. 
His wife d. Feb. 7, 1840. 

David, son of Jonathan, d. in 1845, and his wife d. in 1843; has 
descendants in Bethlem. 

Henry Hill m. Sarah Bassit, of Stratford, Nov. 11, 1073, and had 
Sarah, b. 1675 ; Margaret, bap. April, 1679 ; Henry, bap. Feb., 1G81 ; 
John and Amy, bap. April, 1685 ; James, bap. Feb., 1687. 

Abraham Hill had ch. as follows : Abraham, bap. July 23, 1758, 
and " d. in the army of the north, in 1776," Isaac, Jerusha, Susanna 
and Desire, all bap. July 23, 1758 ; Cyrus, bap. Feb. 11, 1759. 

Zenas Hill, and wife, Ivcziah, had Sarah, b. March 20, 1762; Ze- 
luis, b. Dec. 26, 1764; Jesse, b. Dec. 10, 1766. 



IIUTIIWITT FAMILY. 

Only one male of this surname has resided in the territory of " An- 
cient Woodbury," but the descendants of this blood in the female line 
are still numerous in a large number of other family names. 

John Iluthwitt came in one of the early companies from Stratford 
to Woodbury. The legend is, that he and his sister Ann, Averc " of 
gentle blood," and left orphans at an early age, under the guardian- 
ship of an uncle. The latter being an avaricious man, and desirous 
of securing their fortune to him'self, sent them to New England, under 
the pretense of giving them an education ; after Avhich he squandered 
their properly, and left them destitute. 

Having found their way to Stratford, they came to Woodbury, 
with one of the removing parties. John had his home lot where Mrs. 
Whillock, in Southbury. now rc;side3. His sister became the wife of 
Dea. John Pearce. 



niSTOUY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. ,3 GO 

John man'ied Judith . and liad cliildrcn : 

Elizabefli, hn\i. July, 1089, d. young. 
Anna. " Nov., 1G90, m. Ehene/er Squire. 1711. 

Martlia, " Nov., 1693, m. Hezekiah Tuttlr. 171-2. 
Mary, '' May, 1G9G, m. Je1ii(d Proston, 1711. 

Elizabeth, '• April, 1G98, m. Josiah Root, 1717. 



HOOKER FAMILY. 

Hezekiah Hooker moved to Bethlehem society, from Farmington, 
among the first that went there, was many years one of the leading 
men of the town, and died very suddenly, Dec. 18, 175G. He was a 
descendant of the celebrated Rev. Thomas Hooker, of Hartford, "the 
light of the western cliurcbes." He married Abigail Curtiss, of 
Stratfoi'd, and had issue as follows : 

Hezekiah, b. Oct. 30, 1717; James, b. Jan. 30,1720; Josiah, b. 
Aprils, 1722 ; Abigail, b. Sept. 25, 1724, d. unm. Sept. 24, 1750 ; 
Mary, b. Jan. 8, 1727, m. Waitstill Goodrich, June 5, 1755 ; William, 
b. June 20, 1729 ; Jesse, b. April 27, 1732, d. unm. the same day 
with his sister Abigail, Sept. 24, 1750 ; Eunice, b. Oct. 30, 1734, d. 
Sept. 17, 1750 ; Asahel, b. Dec. 13, 1736 ; Sarah, b. May 30, 1739, 
ra. Timothy, son of Isaac and Deborah Judson, Jan. 2G, 17G3. 

Of the above, Hezekiah m. Elizabeth Stone, .Ian. 20, 1 74G, and 
their ch. were: Brainard, b. March 4, 1747 ; John, 1). Feb. 4, 1749; 
Jesse, b. April 23, 1752 ; Abigail, b. Nov. 30, 1753 ; Gilbert, b. May 
14, 1758 ; Elizabeth, b. Jan. 27, 17G1 ; Louisa, b. April 10, 1763. 

James m. Dorothy Parmeley, March 31, 1754, and had Thomas, 
b. Dec. 27, 1754 ; Josiah, b. Aug. 15, 1758 ; James, b. Dec. 25, 1760; 
Samuel, b. Aug. 2, 1762. 

William m. Rachel Waller, March 13, 1754 ; ch. Hezekiah, b. 
June 6, 1756 ; Eunice, b. Aug. 22, 1758, d. July 11, 17G1 ; William, 
b. Feb. 4, 1762. His wife d. Dec. 10, 17 G2. He m. 2. Mary Mose- 
ley, March 18, 1754, dau. of Increase Moseley : ch. by Mary, Inci-ease 
Moseley, b. Nov. 2, 1765 ; Rachel, b. Dec. 9, 1767, d. Dec. 10, 1762. 

Asahel m. Feb. 15, 1759, vVnne Parmele}-. ^ Their children were : 
Ira, b. March 12, 1760 ; Asahel, b. Aug. 29, 1762 ; Bryan, b. Aug. 
5, 1763; Anne, b. Feb. 10, 1767: Levi, b. Aug. 15. 1769. 



38 



570 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

HURD FAMILY. 

1. John Hurd settled at Stratford, as early as 1G48 ; was one of 
the principal men of that town. 2. His son John" m. Anna Judson, 
Dec. 16, 1G62, and was among the first settlers at Woodbury. He 
d. 1681-2. His children were: 

S I. Sarah,"* b. Dec. 10, 1664. 

^, II. Joseph,^ b. Feb. 9, 1665, m. Jane . 

[2 III. Benjamin,^ b. Feb. 16, 1666, d. 1754, leaving his wife, Sa- 
rah, and childi'cn. 

I, IV. Ebenezer,^Nov. 7, 1668, had a wife, Sarah. 

7 V. Ruth,' b. Feb. 12, 1670. 

^ VI. John,==b. Aug. 17, 1673, d. April 27, 1776, had a wife, Eliz- 
abeth. 

Joseph^ (4) had , 

9 I. Mary,^ bap. June, 1696-7, m. John Cressy, June 22, 1720. 

10. II. Eather,^ bap. 1702, d. young. 

11 III. Joseph,"* d. 1752, leaving wife, Ann, and children. 

12 IV. Esther," b. April 9, 1709. 

Sergeant Benjamin^ (5) had 

13 I. John," bap. Aug., 1691. 

]^ II. Benjamin," b. March, 1693, d. 1783. Hannah, his wife, d. 
Feb. 29, 1756. 

II III. Nathan,* bap. July, i694,m. Eunice Hinman, Nov. 7, 1718. 
He d. 1779. Shed. 1792. 

\l IV. Abraham,' b. Jan. 12, 1797, m. Martha Mitchell, Feb. 11, 
1720. 

I] V. David,' b. July, 1701, m. Abigail Curtiss, Jan. 6, 1723, he d. 
1758. 

'4 VI. Zadoc," bap. Jan., 1704. His wife, Esther, d. Feb. 15, 1743. 

19 VII. Thaddeus." (Sergeant Benjamin calls him his son in his 
will.) 

20 VIII. Ann,' b. Oct. 20, 1 706, m. Wait Hinman, June 11,1729. 
% IX. Adam," b. Sept. 20, 1708, m. Elizabeth Hinman, Feb. 23, 

17.32 ; he d. 1756. 

Ebenezer'' (6) had 

22 I. Robert," bap. Oct. 16, 1693. 

23 II. Daniel," bap. 1696. 

24 III. Ruth," bap. Jan. 17, 1697. 

25 IV. Elnathan," b. Oct. 12, 1699. 

26 V. Josiah," b. Nov. 5, 1701. 



' HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOOD BURY. 571 

27 VI. Rebecca," b. Oct. 24, 1703, d. Dec 26, 1770, unin. 

28 VII. Abigail,-" b. Oct. 5, 1705. 

29 VIII. Hannah," b. Sept. 20, 1707, d. young. 

30 IX. Hannah," b. Oct. 31, 1709. 

John^ (.8) had 

31 I. Sarah," b. April 3, 1702, m. David Leavenworth, 1720. 

32 II. Wait," b. Nov. 30, 1714, d. May 31, 1727. 

1^4 III. John," b. March 16, 1717, m. Silence Warner. Jan., 1741 ; 
he d. July 27, 1766. 

34 IV. Charity," b. Nov. 20, 1719. 

,'^ V. Jedediah," b. Oct. 14, 1721, m. Abigail Baker, Aug. 12, 1741. 

36 VI. Jehiel, b. Nov., 1723, d. Feb. 22, 1724. 

37 VII. Joshua, b. Nov., 1724. 

38 VIII. Josiah, b.0ct.31, 1725. 

39 IX. Wait, bap. 1728. 

40 X. Elizabeth, bap. July 21, 1730, m. Ebenezer Leavenworth, 
1754. 

41 XL Rachel, b. April, 1732. 

i^f4 XII. Jehiel," b. July 8, 1734, m. and had three children. 

43 XIIL Amos, b, July 25, 1736. 

Joseph* (11) had 

44 I. Patience, b. Sept. 2, 1740, m. Gideon Hollister, Dec. 6, 1759. 

45 IL Abel, b. Jan. 20, 1743, ra. Hannah Hall, July 13, 1792. 
ifs III. Joseph, b. July 10, 1745, m. Prudence . 

47 VI. Ann, b. April 5, 1749, m. Abijah Bronson, 1773. 

48 V. Rebecca, b. April 14, 1751. 

Benjamin" (14) had 

49 I. Jemima,^ b. April 15, 1713, m. John Warner, Dec. 16, 1736. 

50 II. Joseph," b. Sept. 16, 1714. 

51 IIL Silome,^bap. Dec.29,1715. 

52 IV. Silence,'^ bap. Jan., 1716, m. Benjamin Warner, Dec. 16, 
1736. 

fls V. Elijah,^ b. Aug. 24, 1717, m. 1. Abigail ; m. 2. Ruth 

; he d. 1752. 

54 VI. Benjamin,^ bap. May 15, 1719, ni. Ann Hopsou ; he d. 
1784. 

55 VIL Daniel,^ b. July 22, 1720, d. Aug. 27, 1722. 

^^ VIII. Timothy,^ b. March 16, 1722, m. Tabitha Foot, l^ec. 21, 
1741. 

1^ IX. Daniel,^ b. Oct. 24, 1723, m. 1. Experience ■ ; ra. 2. 

Aner Castle, in 1766 ; m. 3. Dorcas Osborn. 



572 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

1^4 X. Simeon," b. July '24, 1725, iii. liutli . 



.f; XL Samuel,-' bap. Aug. 4, 1728. His first wife, Maiy, d. 1752 ; 
m. 2. Huth Hurd, 1754. 

60 XII. Abijah,' b. Dec. 'J, 1730, m. Tliebe Hawiey, March 20, 
1754. 

Gl. XIII. lleuben,-' b. April 2, 17^3, d. Feb. 20, 1752. 
Nathan ' (15) had 

62 I. Ex^ierience,^ ba}). Sept. 20, 171 'J. 

GS II. Nathan,^ b. Dec. 21, 1720, d. Jan. 10, 1721. 

64 III. Mary,-' b. Dec. G, 1721, m. Daniel Dudley, 1747. 

65 IV. Nathan,^ b. Sept. 29, 1723, d. same year. 

,^'i V. GideoiVb. Aug. 22, 1724, m. Sarah Graham, May 20, 1752. 
,'sn VI. Amos,^ b. 1726, m. Dorcas Judson, July 27, 1757, d. " in 
the campaign," Nov, 2'J, 1759. 

g VII. Nathan,^ b. Aug. 4, 1727. m. Anna Mitchell, April 20, 
1748. 

69 VIII. Eunice,* b. Aug. U, 1731. 
""^ 70. IX. Annis,"" b. March 1, 1733, m. liichard Smith, and became 
mother of Judge Nathaniel, the Hon. Nathan Smith, &c. 
Abraham^ (16) had 

71 I. Kezia,^ b. Feb. 20, 1721, d. Nov. 7, 173G. 

72 II. Jerusha/' b. Sept. 5, 1723. ^ 

73 III. Martha,^ b. Oct. 14, 1725, d. April 20, 1727. 

74 IV. Abraham,-^ b. April 11, 1728, d. Sept. 30, 1749. 

75 V. Martha,^ b. Aug. 2, 1730. 

76 VI. Levi,* b. Sept.'20, 1732. 

77 VII. Jemima,' b. Nov. 29, 1734, m. Ebenezer Andru?, July 
27, 1752. 

78 VIII. Elisha,-^ bap. Aug. 2, 1737. 

79 IX. James,-' bap. May 18, 1740. 

80 X. Jerusha,' bap. Nov. 15, 1741, m, Isucher Norton, Dec. 31, 
1781. 

David^ (17) had 

81 I. Peter,5 b. Nov., 1724, d. 1771, leaving wife, Sarah, and ch. 
,% IL David,* bap. March 17, 1728, in. Esther Hurlbut, Nov. 9, 

1749 ; m. 2. Anna . 

83 III. Thaddeus,' b. March 20, 1731, d. young., 

84 IV. Olive,* b. April 2, 1734. 

85 V. Ruth,' bap. Oct. 30, 1737, in. Samuel Hurd, Dec. 24, 1754. 

86 VI. Susanna,* b. May, 1741, m. Mallory. 



UISTOKY OF ANCIENT AVOODBUKY. 573 

.^i VII. TIiaddeus,5 bqi. Dec. 12, 1743, m. Elizabeth Walker, 
1780. 

Zadoc* (18) had 

88 I. Anu,^ bap. March 10, 1728, d. young. 

89 11. Sarah,^ b. May 9, 1730. y 
.^— 90 III. Ann,^ b. March 5, 1731, ui. Jonathan Smith, Oct. 3, 1753. ^ 

.^'« IV. Zadoc,' b. Oct. 31, 1732, m. Eunice Hinman, June 19, 1754. ^ 

92 V. Solomon,^ b. April 21, 1730, d. Nov. 2, 1749. 

93 VI. Esther,^ bap. March 12, 1738, d. Oct. 12, 1743. 

94 VII. Joanna,^ bap. May 24, 1741, m. Titus Hinman, 1757. 

Adam^ (21) had 

95 I. Anna,'' b. Aug. 14, 1732, m. Isaac Castle. 

96 11. Noah,^ b. 1784, d. Jan. 31, 1737. 

97 III. Elizabeth,-^ b. Jan. 26, 1737, m. Thomas Love, 1754. 
i'li IV. Noah," b. Dec, 1738, m. Susanna Castle, Dec. 10, 1759. 

99 V. Lucy," b. Oct., 1741, d. Oct. 4, 1749. 

100 VL Kezia," bap. June 24, 1744, d. Oct. 8, 1749. 

i'^i VII. Adam," bap. Sept. 11, 1748, m. Martha Judson, Nov. 17, 
1775. 

102 VIII. Kezia,^ bap. Aug. 18, 1751. 

103 IX. Annis," bap. Sept. 16,1753. 
John^ (33) had 

104 I. John," baj). Jan. 27, 1751, m. Lois Ilurd, March 5, 1778. 

105 11. Silence," bap. July 13, 1755. 
Jedediah^ (35) had 

lOG I. Charity," b. Jan. 20, 1743. 

107 II. Israel," b. July 31, 1744. 

108 IIL Araos,^ b. June 11, 1746, m. Esther Hurd, 1780. 

109 IV. Esther,^ b. June 15, 1748. 

110 V. Rachel," b. Aug. 10, 1750. 
111. VL Ehzabeth,^ b. Aug. 10, 1752. 

112 VIL Lois,M). Aug., 1754, m. John Hurd, March 5, 1778. 

113 VIIL Abigail," b. Sept. 26, 1756. 
Jehiel' (42) had 

114 I. Betty," bap. Nov. 11, 1759,m. Elijali Feet, Oct. 3, 1787. 

115 11. Amos," bap. Dec. 2, 1759. 

116 IIL Sabra,Mmp. Dec. 14, 17G0. 
Joseph" (46) had 

117 L AbeVb. June 7, 1767. 

118 II. Eeuben,«b. Jan. 17, 1769. 
Elijah^ (53) had 



574 HISTORY OF ANCIKNT WOODBURY. 

119 I. Lovewell/ b. Jan. 24, 1740, d. "in the campaign," in 1758. 

120 11. Jerusha,«b. 1742, m. Daniel Baker, Jan. 16, 1763. 

121 III. Amy," bap. Sept. 29, 1751, m. Richard Hine, Jan. 15, 
1770. 

Benjamin* (54) had 

122 I. Mary," bap. Sept. 20, 1751, d. young. 

123 II. Mary," b. March 15, 1755, m. Joshua Sweet, July 17, 
1794. 

}^ III. William," bap. May 8, 1756, m. Martha Smith, April, 1782. 

125 IV. Sarah," b. April 11, 1759. 

126 V. Rebecca," b. Aug. 24, 1761. 

127 VI. Benjamin," b. Aug. 3, 1763. 

128 VII. Huldah," bap. Dec. 8, 1765. 
Timothy^ (56) had 

129 I. Isaac," b. Oct. 9, 1742, m. Emm. Hunt, Oct. 22, 1765. 

130 II. Abner,^ b. Jan. 7, 1744, m. Rebecca Savage, Dec. 6, 1769- 

131 III. Mary," b. April 9, 1746. 

132 IV. Ned,"b. Aug. 4, 1752. 

133 V. Hannah," b. Feb. 13, 1755. 

134 VI. Eleazer," b. Aug. 15, 1758. 

135 VII. Beulah," b. Feb. 16, 1760. 
DanieP (57) had 

136 I. Bethel," b. Nov. 27, 1750. 

137 II. Experience," b. March 12, 1752, d. 1770. 

138 III. Reuben," b. Dec. 12, 1753. 

139 IV. Moses," b. Feb. 10, 1757. 

140 V. Daniel," b. Aug. 22, 1758. 

141 VI. Thomas, bap. April 12, 1767, d. young. 

142 VII. Thomas, bap. Oct. 23, 1768. 

143 VIII. Abraham, bap. April 28, 1771. 

144 IX. Experience, bap. July 4, 1773. 
Simeon^ (58) had 

145 I. Richard," b. April 30, 1751, m. Mary Lacy, Nov. 21, 1771. 

146 11. Rebecca," b. Dec. 31, 1752, m. Ephraim Ilinman, 1778. 

147 III. Elijah, b. April 10, 1755, m. Buzina Leavenworth, 1779. 

148 IV. Stephen," b. June 28, 1757, m. Betty Leavenworth, July 
28, 1783. 

149 V. Simeon," b. March 22, 1759. 

150 VL Ruth," b. March 6, 1761. 

151 VIL Jonathan," b. April 28, 1771. 

152 VIIL Zacheus," b. July 14, 1773. 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 575 



153 IX. 



154 X. Luxanna," b. Aug. 24, 1783. 

155 XI. Reuben," b. Aug. 24, 1783. 
SamueP (59) had 

156 I. Phebe,'' b. Nov. 23, 1751, m. Amos Bennet, 1785. 

157 II. Mary," b. Oct. 5, 1755, m. Ebenezer Lacey, June 3, 1773. 

158 III. Jemima," b. Nov. 25, 1757, ra. Eldad Baker, 1774. 

159 IV. Lovewell," b. April 13, 1760. 

160 V. Silence," b. April 24, 1762. 

161 VI. Lyman," b. Jan. 26, 1766. 

162 VII. Abigail, bap. May 19, 1771. 

163 VIII. Truman," bap. June 19, 1774. 
Nathan'' (68) had 

164 I. Concurrence,'' bap. June 1, 1749, m. Smedley, 1737. 

165 II. Sarah," bap. Oct. 21, 1750 ; m. 

166 III. Abijah," bap. May 17, 1752. 

167 IV. Eunice," b. Feb. 18, 1754. 

168 V. Anuis,« b. Feb. 18, 1754, m. Abel Wakelee, March 15, 
1785. 

169 VI. Ann," bap. Feb. 8, 1756.- 

170 VII. Nathan," bap. Aug. 20,' 1758. 

171 Vin. Wait," bap. Feb. 24, 1760. 

172 IX. Patience," bap. June 5, 1768. 

173 X. Sylva," bap. March 5, 1769. 

174 XL Electa," bap. Nov. 2, 1777. 
Gideon' (66) had 

175 I. Andrew," b. March 4, 1753, d. unm. 

176 II. Molly," bap. Oct. 20, 1754. 

177 IIL Graham," bap. March 27, 1757. 

178 I\^. Love," bap. Sept. 9, 1759, m.Phineas Chapin, of Salisbury. 

179 V. Gideon," bap. June 14, 1761, was killed in the Revolution, 
at the age of 17. 

180 VI. Abigail," bap. Oct. 3, 1763, m. Joseph Root. 

181 VII. Chaunccy," bap. 1765, went west. 

182 VIII. Sarah," bap. 1769, m. Evits Moody, of Washington, Ct. 
if! IX. Isaiah," bap. April 21, 1771, m. Eunice Minor. 

184 X. William," bap. June 20, 1773, m. Mabel Root. 

185 XL Eunice," bap. Oct. 22, 1775, m. Dea. Gideon Smith, of 
Salisbury. 

186 XIL Ruth," bap. Nov. 30, 1773. 
Amos^ (67) had 



576 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

187 I. Gideon," bap. Nov. 13, 1757, d. Nov. 29, 1759. 

188 II. Zuba," bap. Dec. 31, 1758. 
Peter^ (81) had 

i?2 I. Asahel," bap. Dec. 30, 1747, m. Rebecca Blakesley, 1776 ; be 
died 1807. 

190 II. Solomon," b. Dec. 25, 1750. 

191 III. Sarah,« b. July 15, 1753. 

192 IV. Abigail,*^ b. Jan. 15, 1755. 

193 V. Justice,6 b. March 25, 1757, d. 1780. 

194 VI. 01ive,«b. Aug. 13. 1759. 

195 VII. Lois.*' 
David^ (82) had 

196 I. Curtis,'^ b. Nov. 13, 1751, ra. Capt. James Judson's daugh- 
ter Abigail, and had several sons and daughters, Judson Hurd, now 
living in Roxbury, being one of them. He died Marclx 11, ] 831. and 
his wife died Aug. 14, 1818. 

197 11. Ann,« b. April 2, 1754. 

198 III. David,« b. Jan. 17, 1758, d. 1793. 

199 IV. Esther," b. Jan. 23, 1760, m. Moses Hurd, 1780. 

200 V. Jonas," died 1766. 

201 VI. James," b. April 25, 1768. 
Thaddeus'' (87) had 

202 I. Mabel," bap. Jan. 1, 1764. 

203 11. Annie," bap. July 20, 1766. 

204 III. Russel," bap. May 12, 1771, m. Ruth Mitchell, May 30, 
1792. 

205 IV. Eunice," bap. May 12, 1771, m. Japhet Collins, Feb. 23. 
1790. 

206 V. Lydia," bap. Dec. 31, 1773, d. May 3, 1777. 

207 VI. Thaddeus," bap. July 9, 1775. 

208 VII. Lydia," bap. May 2, 1777. 

209 VIII. Reuben," bap. Sept. 27, 1778, m. Cleraence Camp, July 
28, 1796. 

210 IX. Justus," bap. June 15, 1788. 
Zadoc' (91) had 

211 I. Esther," bap. March 9, 1755. 

212 II. Lois," bap. April 23, 1757 ; m. Joel Linsley. 

213 III. Olive," bap. April 23, 1757 ; m. Abial Linsley. 

214 IV. Mary," bap. Jan. 11, 1761. 

215 V. Nancy," bap. Jan. 8, 1763. 

216 VI. Anna,'bap. Sept. 16, 1764. 



HISTORY OF ANCTKNT WOODBURY. 577 

217 VII. Solomoii,« bap. Sept. 25, 1768. 

218 VIII. Zadoc,-^ bap. Oct. 21, 1770. 
Noah* (98) had, 

219 I. Currence/ bap .June 8, 17G0 ; m. John A. Norton, Sept. 15, 
1778. 

220 II. Elizabeth,*^ bap. May 10, 1767. 
Adam^ (101) had, 

221 I. Sarah,« bap. Oct. 20, 1776. 

222 II. Mary,« b. elan. 18, 1778. 
Isaiah" (183) had, 

223 I. Gideon H.," bap. Nov. 11, 1798. 

224 II. Marcus," bap. March 4, 1800. 

225 III. Horace," bap. May 31, 1801 ; m. Roxa Minor, Nov. 9, 
1827. 

226 IV. Burr," bap. May 22, 1803. 

227 V. Diah," bap. Feb. 17, 1805. 
William^ (124) had, 

228 I. Benjamin S.," b. July 29, 1783. 

229 II. David," b. Dec. 26, 1784. 

230 III. Charity," b. July 3, 1790. 
AsaheP (189) had, 

231 I. Amos." 

232 II. Chloe.^ 

233 III. Rebecca.^ 

234 IV. Sarah.^ 



HULL FAMILY. 

The name of Hull was an early name in Connecticut, as it is found 
that George Hull, of Windsor, surveyed Wethersfield in 1636, deputy 
in 1639, was magistrate, and often member of the General Court. 

John Hull, of Windsoi", came from Dorchester ; was committee of 
the General Court in 1637-8-9. He married Elizabeth Loomis, of 
Windsor, in 1641. 

There was a Josiah Hull, at Hartford, in 1641. 

For the following account of this family, 1 am indebted to Lauren r 
Hull, M. D., of Angelica, N. Y. 

From the best information that I have been able to obtain, the firat 
89 



578 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

persons of the name of Hull, -who came to this country, were from 
Derbyshire, England. One of the name settled at Derby, one at 
Cheshire, and another at Stonington. 

The grandfather of Capt. Joseph Hull, of Huntington, the father of 
Commodore Isaac Hull, of the U. S. navy, and brother of Gen. Wm. 
Hull, also four others, named Samuel, Isaac, Levi and David, was 
the ancestor of the Derby family. His name was Joseph, which was 
the name of his son and grandson. 

Of the Cheshire family of whom I have any reliable information, 
were three brothers, Zepheniah, John and Amos. Doct. Zepheniah 
Hull was born at Cheshire, in the year 1728 ; m. Hannah Cook, 
March 18, 1749, and probably was induced to remove to Bethlem by 
the Rev. Dr. Bellamy, with whom a close intimacy and warm friend- 
ship existed until death sepai-ated them, Doct. Hull and his wife 
both died Nov. 10, 1760. While living, they had ch., 1. Lydia, b. 
Dec. 22, 1749, d. Feb. 21, 1750; 2. Titus, b. March 25, 1751 ; 3. 
Lydia, b. Jan. 23, 1753, m. Joseph Judson, Nov. 21, 1769, by whom 
she had four children. Mr. Judson d. and she m. 2. Amasa Clark, 
of Cheshire ; 4. Andrew, b. Dec. 8, 1754, resided with his great- 
grandfather on his mother's side, from whom he received an estate, 
on which he continued to reside until his death ; 5. Hannah, b. Jan. 
28, 1757 ; d. Nov. 16, 1760 ; 6. Sarah, b. May 17, 1759, d. same 
time of her sister Hannah. 

Titus, the eldest of the surviving children, lived with an imcle at 
Cheshire six or seven years, studied medicine with Doct. Seth Bird, 
of Litchfield, settled in Bethlehem on the farm owned by his father, 
and resided there until 1805, then removed to Danbury, from whence 
he went to the state of New York in the fall of 1807. He m. in 1772, 
Lucy Parmelee, dau. of Jonathan Parmelee, of Chatham, by whom 
he had two ch., both of whom d. in infancy, and Mrs. Lucy in Nov., 
1776. In 1778, he m. Mrs. Olive Parmelee, widow of Abram Parm- 
elee, of Goshen, her mother being a descendant of the Strong family, of 
Northampton, Mass. By this second marriage, his ch. were, 

1. Laurens, b. June 6, 1779, m. Dorcas Ambler, of Bethlem, in 
1808, and had six sons and three daughters, of whom three sons and 
two daughters are now living; 2. Althea, b. Aug. 18, 1780, is now a 
widow, has six sons and a daughter ; 3. Charles, b. Jan. 4, 1782, be- 
came a physician, practiced his profession in Oneida co., N. Y., and 
d. there in 1833, leaving a son and three daughters, all m.; 4. Betsey 
M., Sept. 17, 1783, m. twice, and has one daughter now living ; 
5. Elias, b. April 3, 1786, has two ch., and now resides in Alabama ; 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 579 

6. Lucy Olive, b. Aug. 23, 1788, m. Oct. 17, 1807, Ezra Starr, of 
Danbury, and d. Aug. 25, 1813, leaving two daughters, both m., in 
Angelica, N. Y.; 7. Olive E., b. March 13, 1790, m. Col. Elijah 
Morse, of Eaton, had two sons and a daughter. She d. in 1834; 8. 
Andrew C, b. Oct. 28, 1792, m., 1818, Betsey Morse, of Eaton, had 
six sons and five daughters ; 9. Leverett, b. Dec. 3, 1796 ; m. 1. 
Julia Scovill, of Salisbury, Conn., in 1827. She d. Dec. 29, 1828. 
2. Sarah Lord, of Rome, N. Y., who is now a widow, with three sons 
and two daughters. Mr. Hull d. Sept. 3, 1852; 9. Rufus Lewis, d. 
in childhood. 



HOTCHKISS FAMILY. 

David Hotchkiss settled in Woodbury about 1740. He m. Sub- 
mit, dau. of Lsaac Hill, Nov. 10, 1748. She d. March, 1756. Their 
ch. were, 1. Sibil, b. May 29, 1749, m. Simeon Taylor in 1773 ; 2.- 

David, bap. Jan. 20, 1751 ; 3. Huldah, b. April 16, 1752, m. 

Yale ; 4. Eliza, b. Feb. 3, 1754, m. 1. Jesse Munger, 2. ■ Hine ; 

5. Reuben, b. March 8, 1756, m. Thankful Minor in 1783, d. June 
27, 1834, and his widow d. May 4, 1842. Issue as follows : 

1. Jerusha, b. April 25, 1784, d. June 1, same year; 2. Jerusha, 
b. June 20, 1785, ra. Judson Morris in 1813 ; 3. Josiah, b. Nov. 4, 
1787 ; 4. Harvey, b. Feb. 13, 1790, d. Sept. 15, 1793 ; 5. Betsey, b. 
July 16, 1792, d. Nov. 8, 1822; 6. Reuben Harvey, b. June 11, 
1794 ; 7. David, b. Nov. 5, 1796; 8. Gervase, b. July 2, 1801 ; 9. 
Ruth, b. Dec. 16, 1803, d. Oct. 24, 1820. 

Josiah, son of Reuben, m. Betsey BrothweU, Oct. 19, 1809, and 
had, 1. Jennette D., b. March 28, 1811, m. James Judson, Jun., July 
1, 1833 ; 2. Margaret L., b. Dec.|7, 1816, m. John N. Sherman, July, 
1838; 3. WiUiam B., b. Nov. 2, 1819, m. ^iebecca Crafts, June 6, 
1843, and his ch. are Lydia T. C, b. July 3, 1846; William Josiah, 
b. Jan. 6, 1850; Chauncey Crafts, b. Oct. 28, 1852. 

Reuben H., m. 1. Sally Root, Dec. 13, 1820. She d. July 19, 
1835 ; 2. Elizabeth M. Comstock, Oct. 26, 1836. His ch. are, 1. 
Ruth Elizabeth, b. Oct. 1, 1821, m. Monroe C. Sherman, May 9, 
1849 ; 2. Arvesta A., b. April 5, 1829, m. John Woodward, Sept. 15, 
1853 ; 8. Sallie R., b. July 16, 1835. 

David, m. Rachel Norton, Feb. 12, 1824, who d. Jan. 17, 1851. 
He m. 2. Julia M. Howard, March 25, 1852. Ch., Elizabeth, b.' 



580 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

April 12, 1825, d. Dec. 22, same year ; Ralph N., b. May 29, 1826, 
d. Nov. 23, 1826. 

Gervase, m. Sarah Cogswell, April 25, 1848. Their children are, 
Mary T., b. March 11, 1849 ; Sary A., b. Aug. 1, 1850 ; Julia H., b. 
Jan. 24, 1852. 



HURL BUT FAMILY. 

The Hurlbut family in Connecticut commences with Thomas Hurl- 
but, who was one of" the garrison at Saybrook fort in 1636, and set- 
tled at Wetherstield about 1640. Thomas and Joseph, the first of 
the name in Woodbury, were probably his descendants, and appear 
in the list of its inhabitants about the year 1680. 

The ch. of Thomas were, 1. Jemima, bap. Aug., 1680 ; 2. Jerusha, 
bap. April, 1681-2; 3. Thomas, bap. Dec, 1684; 4. Gideon, bap. 
Aug., 1688. This is all that the records show of this family. Whether 
they emigrated from here, or what became of them, is at present un- 
known. 

Joseph's wife Mary d. Feb. 2, 1712. His ch. wci-e, Joseph, John, 
Sarah, (adults,) bap. Aug., 1697 ; also, Cornelius, Jonathan, Rebecca, 
(adults,) bap. March, 1705 ; Mary, bap. April, 1705, m. .Josiah Mi- 
nor, July 6, 1715 ; Phebe, bap. April, 1705, m. Josiah Walker, Dec. 
24, 1719. 

Joseph, Jr., m. Mary Castle, May 17, 1698, and d. 1729. His ch. 
were, 

L Joseph, bap. April, 1699, d. young. II. Joshua, who m. Com- 
fort , and d. Aug. 22, 1 742, " by the supposed bite of a serpent." 

Ch., 1. Daniel, bap. July 11, 1725, m. and had Truman, bap. April 
n, 1750 ; Wait, bap. March 29, 1752 ; Philo, bap. March 24, 1754 ; 
Daniel, bap. Sept. 24, 1758 ; 2. Rebecca, bap. Oct., 1726 ; 3. Ann, 
bap. June 9, 1728 ; 4. Esther, bap. Oct. 4, 1730, m. Daniel Hurd, 
1749 ; 5 ..lerusha, bap. June 24, 1733 ; 6. Joshua, bap. Feb. 6, 1737 ; 
7. Elijah, bap. Oct. 8, 1738, m. Sarah Rogers in 1761, and had 
Phebe, bap. July 8, 1764 ; 8. Prudence, bap. Nov. 29, 1741. IIL 
Joseph, bap. 1704, d. 1775, leaving a wife. Thankful, and ch., 1. 
Martha, bap. June 4, 1738; 2. Joseph ; 3. Mercy, who m. Gil- 
bert; 4. Rachel, dcc'd, wife of Ingerhara. IV. Mary, b. Sept. 16, 

1706, m. Scott. V. Elizabeth, bap. Sept., 1709, m. Ebenezer 

Warner, 1729. VI. Hellenah, b. May 7, 1712. VII. Moses, b. 
Aug. 26, 1714, d. 1763, had a wife, Rebecca, and ch., 1. Adam, bap. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 581 

Oct. 24, 1736, m. Benedict, and had 1. Augustine, bap. Dec. 

18, 1763 ; 2. Mabel, bap. Oct. 8, 1738, m. ^Elijah Benedict, 1763 ; 
3. Israel, bap. May 18, 1740, and by his wife Jerusha, had Avis, b. 
Nov. 11, 1762; Curtis, b. May 2, 1764; Israel, b. Jan. 31, 1766; 
Jerusha, b. Jan. 5, 1768; 4. Rebecca, bap. Oct. 4, 1745, m. Josiah 
Bronson, 1767; 5. Deborah, bap. June 21, 1747, d. young; 6. Deb- 
orah, bap. April 19, 1752 ; 7. Moses ; 8. Abraham. VIII. Pru- 
dence, bap. Dec. 1, 1716. IX. Aaron, bap. April, 1719, d. 1791 ; 
his wife d. 1790. Ch., 1. Elizabeth, bap. Nov. 29, 1739 ; 2. Jemima, 
bap. April 20, 1744, d. young ; 3. Joshua, bap. Nov. 9, 1745 ; 4. 
Jemima, bap. April 30, 1749 ; 5. Aaron, bap. June 14, 1752, m. and 
d. before 1811, as his widow d. that year; 6. Abigail, bap. Sept. 4, 
1757, m. Eli Stoddard, Dec. 24, 1772. X. Caleb, bap. July 8, 1722, 
m. Mary Bartholomew, 1743. XL Benjamin, b. Nov., 1724, m. 
Ruth Hurlbut, 1758. 

John, second son of Joseph, rn. Mercy , who d. March 6, 

1717 ; he d. Sept. 27, 1737. Ch., I. Patience, b. Sept. 20, 1705. 
II. Nathan, b. Oct. 24, 1707, m. Sarah Castle, April 13, 1730, and 
had, 1. Nathan, b. Feb., 1733; 2. John, bap. 1735; 3. Isaac, bap. 
Nov. 10, 1740; 4. Achsah, bap. Oct. 1, 1743; 5. Ilepsabah, bap. 
April 6, 1746, d. 1747. III. Salmon, b. May 19, 1710, and had, 1. 
Tabiatha, b. Nov., 1732, m. Seth Castle, 1752; 2. Salmon, b. Oct., 
1734, m. Ann Everett, 1758; 3. Samuel, bap. May 15, 1737; 4. 

Mercy, bap. Feb. 15, 1740, m. Isbel, 1760; 5. Phebe, bap. 

June 20, 1742. IV. Experience, b. Aug. 12, 1712, d. young. V. 
Experience, b. Dec. 31, 1713. VI. Mercy, b. Aug. 26, 1716. 

Cornelius, third son of Joseph, d. 1751 ; had issue by his wife Sa- 
rah, as follows : I. Gamaliel, b. Dec. 20, 1714. II. Mercy, bap. 
April, 1717; III. Keziah, bap. March 8, 1719. IV. David, b. 
March 10, 1721, m. Hannah Sanford, June 27, 1745, and had, 1. Sol- 
omon, b. March 21, 1750; 2. Hannah, bap. Sept. 15, 1754; 3. Ma- 
bel, bap. May 15, 1757; 4. David, bap. March 15, 1761. V. Han- 
nah, b. July 15, 1723, d. June 6, 1752. VI. Noah, bap. June 7, 
1730. VII. Timothy, b. Feb. 13, 1731. VIII. Sarah, bap. Sept. 
5, 1733. IX. Ruth, bap. June 15, 1735. 

Jonathan, fourth son of Joseph, d. 1767, and his wife Mary, Dec. 

20, 1727. Hem. 2. Mary , Dec. 11, 1728. Ch., I. Eunice, b. 

Oct. 24, 1713. II. Consider, b. July 14, 1716, m. Patience Hawley, 
March 25, 1742, and had, 1. Desire, b. May 20, 1743 ; 2. Lucy, 
bap. Aug. 11, 1746, d. 1750 ; 3. Annis, bap. July 5, 1747, m. Daniel 
Nichols, 1767 ; 4. Lucy, bap. Jan. 17, 1753 ; 5. Zadoc, bap. Aug. 



582 HISTORT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

2, 1755 ; 6. Asahel, bap. July 24, 1757 ; 7. Abel, bap. Sept. 23, 
1759; 8. Consider H., bap. Nov. 19, 1764, d. 1792; 9. Orphana, 
bap. Dec, 1766. III. Gideon, bap. March 8, 1719, m. Emblem 
Garlick, June 23, 1742, and had, 1. Gideon, b. April 5, 1744, m, 
Elizabeth Judson in 1767, and had Daniel, b. July 19, 1768 ; Eliza- 
beth, b. Feb. 28, 1773 ; a son b. Aug. 15, 1774 ; Gideon, b. April 

16, 1776. IV. Jonathan, bap. May 23, 1722, d. young. V. Eben- 
ezer, bap. May 23, 1722, m. Comfort Baker, Aug. 8, 1765. Ch., 1. 
Ebenezer, b. April 25, 1767, m. Philena Bates, 1792 ; 2. Jesse, b. 
March 20, 1769. VI. Zadoc, b. Feb., 1726. VII. Amos,b. Jan. 1, 
1730, and by his wife Ann, had, 1. Prudence, b. April 11, 1761, d. 
1764 ; 2. Joel, bap. Aug. 21, 1763 ; 3. Prudence, bap. Nov. 2, 1766 ; 
4. Eunice, bap. Oct. 1, 1769. VIII. Eunice, b. June 23, 1731. IX. 
Jonathan, b. April, 1733, m. Ann Hurlbut, Nov. 18, 1761, and had, 
1. Lydia Ann, bap. Dec. 29, 1765; 2. Mary, b. July 29, 1767; 3. 
Deborah, b. April 18, 1770 ; 4. Jonathan, b. Aug. 9, 1773. X. Mary, 
b. May 13, 1737, m. Eliada Pettit, 1767. XL Thomas, bap. May 
13, 1739. XII. Eobert, b. Sept. 4, 1744, m. Tamer Hurd, 1776, d. 
1784. 

The following, for want of record, are disconnected from the main 
family. 

Nathaniel Hurlbut m. 1. Patience Jenners, Oct. 19, 1708; 2. 
Mary . Ch., 1. Hannah, b. Aug. 20, 1709 ; 2. Lydia, b. Feb. 

17, 1712 ; 3. Experience, b. Sept. 20, 1714; 4. Timothy, b. July 2, 
1716; 5. Sarah, b. July 4, 1719, d. June 3, 1727 ; 6. Nathaniel, bap. 
Nov. 17, 1728 ; 7. Sarah, bap. March 26, 1732 : 8. Merriam, bap. 
July 21, 1734 ; 9. Reuben, bap. Oct. 10, 1736 ; 10. Zacheus, bap. 
July 22, 1739 ; 11. Ebenezer, bap. July 12, 1741 ; 12. Mary, bap. 
Oct. 1, 1743 ; 13. Thaddeus, bap. Sept. 21, 1746. 

Nathaniel Hurlbut d. 1819, and his widow d. Jan. 14, 1821. Ch., 
Joel, bap. April 7, 1754 : Hannah, bap. July 18, 1756. 

Samuel Hurlbut had Gideon, bap. March 24, 1719. 

Gideon, and wife Olive, had Squire, b. April 21, 1759 ; Olive, b. 
Oct. 15, 1768. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 583 



HOLLISTER. 




Ar. a lion ramp. gu. ; on a fesse vert, a salmon naiant of the first. 
Motto — Per mare, per terras. 

The Macalister arms are given. 

The name Hollister is derived, it is believed, from the early Scotch 
family name, Macalister. By successive changes and corruptions, it 
has, in New England, been reduced to its present mode of spelling. 
The name Macalister, is itself derived from Alexander, eldest son of 
Angus Mor, of the Isles. It is made up of Mac, ^. e., son of, and Al- 
ester, ^. e., Alexander. The present representatives of the family 
live in Loup and Kennox, Scotland. Successive derivatives, or 
modes of spelling, as Aulister, Collister, OUister, and finally Hollis- 
ter, by the introduction of the English aspirate, are found. 

The first of the name in this country was John Hollister, probably 
from AYeymouth, England, who emigi-ated hither about the year 
1642, and was admitted a freeman at the General Court in Bos- 
ton, May 10, 1643. He removed, not long afterward, to Wethers- 
field, Conn., and was sent from this town as deputy to the General 
Court at Hartford, Nov. 15, 1644, also in 1654 and 1656. He was 
frequently a juror, and was a lieutenant in the militia. He differed 
in sentiment from his pastor, Mr. Russell, and in consequence of the 
controversy which arose in relation to it, he was excommunicated. 

After the death of the leading ministers of the first generation, 
which settled the colony, great dissensions arose in the churches at 
Hartford and other places, in regard to church membership, disci- 
pline, and baptism. A part of the church at Wethersfield, interested 
themselves in the dispute at Hartford, and became much divided and 
contentious. What the precise nature of the controversy was, Cotton 
Mather says it was difficult, even at that time, to tell ; and Trumbull, 
in his History of Connecticut, bears testimony to the same fact. It 
was supposed to involve some vital point of Congregationalism, Eev. 



584 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

Mr. Stone, of Hartford, taking the Presbyterian, and his ruling elder, 
Mr. Goodwin, the Independent view of the subject. Mr. Russell, 
so far as we can judge from his practice, seems to have held substan- 
tially the views of Mr. Stone ; for in keeping with Mr. Stone's defini- 
tion of Congregationalism — " A speaking aristocracy in the face of a 
silent democracy" — Mr. Russell proceeded to excommunicate Lieut. 
Hollister, in 1656, from his church, privately as would seem, or at 
least without the usual notice and trial, and afterward refused to give 
the reasons for this act, or a copy of the charges, when demanded by 
Mr. Hollister. Lieut. Hollister brought the matter before the Gen- 
eral Court, of which he was a member, and obtained an order that 
Mr. Russell should give the reasons which dictated the course he had 
pursued. No record of the reasons, nor of any action upon them, is 
known to exist. ^Ir. Hollister and nine other members of the church 
in Wethersfield, had preferred a petition to the General Court, in 
Aug., 1658, charging Mr. Russell, in some matter in which he had 
been called to testify, with having taken " a grevious oath, acknowl- 
edged by himselfe to bee ambiguous, rash and sinfull — and what more 
may be made evident," urging that they *'■ are afrayd to venture 
[their] soules under his ministry," asking that they "may use their 
liberty" in procuring another minister, " faithfull in the administra- 
tions of the Gospell and unoffencieue in his conversation."' At the 
next session of the General Court, in March of the next year, Lieut. 
Hollister procured the order before referred to.- From this and from 
various otiier facts, it seems reasonable to infer that he was excom- 
municated, not for any defect of moral or religious character, but in 
consequence of this controversy. The court did not grant liberty to 
get another minister, but censured Mr. Russell for carelessness, advi- 
sed him to speak more plainly in future, and that " both parties should 
walk lovingly together." After granting the order before referred 
to, censui-ing Mr. Russell for his course in the excommunication, and 
recommending the " issuing of their sad differences," no further refer- 
ence to the matter anywhere appears. As Mr. Russell removed to 
Hadley, Mass., in 1659, a year later, with his friends, it is probable 
that this ended the controversy.'' He Avas a leading man in his town 
and in the colony. He had two brothers, Joseph and Thomas, who 



1 Trumbull's Col. Rec, p. 319. 

2 Trumbull's Col. Rec, p. 330. 

3 For many of the facts in this sketch I am indebted to Rev. Dl". A. B, Chapin, and 
Charles Hollister, Esq., of South Glastenbury. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 585 

also settled in Wethersfield. The former was also a leading man in 
the town ; was a juror in 1G44, and deputy for several sessions to the 
General Court, and held many otHees of trust. We have no account 
of Thomas. Lieut. John died in 1()G5. 

The descendants of the first John Hollister are numerous, widely 
scattered, and bear a great diversity of names. Among them are Dr. 
Avery J. Skilton, of Troy, a descendant of Elizabeth, daughter of 
John Hollister, Jr., who m. Dr. Steele, of Kensington, and had Elijah 
Steele, of Watertown, who had Chloe, that m. James Skilton, father 
of Dr. Avery J. Skilton. A large number of this lineage have been 
educated and prominent men, and filled the learned professions with 
honor. No less than twenty-two of this name were soldiers of the 
Revolution from the single town of Glastenbury. 

John, Sen.,' made his will, Jan. 1, 1005, and it was presented for 
probate, April 3, of the same year. Children, 
I I. John,"b. 1G42; d. 1711. 

3 II. Stephen,- m. Abigail ; d. 1709. 

4 III. Tliomas," m. Elizabeth Latimer; d. 1701. 

5 IV. Joseph,^ d. unmarried, 1G74. 

6 V. Lazarus,- d. 1709. 

7 VL INIary.- 

8 VII. Sarah,- m. 1. Rev. Hope Atherton, Hatfield, 1G74; 2. 
Timothy Baker, 1G78 or '9. 

Jolui, Jun.,- (2) m. Sarah, daughter of Wm. Goodrich, Jun., 
in 1GG7. Children, 

9 L John,'b. 1GG9; ra. Abia , 1093 ; d. 1741. 

!g IL Thomas,' b. 1672; d. 1741 ; m. Dorothy . 

11 III Joseph,' b. 1674; m. Ann , Nov. 27, 1G94. 

12 IV. Sarah,' b. 167G; m. Benjamin Talcott, 1G98; d. 1715. 

13 V. Elizabeth,' b. 1G78; m. Dr. Joseph Steele, 1715 

14 VL David,' b. 1681 ; d. 1753. 

15 VII. i:phraim,' b. 16C4; m. Elizabeth Greene, 1707. 

16 VIII. Charles,' b. 1G86. 

Thomas3 (10) m. Dorothy, daughter of Joseph Hill, 1695. 
Children, 

17 I. Josiali,^ 1). June 7, 1G9G ; m. Martha, daughter ofWm. Mil- 
ler, Jan. 2<S, 1718. 

18 II. Dorotliy," b. Oct. 17, 1697; m. Abraham Fox, Jan. 3, 
1717. 

i? IIL Gideon," b. Sept. 23, 1699. 
40 



586 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

20 IV. Charles," b. July 2G, 1701 ; ra. rnidence, daughter of 
John Francis, April 5, 1729. 

21 V. Elizabeth/ b. Dec. 17, 1703 ; m. William Miller, Oct. 14, 
1712. 

22 VI. Hannah," b. Dec. 26, 1705; d. Oct., 1712. 

23 VII. Thomas," b. Jan. 13, 1707. 

21 VIII. Ruth," b. Oct. 13, 1710 ; m. Nehemiah Smith. 

25 IX. Rachel," b. July 27, 1712 ; m. Joshua Talcott. 

26 X. Hannah," b. Feb. 16, 1714, m. Wm. House. 

27 VI. Elisha." 

Gideon," (19) b. Sept. 23, 1G99, m. Rebecca Sherman, March 28, 
1823, dau. of Jonathan Sherman, son of Joseph, who was the son of 
Capt. John of Watertown, Mass., the latter being the cousin of Rev. 
John Sherman of the same place. This Rebecca was first cousin of 
Roger Sherman, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Gid- 
eon Hollister was drowned in a river in Stratford, May 10, 1725, 
before the birth of his second child. His widow removed to Wood- 
bury, and m. Isaac Judson, Nov. 22, 1731. Children, 

28 I. Sarah,5 ^y, j^ov. 10, 1723, m. Elijah Judson, April 28,1740. 
:j 11. Gideon,^ b. Sept. 21, 1725. 

Capt Gideon^ (29) m. 1. Esther Preston, Dec. 3, 1750, who 
d. Sept. 14, 1751, nine days after the birth of her son Pres- 
ton ; m. 2. Patience Hurd, Dec. 6, 1759. He d. Dec. 30, 
1812, aged 87. His wid. d. Jan. 15, 1822, aged 81. 
80 I. Preston," b. Sept. 5, 1751 ; m. Patience Mitchell, March 2. 
1775 ; was killed in Canada, in an expedition at the commencement 
of the Revolution. Children, 
^i II. Gideon," b. Jan. 13, 1701. 

32 III. Anne,« b. July 13, 1776; m. Sam'l Eakcr, Nov. 2, 1781. 

33 IV. Abner," b. Jan. 16, 1769; m. Miriam Ward. She .1. 
April, 1817, aged 47. 

34 V. Esther," bap. May, 1770; m. Elijah Ilazen, Jan. 25, 1781. 

^ VI. Preston Sherman," ) , t^ i 1 1 i — o 

36 T7TT CI -o . -bap. heb. 11, lw8. 
.to Vll. Sherman Preston,'' j * ' 

Gideon" (31) m. Currcncc Ilioock, Nov. 28, 1782. He d. 

Jan. 2, 1835, aged 74. She d. May 1, 1845, aged 80. Cli., 

37 I. Marilla,' b. July 4, 1784 ; m. Andrew Hine, Esq., IMay V.\ 
1803. 

^ II. Gideon,^ b. Feb. 2, 1792. 
% HI. Truman,'' b. Dec. 5, 1803. 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 587 

Dea. Preston Sherman'' (35) m. Lois Ford, Dec. 27, 1803. 
He d. June 10, 1850, aged 72. 

40 I. Mar J Ann Esther, bap. 1818 ; m. Merit Beach, Nov. 6, 
1844. 

Sherman Preston" (3G) m. Sally Ford, Nov. 29, 1798. She 
d. Jan. 11, 1850, aged 72. Children, 

41 I. Laura M.,'' bap. 1803 ; m. Joseph C. Calhoun, May 15, 1827. 

42 IL Clarissa,'' bap. Jan. 2, 180G; m. Asahel Ilollister, Dec. 4, 
1817. 

43 IIL Preston S.,^ bap. 1809. ^ 

44 ly. Samuel Ford,'' bap. June, 1813. 

45 V. Austin,'' bap. 1816. 

Gideon'' (38) m. 1. Harriet Jackson, Nov. 1815. She was 
b. Dec. 18, 1795, d. Nov. 30, 1844; m. 2. wid. Lydia J. 
Minor, Nov. 4, 1846. Children, 
\l Gideon Hiram," b. Dec. 14, 1817. 

47 Laura Marilla,'' b. Jan. 2, 1822 ; m. George Drakely, Nov., 1844. 
1,^ David F.," b. March 31, 1826. 

Truman^ (39) m. Jeanette Smith, Jan. 4, 1827. Children, 

49 Burr," bap. 1838 ; Seth,' bap. 1835 ; Sophia'^ and Lora.' 

Sherman Hollister, also, had 4 children ; Franklin, George, 
Abigail L. and Zeruiah, bap. 1832 ; Hubert and Lewis, 
bap., 1843; Preston Ilollister, has had, Sarah Irene, bap. 
1834 ; Fitz Greene, bap. 1837 ; Walter, bap. Nov. 1, 1839, 
d. June 19, 1843 ; Clarence, bap. Nov. 4, 1842, and Arthur, 
bap. 1847. 

Gideon Hiram, '^ (40) alawyer residing at Litchfield, ni. IMary 
S. Brisbane of Charleston, S. C, June 3, 1847. She was 
b. at Charleston, June 14, 1828. Child, 

50 Abbot Brisbane,^ b. Aug. 5, 1850. 

David F," (48) a lawyer residing at Salisbury, Conn., m. 
Mary E. Jackson, Sept. 23, 1852. She was b. May 2, 
1830. Child, 

51 Harriet Lydia," b. Aug. 13, 1853. 



JUDSON FAMILY. 

William Judson' came from Yorkshire, England, in 1634, with his 
family. He brought with him three sons, viz. (2) Joseph," (3) Jere- 
miah,^ and (4) Josliua. He lived four years at Concord, Mass., and 



588 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

removed thence to Stratford, Conn., at its first settlement in 1639, 
where he resided upon the south-west corner of a hill, called " Meet- 
ing House Hill." He did not reside there long, but went to New 
Haven, where he died in 1660. He probably had a daughter living 
there. 

Lt. Joseph,^ (2) eldest son of William, was fifteen years of age 
when his father came to New England. He lived with him at Con- 
cord, Mass., four years, removed thence to Stratford, Conn., married 
in 1644, in his 25th year, Sarah, dau. of John Porter of Windsor, 
she being 18 years of age. He was a leading man in the early days 
of the colony, being frequently called to sustain the duties of public 
office. He d. Oct. 9, 1690, and was buried in Stratford. His wid- 
ow d. March 16, 1696. Children, 

5 I. Sarah,3 b. March 2, 1645; m. Edward Ilowel of South 
Hampton, L. I., in 1604. 

I3 II. John,^ b. Dec. 2, 1647 ; d. Jan. 12, 1709, aged 62. 

7 III. James,^ b. April 24, 1650 ; m. Rebecca Wells of Stratford. 

8 IV. Grace,^ b. Feb. 19, 1651 ; m. Samuel Prudden of Milford. 

9 V. Joseph,=^ b. March 10, 1654; d. Feb., 1678. 

10 VI. Hannah," b. Dec. 13, 1657; m. Samuel Wadsworth of 
Farmington. 

11 VII. Joshua,3.b. Dec. 3, 1658. 

12 VIII. Esther,^ b. Aug. 20, 1660; m. Benjamin Curtis3 of 
Stratford. 

13 IX. Joshua," b. Oct. 27, 1664. 

14 X. Ruth," b. Oct. 27, 1664; m. Samuel Wells of Hartford. 

15 XL Phebe," b. Oct. 29, 1666; d. Nov. 1, 1676. 

16 XII. Abigail," b. Sept. 15, 1669 ; m. Josiah Curtiss of Stratford, 
and d. Nov. 21, 1697. 

Sergt. Jeremiah^ (3) m. 1. ; m. 2. wid. Catherine 

Fairchild, Nov. 8, 1675. Children by 1st marriage, 

17 I. Isaac," b. March 18, 1653. 

18 II. Mary," b. Dec. 31, 1655. 

19 III. Elizabeth," b. Feb. 24, 1658. 

20 IV. Sarah," b. April 7, 1662. 

21 V. Martha," b. June 15, 1665. 

22 VI. Jeremiah," b. March 1, 1670. 

Joshua^ (4) lived in Stratford. Child, 

23 I. Samuel," b. Aug. 27, 1660. 

John" (6) was one of the original signers of the "'Funda- 
mental Articles," for the settlement of Woodbury, in 1672, 



"7 

HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 589 

and went thitlier in the first company. He m. Elizabeth 
Chapman of Stamford, March 12, 1073-4. He m. 2. Han- 
nah , who d. July 23, 1698; m. 3. Mrs. Mary Orton 

of Farmington, July 5, 1699. He d. Jan. 12, 1709-10. 
Children, 

U I. John,^ b. March 12, 1675. 

25 II. Joshua,^ b. July 23, 1677. 

II III. Joseph,^ b. Oct. 24, 1679. 

27 IV. Chapman," bap. Dec, 1681 ; d. May 8, 1700. 

28 V. Jonathan," bap. Dec, 1682. 
f, VI. Jonathan," bap. Dec, 1684. 

30 VII. Martha," bap. Dec, 1686; m. Hon. William Preston, 
June, 1705. 

31 VIII. Eliphalet," bap. Feb., 1688-9, went to Stratford. 

32 IX. Ephraim," bap. Sept., 1694, went to Stratford. 
II X. Isaac," b. June 3, 1700. 

^, XI. Daniel," b: Feb. 6, 1701-2. 

35 XII. Mary,-" b. April 11, 1703-4; ra. Curtiss. 

Sergt. John, .Jr.," (24) ra. Sarah Beers of Fairfield, Sept. 28, 
1698. He d. April 6, 1722. Children, 

36 I. Sarah,= b. Sept. 10, 1099. 

37 II. Elizabeth,-^ bap. June, 1704; m. Timothy Minor, June 11, 
1729. 

38 III. Jeremiah,^ bap. Nov., 1705; d. young. 

39 IV. Mary,^ b. Feb. 16, 1708; m. Stephen Terrill, Dec. 9, 
1729. 

*1 V. John,' bap. May, 1714. 

Lt. Joseph," (26) b, in Stratford,- Oct. 24, 1679; m. Mary, 
dau. of Dea. Zechariah Walker. He d. March 22, 1758. 
Children, 

41 I. Joseph,^ b. Nov. 25, 1708 ; d. Aug. 20, 1712. 

42 11. Chapman,' b. Dec 31, 1710; d. Aug. 26, 1712. 

43 III. Mary,' b. April 19, 1713. 
« IV. Joseph,^ bap. Feb., 1715. 

45 V. Chapman,' b. Jan. 11, 1717. 

46 VI. Susanna,^ b. May 13, 1719 ; d. young. 

47 VII. Elizabeth,* b. March 4, 1721 ; m. Seth Preston ; d. Aug. 
16, 1814, aged 93. 

J^ VIII. David,' b. March 2, 1723. 
f, IX. Nathan,' b. Feb., 1725. 
f,", X. Samuel,' bap, Nov. 9, 1727. 



590 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

51 XL Susanna,^ bap. Oct. 11, 1730 ; m. Enos Mitchell, June 4, 
1750. 

;t XII. Joshua/ b. Dec. 14, 1732. 

Jonathan" (29) m. Mary, dau. of Dea. Matthew Mitchell, 
Aug. 22, 1711. She was bap. July 1G87. He d. May 16, 
1727, and she d. Feb. 9, 1743. Children, 

ff^ I. Elnathan,^ b. May 8, 1712. 

54 II. Abigail,^ b. Oct. 30, 1714; m. John Nichols, Nov. 6, 1735. 

fl III. Elijah,^ b. Dec. 15, 1716. 

56 IV. Martha,^ b. Oct., 1718; d. unm. 

,% V. Elisha,* b. July 12, 1721. 

ifi VI. Peter,^ b. Aug., 1723. 

59 VII. Jerusha,'* b. Nov., 1726; m. Joshua Gitteau. 

60 VIII. Jonathan,^ b. 1728. 

Isaac^ (33) m. Elizabeth Hawley, Nov. 29, 1727 ; who d. 
July 12, 1731, aged 25 ; m. 2. wid. Rebecca Hollister, Nov. 
22, 1731. He d. May 14, 1789. Children, 
■^fA I. James,^ bap. Oct. 20, 1728. 

62 II. Hannah,^ b. Feb. 24, 1730 ; m. Reuben Sherman, 
il III. Isaac,^ b. July 5, 1731. 

64 IV. Elizabeth,^ b. Sept. 13, 1732 ; m. Col. Samuel Canfieldof 
New Milford. 

fl, V. Benjamin,^ b. Feb. 17, 1735. 

66 VI. Timothy,'* b. April 22, 1737; m. Sarah Hooker, who was 
b. May 30, 1740, and d. July 26, 1815, aged 76. He went to Green- 
ville, Green co., N. Y. Ch., Noadiah, b. Oct. 18, 1763; William, 

b. May 23, 1770 ; Olive, b. Oct. 9. 1767, m. John ; Timothy, d. 

Sept. 10, 1821, aged 83. William m. a Miss Bushe, and had Ed- 
ward B., Russel, William, Sally, who m. a King, Esther, ra. Her- 

mance, and Mary Ann, who m. Hawley; Noadiah m. Clarinda 

Kirtland and had ch., Timothy, Charles, Sarah and Maryett, who 
m. Thomas Bebee. 

66.^ VII. Rebecca,^ m. Ilezekiah Thompson, Esq., Oct. 1, 1761. 

67 VIII. Olive,^ b. Sept. 2, 1745; m. Benjamin Bostwick of 
New Milford. 

Daniel* (34) m. Abigail . He d. Dec. 29, 1766. Ch., 

68 I. Gideon," b. July 31, 1734; d. April 8, 1745. 

69 II. Dorcas,'* b. Feb. 5, 1737; m. Beebe. 

70 III. Mary," b. May 5, 1739: rn. Allon. 

71 IV. Elisha,5 b. May 28, 1741 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUUT. 591 

72 V. David/ b. Oct. 3, 1744; m. Chloe Allen, Feb. 13, 1771, 
had a son Gideon, b. Aug. 8, 1771. 

73 VI. Elizabeth,^ b. May G, 1746 ; m. Ilurlbut. 

74 VII. Sarah,-' b. March 6, 1751 ; m. Thomas. 

John' (40) m. Sarah . He d. in 17G9. Children, 

75 I. Sarah," b. Feb. 18, 1741 ; m. Gideon Martin. 

76 II. Ann,'' bap. Dec. 5, 1742; m. James Minor, Dec. 12, 1776. 
iVs III. John," b. Oct. G, 174G. 

78 IV. Phebe,^ m. Noah Judson, son of Elnathan. 

79 V. Hannah,'"' b. July, 1750. 

80 VI. Susanna," b. March 13, 1753. 
,^\ VII. Seth," bap. June 15, 1755. 

Joseph^ (44) m. 1. Jerusha Sherman, Nov. 26, 1741; m. 2. 
Lydia, dau. of Doct. Zephaniah Hull, Nov. 22, 1769. Ch., 

82 I. Mary.« 

83 II. Susanna," bap. Sept. 2, 1750 ; m. Mitchell. 

84 III. Joseph," b. April 10, 1754 ; m. Perry. Ch., Samuel, 

Jerusha and Mary, who m. Reuben Mitchell. 

85 IV. Chapman," bap. May 29, 1757 ; m. Hunt. Ch., 

Sherman, Joseph, Chapman, Rufus and Thomas. Chapman m. and 
had William, Elizabeth, Anne and Hester. 

8G V. Zephaniah," b. Dec. 13, 1770. 

David^ (48) m. Patience Mitchell, Oct. 15, 1746, who d. Sept. 
10, 1749, m. 2. Abigail . He d. Dec. 29, 1766. Ch., 

87 I. Prudence," b. Feb. 29, 1748, m. Capt. Joseph Ilurd, Oct. 
15,1766. 

88 II. Patience," b. Aug. 26, 1749. 

89 III. Solomon," d. unm. in 1789. 
f,", IV. David," b. March 9, 1755. 

91 V. Abigail," b. March 24, 1757, m. Whittlesey. 

92 VI. Daniel." 

93 VII. Charlotte," m. Shelton. 

94 VIII. Mary," m. Doctor James Stoddard, son of Israel. 

95 IX. Esther, d. unm. 

Nathan^ (49) m. Damaris Sherman, July 10, 1745. He d. 
Oct. 11, 1803. Shed. Feb. 18, 1760. Hem. 2. Mary Or- 
ton, who d. Aug. 24, 1813, aged 72. 

96 I. Emm,s bap. Feb. 8, 1746, ra. Thomas Prentice. 

97 II. Elizabeth," bap. Jan. 20, 1748, m. Daniel Manvill. 

98 III. Esther," b. Jan. 21, 1750, m. Nathan Curtiss. 

99 IV. Damaris," b. June 27, 1752, m. Peter Gilchrist. 



-^. 



692 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

100 V. Jerusha," b. May 27, 1754, m. John Clark. 

101 VI. Mabel," b.July 31, 1756, d. Sept. 12, 1756. 

102 VII. Mabel," b. April 12, 1757, m. Stephen Galpin. 

103 VIII. Lucy,® b. Feb. 13, 1760, m. Bartimeus Fabrique, Dec. 
11,1783. 

104 IX. Sabra,« bap. July 15, 1764, m. Col. Electus Backus, of 
Greenville, N. Y. 

i»f X. Nathan Sherman," b. Nov. 1, 1765. 

106 XL Polly or Kcziah," bap. Feb. 14,1768, m. Basset: 

lived in Kettletown. 

107 XIL 01iver,«bap.Nov.l9, 1769. 

108 XIII. Samuel,") , . qa 1770 

109 XIV. Mary," | ^''^- "^"S- ^^^, ^^^'^^ „!. Solomon Stoddard. 

110 XV. Oliver,") , ^ -, ,-... m. Wid. Hunt, d. Jan. 1,1823. 

111 XVI. Sarah," \ ^^^' ^ec. 1, i ^ / 0, 

SamueP (50) m. Elizabeth Baker, Nov. 12, 1755, and had ch. 
Elizabeth, Sarah, who m. Jeremiah Thomas, June 24, 1772, 
Susan, Mary and Uriel. The latter had sons, Benjamin, 
Henry, Samuel and Noah. 

Joshua'' (52) m. Ann Walker ; m. 2, Deborah Leavenworth, 
He d. in 1776. His wife survived him, m. Capt. James 
Judson, and had two childi'en, Isaac E. and Betsey. Ch.. 

112 L Joshua.* 

113 II. Mary." 

114 III. Deborah Ann,"b. May 4, 1766, ra. Phineas Smith, Esq., 
of Eoxbury, and became mother of Hon. Truman Smith and others. 

115 IV. Joshua," b. Nov. 2, 1772, removed to A-^ermont, had ch.. 
Sheldon, Nathan, Edward, Harriet, Charlotte and Caroline. 

116 V. Ruth," b. April 2, 1775, m. Nathan, son of Capt. Nathan 
Stoddard. 

Capt. Elnathan^ (58) m. Rebecca, dau. of Ephraim and Re- 
becca Minor, and grand-dau. of Capt. John Minor, first set- 
tler of Woodbury, and Indian interpreter. She was b. Jan. 
30, 1712. Capt. Elnathand. Dec. 14, 1796, aged 84 years. 
Children, 

{Jl L Rev. Ephraim," b. Dec. 5, 1737. 

1^8 II. Thaddeus," bap. Oct. 14, 1739. 

119 HI. Mary," bap. Oct. 18, 1741, m. Edward Pond, Nov. 7, 
.1765. 

120 IV. Lt. Noah," bap. July 15, 1744, m. Phebe Judson, had 
one child, Sarah, bap. Sept. 23, 1792. He d. Nov. 22, 1827 ; his 
wife d. Dec. 28, 1799. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AV O O D B U U Y . 59o 

121 V. Elisha," bap. July 20, 174G. 

122 VI. Elisha," bap. Nov. 8, 1747. Had cliildren, Reuben and 
Ruth. 

\i VII. Rev. Adonirain,'' b. July lo, 1750. 

Elijah^ (55) m. Sarah Ilollister, April 28, 1740, who died 
Sept. 28, 17Gn. He d. Jan. 10, 1798. Children, 

124 I. Martha,^ b. July 27, 1741, m. Adam Ilurd, Nov. 17. 1775. 

125 II. Simeon,n)ap.July 17, 1743. 

12(3 III. Jonathan,'^ b. Oct. 20, 1745, had sons, John and William, 
and a daughter, Mary, who m. Peck Leavenworth. 
Jg^ IV. Gideon,« b. March 8, 1748. 

128 V. Chapman," bap. March 11, 1750. 

129 VI. Israel," b. Jan. 15, 1752, d. Jan. 18, 1785. 

130 VII. Reuben," bap. Dec. 21, 1755, d. Jan. 8, 1784. 
S VIII. Philo,« bap. Api-il 25, 175G. 

1.32 IX. Matthew," bap. Aug. G, 1758, m. Minor, d. leaving 

one child. 

133 X. Abigail," bap. March 1, 1759. 

134 XL Abel," b. Oct. 27, 17G1. He was killed at Bridgeport. 

135 XIL Isaiah," b. Oct. 24, 17G3, d. Aug. 24, 1796, unin. 
If, XIII. Hollister," b. Sept. 13, 17GG. 

Elisha' (57) had children, 
;^oI L Daniel." 

138 IL John." . ' 

139 III. David." 

140 IV. Elisha." 

141 V. Anna." 

Peter^ (58) lived in Farmington, had children, Elizabeth, 

Abia, Joshua and Ira. Abia m. Phineas Pond ; Elizabeth 

m. Sherman. 

Capt. James^ (Gl) m. 1. INIary Edwards, who d. Aug., 1778; 

m. 2. Deborah, the widow of Joshua Judson. She d. Dec. 

20, 1796 ; m. 3. Aim Nichols, who d. March 29, 1803. 

He d. March 12, 1807. Children, 

142 I. Sarah," b. Aug. G, 1752, m. Jeremiah Thomas, of Salisbury. 

143 II. Abigail," b. Feb. 18, 1754, m. Curtis Hurd, of Roxbury. 
}^, IlL Thomas," b. March 31, 1755. 

145 IV. Nehemiah,"b. Oct. 24, 1756, d. Oct. 11, 1757. 
If, V. Nehemiah," b. May 17, 1758. 
147 VL Abia," bap. April 18, 1762. 



594: II I S T O 11 V OV ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

148 VII. Abigail," b. April 13, 17G3, m. Capt. AYalker ; went to 
Vermont ; left children. 

il2 VIII. James," bap. Nov. 2"), 17G4. 

150 IX. Samuel,'' b. Dec. 8, 17G7, m. Judson, who d. Jan. 

26, 1831. 

151 X. Isaac Edward," bap. Sept. 16, 1781, unm. ; resides in Al- 
bany, N. Y. 

152 XI. Elizabeth," bap. Aug. 17, 1783, m. William Judson, 
since deceased. She resides with her brother, in Albany. 

Isaac^ (G3) m. Mary, dau. of Elisha Stoddard. He d. Dec. 7, 
1787. Children, 

153 1. Solomon,^ bap. Dec. 15,1751; went to Greenville, N. Y. 

154 11. Eunice,'' bap. Oct. G, 1754. 

155 HI. Elizabeth," bap. Sept. 12, 175G, m. Ira Smith. 

156 IV. Mehetable," bap. Jan. 21, 1759. 

157 V. Mary,« bap. Nov. 9, 1760, m. Noah Basset. 

158 VI. Sally ,« bap. Dec. 12, 1762, m. Ambrose Ilinc. 

159 VII. Abner," bap. April 14, 17G5 ; removed to Greenville, 
N. Y. 

160 VIII. Rebecca," bap. Dec. 13, 1767. 

161 IX. Agur, bap. Jan. 3, 1770. 

162 X. Matthew," bap. May 10, 1772 ; removed to Greenville. 

163 XI. Josiah." 

Benjamin* (65) m. 1. Mehctable ; m. 2. Anna Camp, 

May 4, 1763 ; m. 3. Lydia Murray, who d. Aug. 28, 1829, 
Hed. Sept. 11, 1811, aged 77. Children, 

164 I. Mchetable," b. May 22, 1762, m. Matthew Morris. 

165 II. Ann," b. March 14,1764, m. L. Bostwick, of Sharon, Ct, 

166 III. Lucy," b. Aug. 5, 1765, m. Gould Camp. 

167 IV. Rev. Samuel," b. Dec. 8, 1767, m. Sarah Bartlett,of Sa- 
lem, Mass. ; children, Bartlett, Elizabeth, Sarah, Samuel and Her- 
bert. Sarah m. Rev. Mr. Cole, of Maine. Herbert lives at Stafford 
Springs House. 

^? V. Benjamin," bap. Oct. 21, 1770. 
iTo VI. Asa,"b. June 21, 1774. 

John" (77) m. Martha Camp, of Milford, who d. June 10, 
1834, aged 93. He died in 1808, aged 62. Children, 
™ I. John.^ 

171 11. Phineas,' m. Lucy Judd, and d. April 20, 1805, aged 24; 
no issue. 



n I S T O K Y OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 595 

Seth'' (81) m. Mary Munn, ^vllO d. May 18, 1790. He d. 
Dec. 12, 1790. Children, 

172 I. Amos,' went to Erie county, Penn. 

173 II. Mary Ann." 

174 III. Seth," removed to P^rie county, Penn. 

175 IV. Timothy,^ removed to Erie county, Penn. 

176 V. Sarah,'' m. Lyman Parmelee, of Bethlem. 

177 VI. Ashbcl." 

Brigadier Gen. David' (90) m. a niece of the Rev. Thomas 
Davies. Children, 

178 I. Abigail,'^ m. Hermanns Marshall, brother of John P. 

179 II. David,' resides at Ogdcnsburg, N. Y. 

180 III. Daniel," resides at Ogdensburg, N. Y. 

181 IV. Charles A.,' m. Esther Mitchell ; had two daughters, both 
deceased ; resides at New Haven. 

Nathan Sherman" (105) m. 1. IIinman,and had a child 

that died young; m. 2. Elizabeth Preston, Feb. 28, 1801, 
who was b. Aug. 10, 1773. Mr. Judson d. Aug. 3, 1824, 
and his widow, Elizabeth, d. Feb. 22, 1841. Children, as 
follows, were b. in Woodbury. 

182 I. Cornelia," b. Dec. 26, 1801, d. Aug. 2G, 1805. 

183 II. Cornelius,'' b. April 4, 1808, d. July 10, 1826, at the Quar- 
antine Ground, Staten Island, N. Y., on his return from Alabama. 

184 III. Nathan William Hackaliah, b. Dec. 17, 1804, m. Eliza., 
eldest daughter of John Drury, of Rhinebeck, N. Y., Sept. 8, 1831. 
She was b. Sept. 14, 1807. Their children are, Jane Maria, b. Nov. 
19, 1834, and John Drury, b. Feb. 3, 1837. This family resides at 
Rhinebeck. 

Rev. Ephraim" (117) son of Capt. Elnathan, m. Chloe, only 
daughter of Rev. Samuel Ellis, of Somers, Conn., July 23, 
1771. He d. Feb. 23, 1813, aged 76. He was minister at 
Norwich, Conn., Taunton and Sheffield, Mass. ; was also 
chaplain in the Revolutionary army. He had an only 
child, Ephraim Ellis,'' b. in Norwich, Oct. 10, 1775, who 
graduated at Williams College, in 1797, m. Ellen Phelps, 
of Windsor, Feb. 9, 1803 ; practiced law in Sandisfield, 
Mass., and d. March 6, 1807, leaving two children, 1. 
Ephraim,** b. Aug. 11, 1804; i-esides at AVindsor, unm. ; 2. 
Catherine Ellis/ m. Barnes. 

Thaddeus" (118) m. Ada, daughter of Phineas Camp. Ch., 

185 I. Hannah,'' m. James Judson, andd. Jan. 26, 1831. 



596 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

186 II. Esther,^ (]. aged 28. 

187 III. Elihu.'' 

188 IV. Elnathan,'' bap. Oct. 20, 1780, d. aged 30, unm. 

189 V. Noah,^ bap. Oct. 20, 178G, graduated at AVilliams College, 
d. aged 22. 

190 VI. Tliaddcup,^ bap. Oct. 20, 178G, was a lawyer at Balti- 
more, Md., d. with small pox, aged 24. 

191 VII. Parmelia,^ bap. Oct. 20, 1786, m. Solomon Hurd, Sulli- 
van county, N. Y. 

Rev. Adoniram," (123) graduated at Yale College, m. Abigail 
Brown, of Tiverton, R. I., about 1784, when he was about forty years 
of age. After his son Adoniram became a Baptist, he also became 
one, and died in Scituate, Mass., Dec. 8, 1819. His children were : 
Adoniram, Elnathan, Mary and Abigail. The last Adoniram Avas 
the well known missionaiy in Burmah. He graduated at Brown 
University in 1807, and studied theology at Andover. He died 
April 12, 18r)0, on board the French bark L'Aristide, bound from 
Maulmain to the Isle of Bourbon. He was buried at sea, the eve- 
ning of the day of his death. His first wife was Ann Hasseltine ; 
second, Sarah Hall Boardman, widow of Rev. George Boardman, 
and his third, Emily E. Chubbuck, (Fanny Forester.) Children, by 
first, second and third wives, survive him, as does the last wife, who 
was not with him when he died, but remained at Maulmain. His 
sufferings in his last hours were very great, and among his last 
words were these : " Oh that I could die at once, and go immediately 
into paradise, Avhere there is no pain." Perhaps no man was ever 
favored with three more amiable, lovtly and intellectual wives in suc- 
cession, than Dr. Judson. The eldest daughter that survives him is 
Abby. 

His brother, Elnathan, was a physician, and settled in Baltimore, 
Md., where he died in 1829. He was, for a time, an infidel, but died 
a Christian. 

His sister, Mary, died young. 

Gideon? (127) d. June 25, 1821, aged 73. Children, 
^ I. Elijah.^ 
}^l II. Truman.^ 

194 III. Olive,' m. Ephraim Minor. 

195 IV. Clara,^ ra. Abel At wood. 

Philo" (131) m. Emm Minor, and d. Nov. 3, 1788. Ch., 

196 I. Joseph Robinson," b. 1778, m. Sally Pond, 1804. He d. 
in 1834, and his widow d. Aug. 19, 1839, aged 61. His ch. were, 1. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AVOODBURY. 597 

Burret, b. 1805, resides in Watcrbiiiy; 2. Parmella, ib. 1807, in. 
Henry Peck, is dec'd ; o. Laura, b. 1809, m. Silas Clark, Oct. 27, 
1836, and has Sarah P., b. 1888; William J., b. 1831 ; Edward S., 
b. 1847 ; 4. William S., b. 1811, resides in Ansonia, Conn ; Julia E., 
b. 1819, m. Henry Peck, and has children. 

197 ir. Betsey," bap. 1792. 

198 III. Rev. Philo,' bap. 1792 ; m. Currence, dau. of David Cur- 
tiss ; has eh., and now resides at Rocky Hill, Conn. 

199 IV. Ruth Ann, bap. 1792. 

Hollister'' (13G) m. Esther Orton. He d. .July 25, 1823, aged 
57. His widow died Dec. 18, 1849. Children, 

200 I Charles," b. Dec. IG, 1790. 

201 II. Esther Maria,'' b. March 26, 1795 ; m. John Leaven- 
worth. 

Daniel' (137) had, 

202 L Annie," bap. July 10, 1757. 

203 IL Esther,^ bap. March 29, 1761. 

204 IIL Levi,'' bap. Oct. 9, 1763. 

205 IV. Emm,'' b. Aug. 17, 1706. 

206 V. Ohve,'' b. Sept. 18, 1768. 

Thomas^ (144) m. 1. Mary Atwood, who d. Aug. 1, 1786, a. 
31; 2. Ehzabeth Judson. She d. March 9, 1832, a. 72. 
Hed. March 26, 1816. Ch. by first marriage, 

207 I. Rhoda,'' m. William Minor. 

208 IL Philo,'' lost at sea ; unmarried. 

209 III. Sylvester,'' m. widow Lois King. Ch., 1. Pierre, d. aged 
24. unm.; 2. Darwin, m. in N. Y. Ch., Mary, McEwin and James. 

Children by second marriage, 

210 IV. Elenry,^ died aged eleven months. 

211 V. Maria,'' m. Harvey Morris. 

212 VI. Henry ,^ m. Nancy Hard, of Bethlem ; had one child, 
Henrietta G., who m. Doct. G. II. Atwood. 

213 VII. Hannah," m. Marcus D. Peck. 

214 VIII. Elmore,' in. Olive Atwood, and d. 

215 IX. EHza E.,^ m. Charles Jones, of Litchfield. 
Nehemiah" (146) m. 1. Anah Burton. She d. March 10, 

1813 ; 2. ; 3. . He d. Sept. 25, 1847, aged 

90. Children. 
216. L Norman,'' b. Oct. 15, 1780 ; hves in SuUivan co., N. Y. 

217 II. Diana,'' b. Jan. 28, 1781 ; m. Dea. Moses Clark. 

218 III Burton,'' b. Feb., 1783; has a family. 



598 HISTORY OF AXCIENT WOODBURY. 

219 IV. Lauren,' b. Feb. 24, 1785; m. Sturtcvant ; d. Oct., 

1839. 

220 V. Truniaii,' b. April 2, 1787 ; m. Ilepsaba Lewis, and both 
d. in month of Sept., 1845, leaving children. 

221 VL Parthcna," b. Oct. 1, 1790; m. Abncr Juddon, of New- 
town. 

222 VII. James," b. June G, 1792; ni. Cables; resides in 

Augusta, N. Y. 

223 VIIL William,'' b. July 12, 1795; m. Joanna Erinsmade ; 
lives in Schoolcraft, Mich. 

224 IX. Vincent,^ b. Jan. 26, 1798 ; m. Sally Daily. 

James* (149) m. Hannah , who died Jan. 26, 1831. lie 

d. April 10, 1852. Children, 

225 I. Edward,'' b. 1801 ; m. Delial Abernethy ; resides in Kala- 
mazoo CO., Michigan. 

226 XL Noah," m. Ruth Porter, of Watertown, Conn. 

227 III. Elnathan,"' m.; lives in Richland ; has children. 

228 IV. Mary,'' m. in Richland, Mich., April 4, 1853, to Isaac 
Judson, of Cleveland, Ohio. 

229 V. James,'^ m. Jennette D., daughter of Josiah Ilotchkiss .; 
residence, Norwalk, Conn. 

230 VL Herbert,^ late Gen. in Texian army ; lives in Yalobusha 
CO., Miss. 

281 VII. A. Bradford,'' m. Smith, and now resides in INIich- 

awaka, Ind. 

Dea. Benjamin" (168) m. Esther, dau. of Dea. Scth Minor. 
He d. May, 1820, aged 50. Children, 
232 I. Isaac, '' bap. July 31, 1796 ; resides in Oberlin, Ohio, 
i? IL Rev. Albert,^ b. Sept. 28, 1798; author of the first S. S. 
Union Question Book, &c.; d. April 4, 1839, aged 42. 

234 IIL Lydia,^ b. Sept. 13, 1801; m. 1. David S. Minor; 2- 
Gideon IloUister. 

235 IV. Anna,' b. Oct. 9, 1803. 

23G V. Lucy,"' b. June 9, 1805 ; m. Augustus W. Curtiss. 

237 VL Achsa,'' b. Aug. 22, 1810; m. Rev. John W. Beechcr; 
resides in Vernon, N. Y. 

238 VIL Eunice,' b. May 31, 1812; m. II. M. Hart, of Cornwall, 
Conn. 

239 VIIL Rev. Gould Camp,' b. May 18, 1815 ; residence, Ber- 
lin, Ohio. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBCUY. TiDO 

240 IX. Benjamin,' b. Oct. '27, 1819 ; now of Wukcman, Ohio. 
Asa*' (lO'J) m. 1. Sally IMinov, who d. May 15, 1820, aged 

42; 2. Keziah Walker. He d. April 16, 1847, aged 
73. Children, 

241 I. Rev. Everton," h. 1700 ; d. in Milan, Ohio, Aug. 20, 1848. 
No issue. 

■ 242 II. Thalia,' bap. July 2, 1808 ; d. Nov. 28, 182G. First per- 
son buried in the North Oenietery. 

243 III. Hev. Benjamin Bartlett," b. Jan. 12, 1807 ; d. in Ohio, 
March 1, 1846, aged 39 ; no issue. 

244 IV. Samuel W.,' b. July 2, 1811 ; m. Almira Terrill, of New 
Milford ; d. Sept. 10, 1847 ; left a son Jeremiah, b. in 1838. 

245 V. Phebe,'' b. July 3, 1814 ; d. July 16, 1825. 

24G VI. Lorana,'' b. Sept. 3, 1816; m. B. H. Abbott; lives in 
Ohio. 

John'^ (1''*^) m. 1. Elizabeth, daughter of John Mitchell. She 
d. Dec. 16, 1805, aged '2G ; 2. Jerusha, daughter of Abijah 
Mitchell, March 4, 1807. She was b. Aug. 4, 1785; d. 
May 20, 1845. He d. Aug. 14, 1849, aged 71. 

247 I. Betsey Cornelia," b. April 0, 1808 ; m. Morgan Thomas, 
Feb. 27, 1828 ; d. May 2, 1834. She had Floretta E., b. Dec. 7, 
1828, d. in Michigan; Theodore, b. Dec. 16, 1830 ; Welton, b. Aug., 
1833, d. Oct., 1833. 

248 II. Antoinette," b. April 27, 1810; m. William Abernethy, 
May 5,1841. She d. Jan. 12, 1844, leaving a son, William J., b. 
Sept. 17, 1842. 

?i, III. Phineas Alonzo," b. Jan. 28, 1813. 

250 IV. John Abijah," b. Feb. 17, 1815 ; d. Aug. 22, 1839. 

251 V. Theodore," b. March 25, 1818 ; m. Julia M. Colton, March 
11,1852. 

252 VI. Martha Emm," b. May 4, 1822. 

253 VII. Franklin Mitchell," b. Oct. 23, 1827 ; m. Louisa M. Sax- 
ton, Sept. 14, 1852. 

Elijah'' (192.) Children, 

254 I. Herman," m. Olive Minor, who d. Sept. 30, 1846, aged 47. 

255 II. Charles," m. Charlotte Minor. Ch., Chai-les Gideon and 
Harriet E. 

256 III. George N.," m. Caroline Northrop. 

257 IV. Curtis,' m. Alma Hill. She died of small pox, Jan, II. 
1847, aged 29. 

258 V, Lucretia," m. John Nichols. 



000 nisTORr of ancient woodburt. 

Truman'^ {l'-)o) in. AVidow Olive "Wheeler, who d. June 11, 
1840, aged GO. lie d. Aug. G, 1830, aged 57. Ch., 

259 I. A son,^ who died young. 

260 11. Harriet." 

261 III. Nathan,'' m. Flora Ann Vining. 

262 IV. Truman,^ died young. 

263 V. Nancy,' m. Obadiah P. Northrop; d. Nov. 2, 1838, a. 29. 
2G4 VI. Truman,^ m. Sarah Patterson, of Roxbury. 

265 VII. Olive,' m. Robert Camp, ofMiddlebury. 

Rev. Albert,' (233) of Philadelphia, was b. Sept. 28, 1799; 
He ra. Mary, daughter of Oliver Burnham, Esq., of Corn- 
wall, Conn., Dec., 1829. Children, 

266 I. Oliver A., (M. D.,) b. Sept. 28, 1830; resides in Philadel- 
phia. 

267 II. William F., b. May 12, 1833. Graduated at the Univer- 
sity of Philadelphia, 1853. 

268 III. Sarah Emily, b. Nov. 25, 1838. 

Phincas Alonzo' (249) m. Laura S., daughter of Herman 
Stoddard, Oct. 18, 1837. Children, 

269 I. Ellen Antoinette,' b. July 21, 1838. 

270 II. John P>.,'' b. July 1, 1842. 



JOHNSON FAMILY 



Moses Johnson, of Stratford, had a son Moses, who was a signer 
of the original compact for the settlement of Woodbury, and came 
with the first company to the latter place. He d. Oct. 30, 1713, aged 
62, and Mary, his " aged widow," d. Dec. 31, 1747. His ch. were, 
1. Zerulah, bap. April, 1681; 2. Rebecca, bap. July, 1684, d. Jan, 
22,1710; 3. John, bap. April, 1685-6; 4. Sarah, bap. Aug., 1688, 
d. Jan. 22, 1710 ; 5. Mary, bap. April, 1690, ra. Francis Stiles, Sept. 
21, 1709; 0. Elizabeth, bap. Oct., 1691 ; 7. Moses, bap. May, 1693; 
8. Solomon, bap. Jan., 1694-5. 

Moses Johnson, son of Moses and Mary, m. Prudence Jcnner, July 
6, 1715. He d. 1760 ; his wife d. Sept. 22, 1780. Ch., 1. Rebec- 
ca, b. June 26, 1716, m. Samuel Wheeler ; 2. John, b. March 28, 
1719 ; 3. Asa, bap. Feb. 24, 1723 ; 4. Mary, b. Feb. 20, 1724 ; 5. 
Sarah, bnp, Oct. 30, 1726, m. Nathaniel Ilicock ; 6. Prudence, bap. 
Aug. 18, 1728; 7. Moses, bap. March 30, d. 1778, leaving wife, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 601 

Molly, and daughters Ann and Hannah. The last m. Simeon Mitch- 
ell in 1733. 

John Johnson, first son of Moses and Prudence, ni. Mary Judd, Jan. 
20, 1741. Ch., 1. Solomon, b. Feb. 21, 1743, m. Sarah Plum, 1774 ; 
2. Esther, b. Jan. 4, 1746 ; 3. Jerusha, bap. Nov. 30, 1748 ; 4. Emm, 
bap. Jan. 6, 1751, m. Jehiel Franklin, Nov. 23, 1770 ; 5. Mary, bap. 
Dec. 9, 1753, m. Ebenezer Finney, 1772 ; 6. John, b. Dec. 6, 1775, 
m. Love Downs, 1777 ; 7. Jehu, b. Dec. 14, 1757. 

Asa Johnson, second son of Moses and Prudence, m. Elizabeth 
Strong, Jan. 4, 1750 ; he d. Dec. 4, 1791. His children were, 

1. Justus, b. Nov. 8, 1750; m. Judith Blagg, 179G. 

2. Amos,b. Feb. 23, 1753 ; m. 1. Patience Hicock, May 10,1784, 
who d. 1793 ; 2. A. Curtiss, May 6, 1795 ; and had, 

1 William, b. Sept. 4, 1783, m. Anna Mitchel, Oct. IG, 180S. Ch., 1. Wil- 
liam, b. Nov. 6, 1809, d. April 8, 1810 : 2. William M., b. Aug. 9, ISll, went 
west; 3. Ann Maria, b. April 23, 1S14, m. Elisha Wheeler, April 13, 1836 ; 4. 
AmosMinot, b. Oct. 21, 1816; 5. William Legrand, b. Jan. 31, 1S19. 2. Eliz- 
abeth, b. May 5^1787. 3. Sarah, b. Feb. IS, 1790. 4. Patience, b. Jan. 24, 
1793. 5. Nancy, b. Aug. 28, 1796. 6. Walter, b. Jan. 14, 1799; d. ISOl. 7- 
Charles, b. Dec. 15, 1800. S. Patty, b. March 24, 1803; m. Elliot Beardslee, 
Feb. 23, 1S32. 9. Walter, b. April 10, 1805 ; m. Mary Ann Mosely, Aug. 2, 
1827. Ch., Mosely, b. Aug. 26, 1828 ; Mary, b. Jan. 10, 1832 ; Ralph, b. May 

7, 1835. 

3. Ebenezer, b. Jan. 12, 1756. 

4. Olive, b. Sept. 26, 1758 ; m. David Sanford, 1782. 

0. Moses Asa, b. July 1, 1762; m. Lois Guthrie, Nov. 10, 1787. 
Children, 

1. Ebenezer, b. March 3, 1791 ; m. Sally Mitchell, and had Henry, b. Nov. 

8, 1814, m. Lucinda Clark; Eliza A., b. JMarch 29, 1819, m. the Rev. George 
P. Prudden ; 2. Asa, b. March 29, 1793; 3. Hannah, b. March 28, 1794, m. 
William Fabrique ; 4. Thomas, b. May 8, 1798, m. Maria P. Mosely, March 
15, 1827 ; had Truman, March 30, 1829. 

Solomon Johnson, sou of Moses and Mary, m. 1. Mary Hicock. 
His house was burnt on the night of the 13th of June, 1735, and his 
wife perished in the flames. He m. 2. Hannah Noble, June 30, 1736. 
His ch. were, Gideon, b. March 11, 1725 ; Mary, b. Oct. 13, 1727, 
m. Joseph Pierce ; David, b. Aug. 22, 1730 ; Eunice, b. May 24, 

1733; Hannah, b. Sept. 2, 1736, m. Pierce; Abigail, b. March 

28, 1739, m. 1. David Hicock; 2. Elizur MitcheU. 

'1. Gideon Johnson, son of Solomon and Mary, m. Dorcas Hicock^ 
Jan. 6, 1753. Their children were, 

1. Hiram, b. March 16, 1754; m. Mary Bronson, Oct. 24, 1782. 2. Solomon, 
b. Dec. 17,1755; rn. Olive Curtiss, Aug. 22, 1782; had ch., Laura, b. March 

41 



602 niSTOKY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

7,1784; Gurtiss, Aug. 13, 1786; Warren, b. Feb. 21, 17SS. 3. Timothy, b. 
Sept. 22, 1757. 4. Hannah, b. April 21, 1759 ; ni. Silas Hicock, 1782, 

2. David Johnson, son of Solomon and Mary, m. Sarah Trow- 
bridge, Feb. 19, 1755. Children, 

Isaiah, bap. April II, 1756; Ruth, b. Aug. 2, 1757; Mary, bap. Oct. 30, 
1762, m. Roger Cogswell, March 12, 1736 ; AmariUis, bap. Feb. 24, 1765 ; Da- 
vid, Aug. 2, 1767 ; Cyrus Milton, baj). Oct. IS, 1772. 

The connection between the following and the preceding family- 
can not be clearly traced. 

Benjamin Johnson and wife, Mary, had Asa, b. May 27, 1753 ; 
Samuel, b. Aug. 10, 1755. 

Jeremiah Johnson m. Eunice Bronson, Nov. 5, 1769 ; children, 
Polly, b. Aug. 1, 1771, m. Ely Camp, Nov. 25, 1794; Dorcas, b. 
Aug. 12, 1772 ; Lovina, b. Oct. 9, 1774 ; Clara, b. Nov. 30, 1776, d. 
April 1, 1779 ; Betsey Ann, b. April 13, 1779, m. Nathan Lake, 
May 25, 1803 ; Abel, b. Dec. 20, 1781 ; Adin, b. March 3, 1786 ; 
Eunice, b. July 15, 1788. 

Enoch Johnson m. Grace Leavenworth, Sept. 4, 1794 ; children, 
Seymour, b. May 11, 1795 ; Marshall, b. Dec. 20, 1797. 



JENNER FAMILY. 

Samuel Jenner d. 1738, and his wife Hannah, Feb. 2, 1743 ; their 
children were : 1. Hannah, bap. May, 1687-8, m. Jonathan Mitchell, 
1705 ; 2. Patience, bap. Aug., 1692, m. Elnathan Strong, April 17, 
1712; 3. Prudence, bap. Feb., 1693-4, m. Moses Johnson, July 6, 
1715; 4. Comfort, b. April 11, 1698, m. John Pierce, March 21, 
1716-17 ; 5. Samuel, b. April 20, 1703 ; 6. and 7. Nathan and Ab- 
igail, (twins,) b. April 20, 1703; Abigail m. Timothy Bronson, 1729. 

Samuel Jenner, Jr., and wife Haunali, liad 1. Sarah, bap. Aug. 4, 

1728, m. Wilkinson; 2. Barbary, b. Jan. 1, 1730, m. 

Hurlbut; 3. Hannah, b. Jan. 18, 1733; 4. Richard, b. Nov. 25, 
1734, d. Jan. 12, 1788 ; 5. Patience, b. Feb. 7, 1737, d. 1800 ; 6. 
Samuel, bap. Dec. 31, 1738 ; 7. John, bap. May 10, 1741, d. 1789 ; 
8. Nathan, bap. Oct. 6, 1745 ; 9. Ruth, bap. April 19, 1747 ; 10. 
Stephen, bap. March 26, 1749. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 603 

KASSON FAMILY. 

James Kasson, with his father and six brothers, came from Bel- 
fast, Ireland, in 1722, landed at Boston and settled in Voluntown, 
Conn. He removed to Woodbury, about 1742, settled near the pres- 
ent line of Southbury, built a house in Bethlehem society, in 17G0, 
and removed his family there the same year, where he continued to 
reside until his death, which occurred July 5, 1791. From his man- 
uscripts, we learn that in religious principle he was strictly Puritani- 
cal. His descendants are numerous, and are found in almost every 
state in the Union. The old family residence is now occupied by one 
of them, George M. Kasson, Esq. He was born in 1714, m. 1. Es- 
ther Duncan, Oct. 14, 1740, who d. Feb. 2G, 17r)7. He m. 2. Mar- 
garet Dixon, June 8, 1758. vShe d. Feb. 23, 1811, aged 75. Their 
children were : 

1. Margaret, b. Sept. 3, 1741, m. Moses Knapp, Sept., 17G0 ; 2. 
Jean, b. Aug. 7, 1743, d. young ; 3. Sarah, b. Aug. 20, 1745, m. 
Solomon Gurnsey, Nov. 15, 17 04 ; 4. James, b. June 19, 1748 ; 5. 
George, b. Feb. 21, 1750, d. young ; G. Adam, b. April 20, 1752, d. 
young; 7. Esther, b. May 20, 1755, m. Luke Steele; 8. Jean, b. 
Jan. 10, 1759, m. Darius Butler; 9. Olive, b. Sept. 3, 1761, m. Eli- 
zur Wheeler; 10. Adam, b. Aug. IG, 17G3, m. Honor Steele, went to 
Vermont; 11. George Dixon, b. June 2, 1765; 12. Mary, b. Feb. 
19, 1768, m. Doct. Amzi Hull. 

James, Jr., m. Reliance Hatch, Jan. IG, 1771, and had I. Myron, 
b. Jan. 27, 1772, m. Betsey Hyde, went west. II. Clarissa, b. Feb. 
11, 1775, d. young. III. Lydia Ann, b. Dec. 17, 1776, d. young. 
IV. Clarissa, b. Jan. 29, 1778, m. Rev. Charles Prentice. V. Lydia, 
Dec. 8, 1779, m. Doct. Nathaniel Hall. VL Adam C, b. July 28, 
1782, m. Sally Parmalee, Nov. 27, 1818, and had 1. James T., b. 
Jan. 5, 1820 ; 2. Clarissa, b. June 1, 1823, m. Frederick L. Allen, 
Oct., 1845 ; 3. Susan L., b. Oct. 1, 1825, m. William R. Harrison, 
March 17, 1846. VIL James, b. May 12, 1784, d. unm. VIIL 
Esther, b. May 26, 1786, m. Archibald Dixon, removed west. IX. 
Clarissa, b. April 25, 1788, d. aged 15. X. Joseph, b. June 4, 1790, 
m. Hannah Grey, removed to Onondaga county, N. Y. XL Reli- 
ance, b. Jan. 11, 1793, m. Federal Brinsmade, of Trumbull, Conn. 
XII. Theoren, b. Nov. G, 1795, d. young. 

George Dixon, youngest son of James, Sen., m. Selina Camp, Dec. 
19, 1793, who d. Nov. 20, 1794. He m. 2. Lucy Steele, May 16, 



604 HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

1796; she d. May 19, 1808 ; m. 3. the Widow Deborah McCall. 
He d. June, 1828. Children, as follows : 

I. Selina, b. Nov. 7, 1794, d. 1809. II. Emily Lucy, b. April 5, 
1797, m. Samuel M. Logan, May, 1826. IIL Edgar N., b. Feb. 19, 
1799, m. Martha P. Brown, 1832, and d. Nov., 1841 ; eh. 1. Harriet 
A., d. young; 2. Harriet Louisa, b. March 11, 1835 ; 3. Martha J., 
b. Nov. 17, 1836 ; 4. George Dixon, b. Oct. 19, 1838 ; 5. Edgar N., 
b. Feb. 19, 1841. IV. Samuel, b. April 26, 1801, m. Almira Gay- 
lord, removed to Illinois. V. George M., b. May 19, 1803, m, Lu- 
cretiaM. Turner, Dec. 9, 1824 ; ch. 1. Lucy M., b. Feb. 24, 1832 ; 
2. Eleanor M., b. Aug. 5, 1834; 3. George D., b. Sept. 18, 1836, d. 
young; 4. Deborah M., b. June 10, 1838; 5. Gertrude P., b. Sept. 
11, 1841 ; 6. Charlotte E.,b. Feb. 4, 1844 ; 7. Ralph W., b. Jan. 21, 
1848 ; 8. Elizabeth II., b. July 4, 1850. VL Susan M., b. April 15, 
1805, m. Pvollin R. Hill. ' • - 

William Kasson, a brother of James, also settled in Bethlehem so- 
ciety, but his descendants have all removed from the place. His ch. 
were, Elizabeth, Thomas, Jane, who m. Robert Gordon, William, d. 
young, Sarah, who m. John Gordon, Ruth, who m. James Edmonds, 
Nov. 1, 1768, and Robert. Mr. Kasson m. Elizabeth McKay, and d. 
1760. 

Dea. Archibald Kasson, another brother of James, also settled at 
Bethlehem, m. Jane Dixon. His descendants are found in that vicin- 
ity, but none of them bearing the name of Kasson. His ch. were, 
Alexander and Sarah. Alexander m. Comfort Thompson, Nov. 3, 
1767, and had 1. Daniel, m. Ruth Ann Hurd ; ch. Leverett, now re- 
siding at New Orleans ; 2. Selina, m. Ichabod S. Prentice ; 3. Wil- 
liam, m. Irene Steele, and had Charlotte, who m. Simeon Spalding ; 
John S., who m. Catherine Crane ; Mary, d. unm. ; WiUiam and Al- 
exander ; 4. Polly. Sarah, the daughter of Dea. Archibald, died 
young. 



KNOWLES FAMILY 



Eleazer Knowles, of Stratford, was a signer of the original com- 
pact for the settlement of Woodbury, and came early to the latter 
place. He d. Jan. 31, 1731. Mary, his widow, d. Oct. 24, 1732. 
Children, as follows : 

1. Thomas, b. Dec. 26, 1683, d. without issue, Sept. 5, 1758 ; 2. 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 605 

Isaac, d. young; 3. Mary, b. March 22, 1686-7, m. Samuel Sherman, 
Dec. 22, 1709 ; 4. Anna, b. Jan. 5, 1688-9, m. Noah Hinman, Feb. 
28, 1710 ; 5. Samuel, b. April 15, 1691 ; 6. Isaac, b. July 28, 1696; 
7. Elizabeth, b. March 30, 1697-8. 

Samuel, son of Eleazer, m. 1. Huldah , who d. Feb. 1, 1727 ; 

m. 2. Elizabeth- '■. He m. 3. Widow Mary Wooster, Oct. 28, 

1744. His children were : 

I. Eleazer, b. May 29, 1726, d. 1730. II. Thomas, bap. July 28, 
172$, m. Abigail Wooster, June 7, 1749, and had, 1. Mary, b. Sept. 
20, 1751 ; 2. Sarah, bap. July 1, 1753 ; 3. Martha, bap. June 19, 
1757. III. Huldah, b. June, 1 730, m. Daniel Hicock, July 31, 1751. 
lY. Ann, b. Aug. 5, 1732, ra. John Demmon, Sept. 14, 1758. V. 
Mary, b. Nov. 16, 1734, d. Dec, 1747. VI. Eleazer, b. March 22, ^ 
1737, m. Hannah Mitchell, in 1764, and had 1. Ellen, bap. Oct. 4, ?,^. (^^^ 
1767 ; 2. Emma, bap. Feb. 18, 1770 ; 3. John, bap." June 28, 1772 ; r^*- -^^i.^^ 
4. Liberty, bap. Sept. 25, 1774, d. young ; 5. Abigail, bap. Feb. 9, 
1777; 6. Hannah, bap. July 2, 1780; 7. Esther, bap. June 16, 
1782; 8. Liberty, bap. Nov. 14, 1784. VIL Betty, bap. Nov., 
1739, d. Jan., 1821, unm. VIIL Mercy, bap. May 16, 1742, d. 
1771, unm. 



LINSLEY FAMILY. 




Sa. a lion ramp. betw. eight crosses pattee fitchee ar. 

The first persons of this name who settled in Branford, came to 
that place in 1 640. The name does not appear on record, however, 
previous to 1G46. Their names were John and Francis, who emi- 
grated from a place not far to the south-Avest of London. John re- 
mained at Branford, and Fi-ancis removed to Newark, New Jersey, 
with the followers of the Rev. Mr. Pierson, and is supposed to be the 
ancestor of those of the name in that state. 

John had a son Jonathan, who m. Dorcas Phipper, (Phippeny?) 
of Milford, Sept. 24, 1706 ; Jonathan d. May 3, 1725. He had Jon- 
athan, Samuel, Israel, Daniel and Nabby. 



606 HISTORY OF ANCIENT 'WOODBURT. 

Israel Linsley m. Priscilla "Wheaton, and had children, Israel, Ru- 
fus, Stephen, Rebecca and Sarah. He died June 4, 1778, aged 66 
years. Ilis wife d. Nov. 5, 1775, aged 57 years. 

Israel, Jr., m. Hannah Moulthrop, of East Haven ; ch. Amy, Abi- 
gail, Daniel, Elihu and Eber. He d. at Branford, Oct. 19, 1808, 
aged G3. His wife died Feb. 7, 1807. 

Daniel, son of the above, m. Polly P. Jones, of Branford, in 1790. 
He d. Dec. 30, 1813, aged 48. She d. Sept., 1847, aged 74. Their 
children were, 1. Betsey, b. July 7, 1792, m. Samuel Page, of Bran- 
ford, in 1808, and d. Jan. 31, 18'22, aged 30 ; 2. Benjamin D., b. July 

7, 1793, m. Elvira Whiting, of Bridgeport, in 1819, and d. in that 
place in 1833 ; 3. Abigail, b. July 22, 1795, d. unm., Nov. 25, 1887, 
aged 42; 4. Harvey J., b. Aug. 24, 1797 ; 5. Jeremy, b. May 26, 
1799, m. 1. Phebe Page, of Branford, and had Nelson and Mary ; 
m. 2. Sarah Beach, of Guilford; 6. Sylvia, b. June 10, 1801, d. 
unm. at Branford, March 25, 1831, aged 30 ; 7. Elias, b. Aug. 28, 
1803, m.Mary Bradley ; ch. George and Atwood; 8. Polly, b. Sept. 
19, 1805, d. unm. at Branford, Dec. 18, 1829 ; 9. Parnel, b. Sept. 
19, 1807 ; 10. Charles, b. April 11, 1809, d. at Branford, Dec. 24, 
1829, aged 21 ; 11. Hezekiah, b. Oct. 4, 1811, m. 1. Maria Gillett, 
of Winsted; m. 2. Sarah Doolittle, of Bethany ; 12. Daniel, b. Feb. 

8, 1814. 

Harvey J., of the above family, m. 1. Laura Clarke, of Southing- 
ton, May 10, 1820, who d. July 23, 1824, aged 27. He m. 2. Mary 
Summers, of Woodbury, May 4, 1825 ; she was b. June 20, 1803. 
He d. March 25, 1853 ; had children, as follows : 

1. Mary, b. July 5, 1822, d. July 10, 1822. 

2. Mary Ann, b. Oct. 18, 1823, m. George De Forest, Oct. 3, 

1849. 

3. James Harvey, b. April 18, 1827, m. Harriet M. Curtiss, Oct. 
9 1849. The latter was b. in 1829. They have one child, Sarah 
M.,b. Sept. 4, 1851. 

4. Laura, b. Jan. 19, 1829, m. Edward F. Bassett, Oct. 3, 1849, 
who wash. Sept. 15, 1823. 

5. Jane, b. Nov. 8, 1834. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 607 

, LAMBERT FAMILY.* 

The Lambert family can trace its descent from remote antiquity. 
They can go back with all the certainty of written records to the time 
of William the Conqueror, in the eleventh century, and by history of 
undoubted credibility, to the kingdom of the Lombards in Italy. That 
such was the origin of the family can not be doubted, for were there 
no proofs of it in the records of heraldiy, the name itself would indi- 
cate such to be the fact, (according to the ancient orthography,) as it 
was formerly spelt Lombard. This orthography some members of 
the family still retain. 

The earliest account we have of the Lombards is, that they were 
a roving clan from Scandinavia, (Norway,) that they settled awhile 
in Vindili, (in Germany,) till attracted by the fair plains of Modena, 
they rushed from their mountain fastnesses, took possession of, and 
founded one of the most powerful states of Italy. The signification 
of the name in their language, was lomj heard, as history states " that 
this clau parted their hair and suffered it to grow to whatever length 
it might attain," from whicli circumstance the state where they estab- 
lished themselves, took its name. This clan was of a stern, independ- 
ent disposition, which would not brook restraint. They lived on the 
spoils of war, and from pasturage. Such were the ancestors of the 
family in question in ancient times. Upon the subversion of the king- 
dom, the descendants of the clan were dispersed into various parts of 
Europe, many of them settling in cities and large towns in that part 
of the world. This is the first we read of the name of Lombard as a 
family name. 

The family from whicli tlic Woodbury and Bethlem branches are 
descended, we find in history established itself in Normandy, in France. 
It appears from the records of heraldry, that they were of the highest 
respectability in that place, and on them were bestowed the various 
orders of knighthood. >Vhen AVilliam the Conqueror invaded En- 
gland, he took with him Rodolph de Lambert, as his knight of arms. 
He is the first of the name of Avhich we have any account in En- 
gland. His name appears to indicate that his family was from Lom- 
bardy, as the particle ffe signifies /row, or of, which amounts to Ro- 
dolphus from Lombardy ; thus retaining in what has now become a 



1 This sketch of the origin of the Lambert family, is taken from Lambert's History 
of New Haven. 



608 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

family name, the memorial of the place from which lie and his ances- 
tors emigrated. 

It appears from English heraldry, that he had a family in Nor- 
mandy, previous to his going to England, and that a bi'anch of it set- 
tled in Bologna, Italy. Cardinal Lambertina, of this family, who 
was elected Bishop of Rome, Aug. 27, 1730, and took the title of 
Benedict XIV., always claimed relationship with the Earl of Cavan's 
family, who trace their descent from liodolph de Lambert, who went 
to England^ with William the Conqueror. 

Rodolph de Lambert left one son, Hugh, and from him are descend- 
ed all of the name in England and North America. Hugh had by 
his wife Matilda, Sir William, his heir, who married Gundred, daugh- 
ter of the Earl of Warren and Surrey, by Gundred, the fourth daugh- 
ter of William the Conqueror, and widow of Roger de Bellamont, 
Earl of Warwick. By her he had a son, Henry, standard bearer to 
Henry II. He married Alice, sister of William Mandeville, Earl of 
Essex. He had a son John, who settled in Skipton, in York, who 
had two sons, Sir Edmund and Thomas. Sir Edmund had thi'ee 
sons : Edmund, who settled in Skipton ; Richard, the third son, set- 
tled in Lincolnshire ; Sir John, the second, had two sons : Edmund, 
who died unmarried, and Sir Thomas, who married Dorothy, daugh- 
ter of Thomas Cressey, and had Henry, his heir, who by Isabel, eldest 
daughter of JqIui Lambert, of Preston, grandson of Edmund, of Skip- 
ton, had Sir Henry, who by Maudaunt, daughter of Baldwin de Vere, 
had Allayne, who had two sons, Sir Tliomas, of Oldton, in Northum- 
berland, and Godfrey, wlio was seated in Long Preston, and married 
Ellen Fulthrop, cousin of Lord Clifford, and had John, his heir. He 
married Elizabeth Whitmore, and had six sons : William, who died 
without issue ; Thomas, Avho lived in Skipton, from whom are de- 
scended a numerous issue ; particularly noted are John Lambert, 
who commanded the parliamentary forces against King Charles the 
First, and Richard, ancestor of the Earl of C^van. .lohn left a numer- 
ous issue. Christopher and Henry were slain, and left no children. 
Richard, the third son, left Walter, his heir, who resided in Carlshal- 
ton. He had by a daughter of Sir John Gaynesford, Thomas, who 
left no issue ; Roger, slain in the siege of Bulloine, unmarried ; Wal- 
ter, and Richard, an alderman of London in 15G7, in which year he 
died. His son, Thomas, settled in Laverstock, Hants, from whom is 
descended a numerous issue ; Walter, the third son, had by Rose, 
daughter of Oliver Wallop, ancestor of the Earl of Portsmouth, Oli- 
ver, his heir, the first baron, who was created Lord Lambert and 



HISTORT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 609 

Earl of the County of Cavan, in 1617, He died June or July 9, 
1718. His lordship married Hester, daughter of "William Fleetwoorl, 
Knight, by whom he had two sons, Charles, his heir, and Carey, who 
died unmarried. Charles, on the 12th of May, r612, was made gov- 
ernor of the city of Dublin. He married Jane, second daughter of 
Robert Ilobaites, Baron of Truro, and sister of John Robaites, Earl 
of Radnor, by whom he had Richard, his heir, Thomas, Charles, and 
Walter, who left no children. Oliver, the third, settled in Paynes- 
ton, in the county of Meath, married four wives, and left a numerous 
issue. 

Richard, the second earl, married Rosa, daughter of Sir James 
Wade, and left one son, Charles, the third earl, who married in 1670, 
Castillina, daughter of Henry Gilbert, Esq., who had Charles. Lord 
Lambert died in 1689. Richard, the fourth earl; Henry died Nov. 
18, 1774 ; left three sons, Richard, the late earl, Thomas and Oliver. 
Richard, the fourth earl, was an officer in King William's army, in 
Spain, Portugal and the West Indies, and one of his majesty's privy 
counselors. He married in Barbadoes, W. I., Margaret, daughter of 
Capt. Trant. He died in 1741, aged 76. He had Gilbert, Lord, 
who died young, and Ford, the fifth and late earl, who married Eliz- 
abeth, daughter of James Wade, Esq., and left two daughters, Sophia 
and Gertrude. He died Nov. 29, 1782, aged 54. The sixth earl, 
Richard, was son of Henry, third son of Charles, the third earl. He 
married, first, Sophia, daughter and co-heir of Oliver Lambert, fourth 
son of the third Earl of Cavan, by whom he had no cliildren ; second, 
Elizabeth, daughter of John Davis, Esq., Nov. 13, 1762, by whom he 
had Sophia and one son, his successor, Richard, the seventh earl. 
He succeeded on the death of his father, Nov. 13, 1762. 

Jesse, the great-grandfather of Nehemiah, and Jesse Peck Lam- 
bert, emigrated from England about 1680. He was fi'om a collateral 
branch of the Earl of Cavan's family, settled in Wiltshire or Devon. 
Roger Lambert, his cousin, about the same time emigrated, and set- 
tled in New Jersey, where his descendants are now numerous. 

Jesse Lambert, (according to family tradition,) previous to his 
coming to New England, had been an ofiicer in the British navy ; had 
been up the Mediterranean Sea against the Turks, and had a desper- 
ate engagement with a Turkish corvette, which he captured, and re- 
turnin"- to England, landed amid the acclamation of the people. He 
first landed, on coming to America, at Boston, but in a few days he 
proceeded to New Haven, and soon after to Milford, where he settled. 
His residence wa son the west side of Wepowaug River, a few rods 
42 



610 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODCURT. 

north of the Ih'st Presbyterian Church, on lot No. 7, of the early 
planters. He married Deborah Fowler, daughter of Capt. William 
Fowler, and granddaughter of William Fowler, magistrate, one of 
the first planters of Milford, May 10, 1688. He had three sons and 
six daughters, viz.: 

Rachel, m. Samuel Smith, Dec. 30, 1703. 

Martha, d. unmarried, aged 20. 

Richard, d. in childhood. 

Sarah, m. John Dunning ; settled in Norwalk. 

Jesse, born April 20, 1693. 

Deborah, d. unmarried. 

Elizabeth, m. Joseph Birchard, of Norwalk. 
David, b. in 1700. 

Jesse, father of the above-named, had a second wife, Joanna, and 
died in the autumn of 1718. 

Jesse Lambert, son of the above, and Mary Gillet, (born 1695,) 
daughter of Eliphaz and Mary (Wheeler) Gillet, were married Dec. 
G, 1717, by Jonathan LaAv. He settled on land given him in East 
Farms, now North Milford, and the place where he lived has been 
the family residence for more than a century. He died Dec. 26, 
1773. Mary, his wife, died June 26, 1776. They were buried near 
the middle of the burying-ground, (Milford,) and a low red stone 
marks the place of their interment. Their children were : 

Mary, b. Oct. 10, 1717; m. John Sandford, Sept. 14, 1743. 

Jesse, b. Oct. 28, 1719. 

Martha, b. Jan. 28, 1721 ; m. Benjamin Pritchard, a descendant 
of Roger Pritchard, from Springfield, Mass., 1652. 

Richard, b. June 8, 1725; he m. Ann Immanuel ; d. April 25, 
1777, aged 52, and left\io children. 

Rachel, b. Feb. 15, 1728 ; m. Henry Peck. 

David, b. Dec. 2, 1731. 

Hannah, b. Aug. 18, 1734; m. John Woodrufi", and moved to Wa- 
tertown. Conn.; d. Feb. 22, 1813. 

Jesse Lambert, the eldest son of Jesse and Mary Lambert, fnarried 
Anne Peck, daughter of Capt. Henry Peck, Oct. 28, 1745. He set- 
tled near his father's residence, but bought up a quantity of " ten 
acre accommodation rights," in Woodbury, which were afterward 
settled on by his son, Jesse Peck Lambert. He d. July 30, 1794, 
aged 76, and his wife d. July 3, 1809, aged 84 years. Children, 

Mary, b. Sept. 27, 1746 ; d. Dec. 31, 1765. 

Anne, b. Jan. 7, 1748 ; m. Nathan Bristol, of Milford. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 611 

Sarah, b. 1750 ; m. Stephen Treat, of Milford. 

Mehitable, b. Jan. 21, 1752 ; m. Samuel Tibballs ; d. March 2, 
1774. 

Lurania, b. March 9, 1754. 

Hannah, b. Aug. 22, 1756 : m. Joseph Peck. 

Abigail, b. March 22, 1759 ; m. John Smith, and was mother of 
Perry Smith, of New Milford, (late a United States Senator ;) d. 
Jan. 18, 1836. 

Nehemiah, b. May 2, 1763, and d. April 21, 1767. 

Jesse, b. May 2, and d. May 12, 1705. 

Nehemiah, b. Oct. 21, 1766 ; d. April, 1825. 

Jesse Peck,b. Sept. 5, 1769 ; d. Oct. 21, 1836. 

Nehemiah Lambert, went to Woodbury, (Bethlehem society,) in 
1786, when twenty years old, and married Sarah, daughter of Moses 
Galpin, Esq. She was born July 23, 1770. He was a man of high 
respectability, and filled many public offices. He died March 26, 
1825. Children, 

Stephen Treat, b. July 8, 1791 ; settled in Canton, and m. Char- 
lotte Barber. 

Frederick, b. Oct. 29, 1794 ; m. Sally Potter. 

Nancy,) i t i "^n t-qq ( m Charles Bloss, of Bethlem. 

Sarah, | ^- ^"^^ '^^' ^'^"^ ' 1 m. Noble Allen, of Bethlem. 

Clarissa, b. Aug. 25, 1801 ; m. Nicholas Morse. 

Jesse Peck Lambei't, married Amy,, daughter of Thomas Clark, of 
Milford ; moved to Woodbury, and settled on a tract of land, now 
owned by his son, Willis Lambert. His father had many years be- 
fore a piece of land in Kettletown, but the son did not|choose to settle 
on it, and sold it. He died in 1836. His widow d. July 30, 1852, 
aged 79. Children, 

1. Nancy, b. 1797 ; m. Asahel Mitchell, of Woodbury. 

2. Stephen Treat, b. 1798; m. Maria Jennet Minor, Feb. 23, 
1841. 

3. Julia, b. 1799 ; m. Anthony C. Strong, Esq., of Woodbury. 

4. Willis, b. 1801 ; m. Eliza, daughter of Dea. Matthew Minor. 
Ch., Elizabeth Jane, Willis Peck, Charlotte and|Nathan. 

5. Harvey, m. Jeanette Leavenworth ; lives in Ohio. Children, 
Frances, Julia, m. David Mead, Daniel Webster. 

5. Henry, b. 1807 ; m. 1. Margaret, daughter of Philo De Foi-est 
2. Harriet Colton. She d. Nov. 20, 1852, aged 33. Ch., George 
De Forest, Henry A., Wilbur Colton, and Margaret. The first two 
by the first wife, and the others by the last. 



612 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

7. Harriet, b. 1809 ; m. Seth Strong. 

8. Emily Amy, b. 1811 ; m. Charles Curtiss ; d. in Ohio. 



LEAVENWORTH FAMILY. 

David, Edmond and Thomas Leavenworth, came from Germany, 
(so tradition informs us,) to this country, about 1G90. David was 
drowned when young. Edmond settled at or near Huntington, Conn., 
and from him have descended all of the name at Waterbury, Wood- 
bury and Roxbury. His descendants are found also in Mass., N. Y., 
in other states of the Union, and in Canada. Of his six sons, David, 
Ebenezer, John, Zebulon and Thomas, settled in Woodbury. Mark 
settled at Waterbury. 

First Family. 

John Leavenworth m, 1. Deborah ; she d. Jan. 1, 1746; he m. 2. 
Mary Bronson, Jan. 29, 1747 ; he d. in 1783, aged 77. Children, 

1. John, bap. July 19, 1741 ; 2. Lemuel, bap. Oct. 9, 1743, went 
to Whitestown, had Lemuel and Reuben ; 3. Deborah, bap. May 8, 
1745, m. Joshua Judson, Feb. 27, 1765 ; 4. Amos, bap. Aug. 9, 1753 ; 
5. Elihu, b. Oct. 5, 1736, d. Dec. 25, 1756 ; 6. David ; 7. Elisha,bap. 
July 3, 1763 ; 8. Elihu. 

John, Jr., m. Abigail Peck, and had John P., b. Nov. 23, 1762. 

Amos, son of John, m. Esther Warner, July 11, 1774. Joseph, b. 
July 19, 1776 ; Sarah, Polly, Esther and Susanna, all four bap. Dec. 
15,1784; Ralph, Aug. 13, 1786; Lorena, bap. March 29, 1789 ; 
Sybel, bap. July 10, 1791 ; Lovina, bap. April 7, 1793. 

David Leavenworth, son of John, m. 1. Olive Hunt, Feb. 8, 1759; 
m. 2. Mary Downs, Oct. 30, 1776; ch. 1. Gideon, bap. Oct. 26, 
1764 ; 2. Morse, bap. July 1, 1764, m. Sarah Benedict, and had Mar- 
tin, Truman, Philo, Wait, Harriet Morse who m. Amarilla Beecher, 
and had John H., Jerome B., Bennet M. ; 3. Rosanna, bap. Nov. 15, 
1767 ; 4. Whiteman, b. March 22, 1777 ; 5. Mary, b. March 16, 
1780. 

Elihu, son of John, m. Oct. 6, 1772, Diantha Blackman, and had 
1. Jehiel, b. Oct. 4, 1773, m. Laura Thompson, removed to Salis- 
bury, Conn. ; 2. John, m. Maria, dau. of Hollister Judson, and has a 
daughter Margaret, who m. J. C. Booth, of New York city ; 3. Isaac, 
m. 1. Widow Clark, of Washington ; m. 2. Newton, of Wood- 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKT. 613 

bridge, no issue, now resides at New Haven ; 4. Doct. Alston, m. 
Canfield, removed to the state of New York, 

Second Family. 

David, son of Edmond, m. Sarah Hurd, June 3, 1730 ; he d. April 
10, 1735. Children, 

1. Nathan and David, (twin?,) bap. Aug. 4, 1731, d. same day ; 2. 
Nathan, b. Nov. 1, m. Rachel Castle, Dec. 12, 1759, and had Henry, 
b. Sept. 9, 1760, d. young; Henry, bap. May 8, 1763 ; Nathan, b. 
Aug. 20, 1764; 3. Ebenezer, bap. Dec. 29, 1734. 

Third Family. 

Thomas, son of Edmond, m. 1. Betty ; she d. April 24, 1758. 

He m. 2. Rhoda Olds, Oct. 10, 1758, and his children were: 

1. Triphena, b. July 3, 1746; 2. Gideon, b. Feb. 21, 1748, went 
to Waterbury ; 3. Jared, b. Feb. 1, 1756; 4. Betty, b. Oct. 28, 1760, 
m. Stephen Hurd, July 28, 1783 ; 5. Isaac, bap. March 7, 1762 ; 6. 
Abel, bap. Feb. 10, 1765, removed to Hinesburg; 7. Thomas, bap. 
Dec. 28, 1766; 8. Samuel, went to "Waterbury; 9. Dormond, bap. 
Oct. 28, 1770, went to Hinesburg; 10. Asa, removed to Chenango, 
N. Y. 

Fourth Family. 
Zebulon Leavenworth, son of Edmond, d. May 2, 1778, and his 
wife, Esther, d. in 1793 ; his children were ; 1. Mary, bap. July 16, 
1745, m. Simeon Hunt, April 11, 1769; 2. Esther, bap. June 21, 
1747, d. in 1749 ; 3. Esther, bap. May 30, 1750, m. Benjamin Kim- 
berly, March 23, 1773 ; 4. Zebulon, b. Nov. 14, 1752, m. Lydia Mar- 
shall, Jan. 21, 1778, and had Sarah B., b. Aug. 16, 1779 ; Seth Mar- 
shall, b. June 13, 1782; Rebecca, b. Aug. 31, 1784; Rachel, b. Oct. 
27, 1786 ; 5. Eunice, b. March 2, 1755 ; 6. Anna, bap. Aug. 22, 
1757, m. Israel Beach, July 3, 1783 ; 7. Huldah, bap. May 30, 1759; 
8. Alice, bap. Aug. 13, 1761. 

Fifth Family. 
Ebenezer Leavenworth, son of Edmond, m. Elizabeth Hurd, 
March 27,1754; he died 1778. His children were: Sarah, b. Dec. 
16, 1754, m. Lemuel Downs, March 2, 1778 ; David, b. Dec. 14, 
1756; Buzina, b. Sept. 10, 1758, m. Elijah Hurd, Jan. 22, 1779; 
Betty, b. Feb. 27, 1763. 



614 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

LEAVITT FAMILY. 

John Leavitt was b. in 1608, came to New England and settled at 
Dorchester, in 1628. In 1636, he removed to Hingham, where he 
was a deacon in the church, a magistrate and a representative. lie 
died in 1691, aged 83. His children were, John, Hannah, Samuel, 
Elizabeth, Jeremiah, Israel, Moses, Josiah, Nehemiah, Sarah, Mary, 
Hannah and Abigail. 

Josiah Leavitt, eighth child of John, lived at Hingham, and was 
b. 1653 ; children, Josiah, b. 1679, Joseph, b. 1681, Margaret, Joshua, 
b. 1687, Asaph, David, b. 1691, Hezekiah and Mary. 

Joshua, fourth child of Josiah, lived at Sulfield, Conn., b. 1687, d. 
1732 ; children, 1. Hannah, 2. Joshua, 3. Freegrace, who graduated 
at Yale College, in 1745, settled in the ministry in Somers, Conn., 
1747, m. Abiali, daughter of Capt. Abraham Burbank, of Suffield, 
and died Oct. 9, 1761, in his 43d year. His widow m. 1. Rev. An- 
drew Storrs, of Watertown, Conn., and 2. Rev. Joseph Bellamy, D. 
D., of Bethlehem"; 4. John ; 5. Joshua, d. in Yale College, about 
1732 ; 5. Ichabod ; 6. Jonathan, graduated at Yale College, in 1758. 
He was b. Jan. 32, 1731, ordained minister over the church in Wal- 
pole, N. H., May 27, 1761, m. Sarah Hooker, granddaughter of Rev. 
Samuel Hooker, of Farmington, settled at Charlemont, Mass., Oct. 
1768. His wife d. Oft. 11, 1791 ; m. 2. Widow Tirza Ashley, Aug. 

27, 1792, who d. Nov. 22, 1797 ; m. 3. Widow Mary Foot, March 

28, 1798, who d. May 15, 1816. He d. Sept. 9, 1802 ; 7. Hannah. 
Jonathan, sixth child of Joshua, lived at Heath, Mass., b. 1731, 

graduated at Yale College, 1758, d. 1802 ; ch. Clarissa, b. 1762, 
Jonathan, b. 1764, graduated at Yale College, 1785, Hart, b. 1765, 
Joshua, b. 1767, David, b. 1769, Roger, b. 1771, Erastus, b. 1772, 
Roswell, b. 1775, Thomas, b. 1776, Samuel, b. 1779 ; Horatio, b. 
1781, and Hooker, b. 1785. 

Jonathan, second child of Jonathan, lived at Greenfield, Mass., b. 
1764, d. 1831, and was for many years a circuit judge in Mass. He 
m. Amelia, daughter of President Stiles ; children, Sarah Hooker, b. 
1797; MaryH.,b. 1798; Amelia, b. 1799, whom. E.T. Foote, M. D.; 
of New Haven, Conn. ; Jonathan, b. 1801 ; Jonathan, b. 1803, d. in 
Yale College, in 1821 ; Elizabeth Hubbard, b. 1807. 

Roger, sixth child of Jonathan, of Heath, lived at that place, and 
d. 1840, m. Chloe, daughter of Col. Hugh Maxwell, of the Revolu- 
tionary army ; children, Joshua, b. 1794, graduated 1814 ; Chloe, b. 
1797 ; Clarissa, b. 1801 ; Chloe M., b. 1803 ; Roger Hooker, b. 
1805 ; Hart, b. 1808. 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 615 

Joshua, first child of Roger, b. Sept. 8, 1794, graduated 1814, or- 
dained at Stratford, Feb., 1825, dismissed Nov., 1828, m. Sarah, dau. 
of Rev. Solomon Williams, of Northampton, Mass. ; eh. William 
Solomon, b. Jan. 26, 1822, graduated 1840 ; John Hooker, b. Sept. 
■26, 1824, d. 1828 ; Thomas Roger, b. July 9, 1828 ; James Taylor, , 
b. July 30, 1833; Samuel Cox, b. Sept. 26, 1835, and Joshua, b. 
Nov. 12, 1839. 

David, sixth child of Josiah, of Hingham, lived at Meriden, Conn. ; 
children, Samuel, d. without issue, at Meriden, Dec. 29, 1803, aged 
87, m. Adah Curtis ; David, moved to Bethlem. 

David, second child of David, lived at Bethlem, Conn., d. 1808, 
aged 86, m. 1. Griswold; m. 2. • Camp ; ch. David; Sam- 
uel, settled and died in Washington ; Rebecca, who m. Thomp- 
son, of Bethlem ; Sarah, m. Bartholomew ; Irene, m. Hull, 

of Greenfield. 

David, first child of David, of Bethlem, lived at that place, ra. Lucy 
Clark, d. of consumption, Jan. 16, 1807, aged 50 ; children, Sheldon 
Clark, graduated 1802, lives at Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Elizabeth, m. Rev. 
Daniel Haskell, former president of Burlington College, Vt. ; Lucy, 
m. Rev. John Hough ; David, m. Maria Lewis, has children, Eliza- 
beth and Sheldon, graduated 1837, and lives in New York ; Andrew, 
m. Julia Miller, of Middlebury, Vt. ; Clarissa, m. Oliver Goodwin, 
then of Hartford, and Susan, m. Edward Goodwin, brother of the 
above. 

John, son of Joshua, of Suffield, m. Abia Kent, d. 1799 ; children, 
Thaddeus, Joshua, Amelia, Thaddeus, Joshua, Abia, John, Jemima, 
Freegrace, Hannah, Dorothy and Charlotte. 

Freegrace, ninth child of John, of Suffield, lived at Hartford, and 
m. Jerusha Loomis, of the former place ; children, Jerusha, Arabella 
and Harvey Freegrace, graduated 1816. 

The foregoing sketch was furnished me by Dr. E. T. Foote, of 
New Haven, to whose kindness I am indebted for copious minutes in 
relation to several other family names. 



MALLORY FAMILY. 

Thomas Mallory, the first of the name in " Ancient Woodbury," 
died July 21, 1783, aged one hundred and one years ; his wife, Eliz- ^• 
abeth, d. Nov. 5, 1719; their children were, Mary, b. Dec. 4, 1707, 



616 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

died Dec. 30, 1715 ; Thomas ; Bartlett, b. March 2, 1710, d. March 
11, 1711 ; Aaron, b. Feb. 16, 1712 ; John ; Jesse, b. April 5, 1717. 

^ Thomas Mallorj, Jr., m. Hannah Minor, Aug. 10, 1720; he d. 
1783 ; his wife d. Aug. 20, 1749 ; ch. Abner, b. July 28, 1723 ; Eu- 
nice, b. June 26, 1725, m. John Crissey ; Gideon, bap. June 9, 1728; 

'Mary, b. Dec. 14, 1730 ; Jemima, b. May, 1733 ; Simeon, b. Feb. 
18, 1737 ; Silas, adopted son, bap. March 29, 1778. 

Abner Mallory, son of Thomas, Jr., m. Susanna Walker, June 25, 
1747, and had 

1. Electa, b. April 19, 1748, m. Delucena Backus, April 12, 1765. 

2. Hannah, b. Feb. 16, 1749, d. 1751. - 

3. Hannah, b. Jan. 17, 1752. 

4. Walker, b. Feb. 25, 1754, m. Martha Minor, Oct. 1776, and had 

1. Peggy, b. Feb. 4, 1778, ni. David Root; 2. Tolly, b. June S, 17S0, d. 
young ; 3. Abner, b. March 2, 17S2, m. Betsey Sherwood, and removed to the 
state of New York ; children, Charles, William, Sarah, Emcline and Harriet : 

4. Dea. Marcus D., b. Jan. 10, 1788, m. Abigail Strong, Nov. 25, 1813; he d. 
Nov. 2, 1841 ; children, William S., m. Laura Burwell, of Barkhamsted ; Geo. 
B., rn. Olive Hoadley, Hartford; Sarah S., m. A. T. Wood, New Orleans, La. ; 
she d Jan. 7, 1S51 ; Anna J. ; Betsie S. ; Fanny A. ; 5. Burke R., m. Eunice 
Hotchkiss, of New Haven; ch. Albert, rn. Grace Sherwood; Burton M., m. 
Mary Beeoher ; Sarah, m. Morris Smith; 6. Polly, b. April 30, 17S4 ; 7. Betsey 
S., m. Asahel Strong; 8. Jeanette, m. Stoddard Strong; 9. Sarah, m. Albert 

5. Bacon. 

5. Jemima, b. March 3, 1756. 

6. Abner, b. Feb. 18, 1758. 

7. Susanna, b. Sept. 25, 1760 ; ra. Ebenezer Moody, Sept. 6, 1784. 

8. Charlotte, b. Feb. 7, 1763 ; m. Israel Judson, Nov. 27, 1778. 

9. John, b. Feb. 18, 1765 ; m. Harriet Dubois, June 14, 1789. 
Ch., Catharine D., b. March 16, 1790; Suky, b. Jan. 24, 1792; 
Gitty, b. Jan. 19, 1792; Abner and Susanna, b. April 15, 1796; 
Cornelius D., b. 1798. 

10. Electa, b. Sept. 22, 1767. 

11. Love, b. March 23, 1772. 

Gideon Mallory, son of Thomas, Jr., m. Olive , he d. 1782. 

Ch., Abigail, bap. April 5, 1752, m. Jared Curtiss, March 9, 1769 ; 
Amos, b. Sept. 22, 1755 ; Simeon, b. July 12, 1758; Jemima, b. Oct. 
26, 1760, m. Nathan Dudley; Gideon, b. Sept. 17, 1763; Abigail, 
b. July 2, 1766, d. 1784; Thomas, bap. May 29, 1768; Molly, b. 
July 31, 1770, m. Job Wheeler, Feb. 11, 1789 ; Gideon, bap. April 
30, 1775. 

Aaron Mallory, third son of Thomas, m. 1. Elizabeth Squire, Aug. 
11,1739. Shed. Jan. 31, 1741. Hem. 2. Joanna Mitchell, June, 1744. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 617 

Mr. Mallory, d. Oct. 15, 1783 ; 2d wife d. 1790. Ch., Samuel, b. 

June 22, 1740, d. 1744; Samuel, b. April 24, 1745; Reuben, b. 

April 7, 1747; Elizabeth, bap. April 30, 1749 ; Joanna, bap. July 

14, 1751 ; Simeon, b. Dec. 6, 1753; Eunice, bap. March 28, 1756; 

Anna, bap. July IG, 1758; Aaron, bap. April 13, 1760. 

Reuben Mallory, son of Aaron, m. Elizabeth Masters, July 11, 

1769, and had EHzabeth, bap. March 17, 1771 ; James, bap. Dec. 6, 

1772, and Samuel, who d. 1777. 

Aaron Mallory, Jr., m. Olive Terrill, removed to Canada. Ch., 

Reuben, Simeon, Mitchell, Samuel and a daughter. Reuben (son 

of Aaron, Jr.) Mallory and Avife Olive, had, Thomas D., b. Nov. 16, 

1804 ; David A., b. Sept. 9, 1807 ; Aaron, b. Aug. 13, 1809 ; Jane, 

b. April 4, 1814; Augusta M., b. March 13, 1817, m. Willis Judd, 

1839; Samuel M., b. May 28, 1821. 

John Mallory, fourth son of Thomas, d. in 1700. ByJiis wife 

Mary, he had, 1. Mary, bap. June 25, 1749, m. Stephen Curtiss, Jr., 

1772; 2. Nathan, b. Aug. 12, 1751 ; 3. David, bap. May 5, 1754, 

m. Ruth Trowbridge, Sept. 3, 1778 ; 4. Josiah, bap. Dec. 26, 1756; 

5. Samuel, bap. Aug. 2G, 1759. 

John Mallory, Jr., m. Ann , who d. 1778 ; ch., 1. Mirriam, 

bap. Sept. 3, 1744, d. young; 2. Deborah, b. June 2, 1746, d. young; 

3. Hannah, b. April 5, 1748; 4. John, b. Oct. 16, 1750; 5. David, 
b. July 18, 1752, m. Lydia Frisbie, Dec. 28, 1773 ; ch., Sheldon, b. 

Dec. 26, 1774; Eli, b. June 27, 1779; Lydia, b. July 14, 1781; 

Sarah, b. Dec. 2, 1783 ; Ann, b. March 17, 1787 ; Margary, b. April 
15, 1789 ; David, b. May 6, 1791 ; Amarilla, b. April 3, 1793; 6. 

Sarah, b. May 4, 1754, d. young. 

The following for want of records, can not be connected with the 
preceding. 

John Mallory m. 1. Esther Barnes, m. 2. Harriet Moulthrop ; 
ch., 1. Anner, b. 1764; 2. Adna, b. 1767; 3. Daniel, 4. John G., 5. 
Elizabeth, m. Abel Bronson ; 6. Sarah, d. 1849 ; 7. Ann, ra. Ashur 
Ward ; Esther, d. young. 

Adna, eldest son of John, m. 1. Hauntal Ward, in 1764, who d. 
1813 ; m. 2. Lois Beardsley of Warren, Conn. Ch., 1. Esther L., b. 
Sept. 13, 1790; m. Edmond Trowbridge, May 4, 1809; 2. Ira, b. 
Nov. 22, 1792, m. Laura Betts, June 10, 1815; ch., Nathan H., 
William M., Philo P. and Zenas ; 3. Philo, b. Jan. 24, 1795, d. Sept. 
2, 1805; 4. Mary, b. March 9, 1797, m. Morgan Watrous in 1818; 
5. Huldah, b. Feb. 9, 1800, m. Jessie Finch, 1820 ; 6. Amy, b. 
March 25, 1802, m. Winthrop Morris, 1840; 7. Adna, m. Angeline 
43 



618 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Hanford, and has ch. ; 8. Fanny, b. Jan. 24, 1809, m. Butler How- 
land, 1828 ; 9. Lovina P., b. April 6, 1815, m. Knox, 1834; 

10. Julia Ann, b. July 11, 1817, m. Conklin, 1843. 

Adna, father of the above, removed with most of his family in 
1815, to Ilamden, Delaware co., N. Y., and continued to reside there 
till his death, which occurred in 1848. 

Daniel, second son of John, m. Catharine Allen, and had a son 
Truman. 

John G,, third son of John, m. Deborah Warner, removed to the 
state of N. Y., had ch., John A., who now resides at Delhi, N. Y., 
Russell, P^lenor, Samantha, Samuel and Aurelia. 

Caleb Mallory m. 1. Elizabeth, m. 2. Jane "Wheeler, Sept. 12, 
1755 ; cli. 1. Caleb, m. Mary Terry, March 17, 1774, and had EHza- 
beth, b. Fel). 14, 1775; 2. Jonathan N., b. June 22, 1752; 3. Mir- 
riam, b. May 27, 1756. 

Elle Mallory m. Sarah Ward of Huntington, Feb. 23, 1776. Ch., 
Anna, b. July 24, 1778, d. June, 1778 ; Mary, b. Oct. 14, 1780 ; Ezra, 
b. Jan. 23, i785 ; Bethia, b. Jan. 13, 1788," d. Feb. 14, 1790 : Lucy, 
b. April 25, 1790; Sally, b. Aug. 3, 1792; Charles, b. Sept., 1794; 
Betsey, b. Jan. 3, 1797. 

Eli Mallory ra. Eunice Green, Feb. 11, 1795. Ch., Rilly Ann, 
b. Nov. 4, 1795 ; Betsey, b. June 4, 1799. 



MUNN FAMILY. 



Samuel Munn came from Milford, Conn., and settled in '• Ancien 
Woodbury," previous to 1(580. His ch. were, Jane and Amy, bap. 
Oct., 1680; Mary, bap. Nov., 1681, m. Ebenezer Bronson, Aug. 13^ 
1702 ; Daniel, bap. Feb., 1083-4; Samuel, bap. April, 168G-7. 

Samuel Munn, Jr., and wife Abigail, had, 

I. Abel, b. March 23, 1709, who had Sybil, bap. July 14, 1745; 
Daniel, bap. March 1, 1747. 

II. Mary, bap. Dec, 1711, m. John Lewis, Dec. 4, 1734. 

III. Lois, bap. June, 1715, m. Justus llicock, Oct. 26, 1736. 

IV. David, b. Feb. 7, 1719, m. Hester Ilinman, 1749 ; m. 2. Abi- 
gail Stiles, Aug. 1, 1751, ch., 1. David, bap. June 7, 1752, m. Lois 

Osborn, Feb. 18, 1773 ; 2. Samuel, m. Ruth , and had Baniel, 

b. Sept. 7, 1781, d. 1826; Sally, b. March 5, 1787; Lette, b. May 
10, 1784 ; Benjamin, b. Sept. 15, 1786 : Ruth Eimn, b. May 13, 1788 ; 



HISTORY OF ANCIKNT WOODBURY. G19 

Patty, b. June 26, 1790; Caroline, b. Oct. 31,1792; Betsey, b. 
Aug. 25, 1794; Maria, b. July 24, 1796 ; 3. Comfort, m. Abel Ilin- 
man, 1794; 4. Mercy. 

V. Jeclediah, b. 1727, m. Hester Squire, Dec. 8, 1743, and had, 1. 
Patience, bap. Sept. 14, 174G ; 2. Ruth, bap. Jan. 29, 1749 ; 3. Jede- 

diah, bap. Feb. 12, 1751 ; 4. Asa, bap. March 3, 1754, m. 

Barnes, 1782 ; 5. Esther, b. July 7, 1757, m. Agur Hinman, Dec. 
27, 1780 ; 6. Hannah, bap. Sept. 3, 1764. 

VI. Nathan, b., Dec, 1726, and had ch., Abel, bap. Feb. 22, 1756; 
Mary, bap. March 13, 1758 ; Jemima, bap. April 8, 1759 ; Hannah, 
bap. April 19, 1761 ; Lois, bap. March 30, 1763. 

Doct. Daniel Munn, son of Samuel, d. June 11, 1761, leaving ch., 
1. Daniel, who m. and had Gideon and Mary; 2. John, m. Huldah 

, and had, Abel, b. Aug. 31, 1758 ; Gideon, bap. April 10, 1761, 

m. Love Curtiss, in 1785; Daniel, b. March 28, 1765; Mary, b. 
May 15, 1767 ; John, b. June 2, 1769 ; Aaron, bap. May 5, 1771 ; 
Huldah, bap. May 16, 1773 ; Allen, bap. July 30, 1775 ; Aaron Al- 
len, bap. April 5, 1778; Sherman, bap. Oct. 6, 1782; 3. Alma, m. 
Allen ; 4. Mary, m. Walker ; 5. Sarah, m. Sherman. 

Jedediah Munn, Jr., m. Agnes Nichols, Nov. 17, 1774, and had 
North South, b. Dec. 21, 1775. 



M S E L E Y FAMILY. 

Increase Moseley, Esq., was born at Norwich, Conn., May 18, 
1712, m. Deborah Tracy of Windham, May 7, 1735, removed to 
'• Ancient Woodbury," about 1740, and afterward v/ent to Vermont^ 
His wife Deborah, died Sept. 6, 1777, and he died May 2, 1705. 
His ch. were, 1. Abisha, b. June 6, 1736 ; 2. Abner,b. May 17, 1738; 
3. Increase, b. Oct. 13, 1740 ; 4. Molly, m. William Hooker, March 
18, 1754; 5. Deborah, b. Nov. 11, 1748, m. John Clark, of Middle- 
town ; 6. Susanna, b. June 11, 1751, d. young; 7. Prince, b. Oct. 9, 
1753, m. Mary Newton, and removed to Vermont; 8. Triphena, b. 
July 12, 1758, m. Bronson, and went to Vt. 

Abisha, eldest son of Increase, ra. Lois Dutton, Dec. 14, 1757, 
and had, 1. Susanna, b. Dec. 23, 1758, d. young ; 2. Eunice, m. Ebcn- 
ezer Frisbie ; 3. John, b. July 5, 1762, m. Abigail Castle, and remov- 
ed to Vt. ; 4. Thomas, b. July, 1764; 5. Nathaniel T., b. July 27, 



■y 



620 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBCRY. 



17G6; 6. Lois, b. Aug. 4, 1768; 7. Mary, bap. June 11, 1771; 8, 
Abigail, bap. 1774; 9. Deborah, b. Feb. 16, 1777. 

Abner, second son of Increase, m. Ann Clark, Sept. 18, 1765. 
He d. Feb. 22, 1812, and his widow d. in 1839. Their ch. were, 1. 
Gideon, b. June 29, 1766, m. Anna Taylor, and had, ch., Edna, 
Sophia, Frederick, Horace and Frances; 2. Edna, b, Aug. 14, 1769, 
m. Ashbel Moody, and d. Oct. 29, 1806; 3. Susanna, b. March 2, 
1772, m. Samuel Sperry, April 28, 1804; 4. Sarah Ann, b. June 25, 
1775, m. Doct. Ira V. Bronson. 

Col. Increase, third son of Increase, m. Patience Hinman, Oct. 15, 
1769. He d. in 1811, and his relict d. March, 1827. Ch., 1. Olive, 
b. Sept. 2, 1770, m. Josiah Curtiss ; 2. William, b. March 26, 1772, 
m. 1. Susan Marshall, m. 2. Fanny Cowles, and now resides at New 
Haven ; 3. Truman, b. Nov. 8, 1773, d. July 11, 1839 ; 4. John, b. 
Oct. 23, 1775, m. Molly Matilda Graham, Oct., 1798, who d. Jan. 30, 
1810, m. 2. Rebecca R. Brinsmade, June 13, 1821. His ch. were, Wil- 
liam G., b. Aug. 6, 1799 ; Polly Maria, b. Jan. 30, 1805, m. Thomas 
Johnson in 1827 ; Mary Ann, b. March 26, 1809, m. Walter John- 
son, Aug. 9, 1827. 

WilHam G., son of John, m. Maria Curtiss, Nov. 12, 1821. Ch., 
Maria, b. Oct. 4, 1822, m. George Hinman of Boston; 2. Charles 
W., b. May 6, 1824, d. on shipboard, in consequence of a fall, which 
he received when returning from Liverpool ; John G., b. Feb. 14, 
1833. 



MARTIN FAMILY. 




" Martin (Plymouth, Co. Devon ; originally from Kent. Capt. 
John Martin of this family went round the world with Drake in 
1577.) Gules on a chevron or, three talbots passant sable. Crest — 
on a globe or, a falcon rising argent gorged with a ducal coronet." 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT -WOODBURT. 621 

The ancient arms of the Martin family were, " Argent, two bars 
gules. Ci-est — out of a mural crown vert, a talbot's head, eared and 
langued gules collared of the first. Motto — Sure and Steadfast." 

The name of Martin was adopted as a surname, at a very early 
date, and few names have had greater numbers to bear them. The 
earliest record containing it, which has attracted the attention of the 
author, is the " Roll of Battle Abbey," on which the name of " Le- 
Sire de S. Martin," appears. Battle Abbey was dedicated to St. 
Martin, and the date of its " Roll" is A. D. 1066. The name was 
not only numerous on the other side of the water, but it has been the 
same in this country from its first settlement. There was a William 
Martin at London, Eng., who assisted the Puritans in preparing for 
their voyage to Plymouth Rock, but it does not appear, that he him- 
self came to this country. John Martyn, afterward Capt. John 
Martyn, or Martin of Plymouth, and son of Martin of Bridge- 
town near Totness, who had male issue living at that place in 1620, 
sailed round the globe with Sir Francis Drake, leaving Plymouth, 
Nov. 15, 1577, and returning to the same port, Sept. 26, 1580. 

Christopher Martin, his wife, son Ciiristopher, and one other, 
whose name is not given, came over in the Mayflower in 1620, but 
they all died during the first winter. Others of the name, however, 
came in almost every company for some years. They settled in 
various parts of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia and other 
colonies. John, William and Samuel seem to have l)een favorite 
Christian names in the family. Two of the former name went to 
Virginia in 1635. John and wife Sarah were at Boston in 1643, 
another John at Dorchester in 1666, and still another at Chelmsford 
in 1665. William Martin of Reading, Mass., was made a freeman, 
May 18, 1655. There was a William of Groton, Mass., who d. in 
1672, a. 76. There was an Anthony jMartin at Middletown, Conn., 
m. Mary Halle, had ch., Mary, John and Elizabeth, andd. in 1693. 
There was also a William Martin of the same place. 

It is proposed in this account to trace only the descendants of 
William Martin, or William Seaborn Martin, as he is familiarly 
known by his descendants, who was first of Stratford, and afterward 
of Woodbury. Tlie tradition in the family is, that this William's 
father emigrated from Plymouth, Eng., and that this son was born 
on the passage to this country. But every person, who has had any 
experience in genealogical investigation, well knows how little reli- 
ance can be placed on such legendary information. It may have 
been the case ; the story is thoroughly circulated among his descend- 



622 HISTORY 01" ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

ants, and as confidently believed. There was a Robert, who lived 
some years in New Haven, and had ch., John and Stephen, baptized 
there before his removal from that place some time previous to 1655. 
It is possible, that this Robert had a son, William, born as the story 
indicates, who at maturity found his way to the neighboring town of 
Stratford, and thence with the early settlers to Woodbury. There 
was a Samuel Martin of Wethersfield, who m. in England, wid. 
Phebe Brace, or Bracey, a dau. of William Bisby, merchant of 
London, and came over with his wife and her ch., by her former 
husband, about 1650. It is not impossible, that this lady gave birth 
to a child on the voyage, whom she called William from the name of 
her father, and Seaborn from the circumstances of his birth. Another 
circumstance in favor of this supposition, is the fact of William's 
marriage in 1685, which would make him according to this theory, 
about twenty-five years of age at that date, an age when he might 
be expected to form this connection. The records of Wethersfield 
show no birth of any child of Samuel, as might be expected, if Wil- 
iam was born on the passage over, and the parties had no other chil- 
dren. This was a second marriage, and the parents were probably 
somewhat in years. Wethersfield furnished many inhabitants for 
Stratford, and this would account for his appearance there. 

William Martin* and his wife Abigail, were admitted to the first 
church in Woodbury, on their removal there, Aug. 30, 1685. She 
was the daughter of Jonathan Curtiss, of Stratford, and b. Oct. 17, 
1671. They were m. June 25, 1685, when she was about fourteen 
years of age. Their first child was born in the twentieth year of her 
a'^e.' He died July 4, 1715. His widow survived him some twenty 
years, and died Jan. 4, 1735. ' He was buried near the center of the 
old burying-ground in Woodbury, and a coarse native stone, on which 
was chiseled, " W. M., July 4, 1715," was set up at the head and 
foot of his grave. These stones have been removed in digging other 
graves, and now lie on the ground near the place of their original 
location. His children were, 

I I. Joseph,^ bap. Nov., 1691. / 

fg XL Samuel," bap. March, 1693. 



1 There have been many instances of earlier matriagcs than this. I am informed 
by a friend, that there has been an instance in Roxbnry within a few yeai-s, where a 
motlver and her child were both in the list of children entitled to draw school money 
at the same time. As none are entitled except children between the ages of four and 
sixteen years of age, it will be seen in this case, that the child must have been more 
than four and the mother less than sixteen years of age. 



HISTORT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 623 

*, III. Caleb,- b. March 26, 1698. 

5 IV. Pkebe," bap. Jan., 1704 ; m. Daniel Curtiss, June 3, 1730. 

Joseph-^ (2) m. Sarah Harris, Aug. 18, 1718. He d. 1740. 
Children, 

6 I. Abigail,^ bap. May 10, 1719. 
I, 11. Abijah,^ bap. Oct. 16, 1720. 

8 in. Hannah"' or Harriet bap. July 20, 1722. 

^5 IV. Asahel,^' b. July 2, 1724. 

10 V. Andrew,^ b. Oct., 1726 -, m. Eunice Mitchell, Nov. 5, 1746. 

M VI. Amos,^ bap. Oct. 8, 1728. 

12 VII. .Joseph,'^ bap. Aug. 9, 1720 ; m. Jerusha Webster. He 
d. 1755. 

?^ VIII. Gideon,^ bap. July 28, 1736. 

Samuel- (3) m. Annis Hinman, Jan. 15, 1716. 

This individual had seventeen children by one wife, three of them 
at a single birth. These were daughters, all of whom married and 
had children. It was regarded as a remarkable occurrence, and as 
he was a man of moderate means, he petitioned the General Court for 
aid in the support of his family, but it was not granted. The petition 
is a curious document, and is given entire, as follows : 

" To the Hou'^'^Geni' Assembly of,his Majesties Colony of Connecticut in New- 
England in their Session at Hartford in May, 1736. 

" The Humble memorial of Sam" Martin of "Woodbury May it please your 
honors 

" Whereas the Glorious and Supream Governour of the World has Given me 
reason to Sing both of Mercy & of Judgement In that He hath blessed me 
with a numerous posterity & has particularly of Late increased the number in 
an uncommon manner, my Wife this Spring being delivered of three daughters 
at a birth, whicii made my number thirteen, and all living, healthy dhildren ; 
And yet it hatlie pleased the same Providence to lay me under some Considera- 
ble disadvantages to support my i'amily ; for I have been by a sore Wound in 
my hand considerably disenabled to labour ; My Eldest Son now in liis seven- 
teenth year, by a double breach in his thigh is like to be a Criple all his days. 
My v/ife since her lying in inclining much to a Dropsy, & unable to take the 
care of the family as formerly ; and having this Spring also lost two new Milch 
Cows, on which we had considerable dependence for the support of my family, 
& especially my inlants, I am hereby reduced to considerable straits & scarce 
know hovv' to support the charges Providence hath laid upon me. And there 
having been but one Instance of this nature in the Colony heretofore, viz' of 
Squire Curtis in Stratford. And hearing what the Charitable Disposition of the 
Hon'-''' Assembly was in that case to that Gentleman, together with the many 
Instances the Hon-''* Assembly have given of their readiness to help and relieve 
such as are in want, 1 have hereby been emboldened and encouraged to Lay my 
Case in the fores'^ broken manner before you. And would Now Humbly Intreat 



624 HISTORT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

this Hon*"'" Assembly to take my Case iuto their Serious Consideration, and 
vouchsafe me some help and relief in such measure as in theirtextensivc char- 
ity and in such measure as in their profound Wisdom, they shall see meet 
whereby I may in some measure be inabled to bear the extraordinary charges 
Divine Sovereignty hath laid upon me amidst the disadvantages I labor under. 
And y" Memoiialist as in duty bound shall ever pray. 
"Woodbury, May 11"', 173G. 

" Samuel Martin." 

His children were, 

14 I. Mary,^ b. April 11, 1717 ; m. Ephraim Minor, Jr., Nov. 20, 
1739. 

15 11. Eunice,^ b. April 15, 1718; d. 1788. 
J5 HI. William,3 b. April 27, 1719. 

^ IV. Samuel,3 b. Feb. 10, 1722. 

18 V. David,^ bap. June 9, 1723 ; d. young. 

19 VI. Prudence,3b. Oct. 9, 1724; m. Daniel Minor, Feb. 6, 
1746. 

20 VII. Merc}v bap. Nov. 13, 172G; m. Amos Root, Sept. 16, 
1747. 

21 VIII. David,-' bap. May 2G, 1728. 
fs IX. Jonas,'' bap. Oct. 25,1729. 

.i X. Elisha,^ b. Sept. 28, 1732. 
^5 XI. Nathan,^ b. July 30, 1734. 

II ™- ^^y.^^'' 3 I , T ,1, (b. March 18, 1736. 
2b Alll. I'atience,-^ >- at a birth, -< , -.,. , o, 1-70/' 
orf vT\r n si ) bap. March 21, 1736. 

27 XIV. Concurrence,^ ) ( ^ ' 

28 XV. Timothy,:^ bap. March 4, 1739. 

29 XVI. DanieV b. April 23, 1741. 

30 XVII. Deliverance,^ b. 1744. 

Caleb^ (4) m. Elizabeth Walker, June 3, 1729 ; m. 2. Sarah 

. He d. Sept. 14, 1776, aged 79. Children, 

f^ I. Solomon,-' b. April 17, 1731. 

32 II. Phebe,3 b. Dec. 26, 1733 ; m. Fairchild. 

33 III. Elizabeth, 3 b. Feb. 27, 1736 ; m. Walker. 

,^8 IV. Jolm,3 b. Jan. 15, 1739. 

35 V. Caleb,' > , . ^, .^,.. ( 

36 VI. Esther,^ | ^'- ^"^^ ^^' ^^*^' |m. Zimri Moody, March 21, 

1761. 

Abijah^* (7) m. Mary Terrill, July 13, 1741. Children, 
,V, I. Elijah,^ bap. April 15, 1744. 

38 II. Abijah," bap. March 8, 1747. 

39 III. Andrew,^ bap. Sept. 5, 1756. 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 625 

40 IV. Jeruslia/ bap. Oct. 8, 1758 ; m. Samuel Tomlinson, Jan. 
17,1783. 

41 V. Ashbel/ bap. Nov. 27, 1760. 

42 VI. David," bap. Aug. 11, 1763. 

43 VII. Samuel," bap. May 11, 1766; m. Chloe Stoddard, Jan. 
26, 1784. 

44 VIII. Marsh," bap. Aug. 27, 1769. 

45 IX. Mary Ann," bap. May 31, 1772. 

Asahel^ (9) m. Comfort Jackson, Nov. 5, 1746 ; d. June 17, 
1759 ; m. 2. Ann Benham, Nov. 20, 1759. Children, 

46 I. Azeubah," b. Dec. 3, 1746. 

47 II. Job," b. Jan. 13, 1749. 

48 III. Enos.' b. April 22, 1751. 

49 IV. Sarah," b. March 16, 1753. ' 

50 V. Joseph," b. Sept. 8, 1755. 

51 VI. Asahe!," b. Nov. 21, 1757. , 

52 VII. Comfort,") , i t i t i .o? i7ci 
-1,-TTT A 4 ^ by second wife, b. July 27, 17bl. 

53 Vlll. Ann,^ \ -^ ^ j ' 

Amos'^ (11) m. Prudence Tuttle, Jan. 16, 1755. He died 
April 7, 1800. Children, 

54 I. Aaron," b. May 23, 1756. 

55 II. Isaac," bap. Nov. 19, 1758. 

56 III. Noah," bap. Nov. 9, 1760. 

57 IV. Jesse," bap. Feb. 27, 1763. 

58 V. Eli," bap. Feb. 3, 1705. 

/f, VI. Truman," bap. March 12, 1769. 

Gideon-' (13.) He died 1785. Children, 

60 I. Hannah," bap. Feb. 12, 1758. 

61 II. Robert," bap. Dec. 20, 1759. 

62 III. Mercy Ann," bap. April 17, 17 65. 

William'* (16.) Children, 

63 I. Simeon," b. March 25, 1744. 

64 II. Joel," b. June 23, 1745 ; m. Lucy , and had oh., Joel. 

65 III. Thaddeus," b. March 8, 1747. 

66 IV. Mary," b. Nov. 5, 1749. 

67 V. Damaris," b. Aug. 4, 1751 ; d. June 5, 1752. 

68 VI. Damaris," b. Jan. 19, 1754. 

SamueP (17) m. Ann Hurd, July 24, 1744. Children, 

69 I. Reuben," bap. June 22, 1746. 

70 11. Esther," bap. June 12, 1748. 

71 III. Annis," bap. May 20, 1750. 

44 



626 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUBT. 

72 IV. Wait," bap. July 5, 1752. 

73 V. Solomon,' bap. July 28, 1754. 

74 VI. Zadoc,' bap. Oct. 3, 175G. 

75 VII. Samuel," bap. Aug. 6, 1758. 

Jonas^ (22.) Children, 

76 I. Ebenezer Gold,' bap. May 24, 1767, m. and had 1. Thad- 
deus, 2. Faith, 3. Polly, 4. Samuel, 5. Sheldon. 

77 II. Susanna," bap. May 19, 1771, m. Clifford, of Vt. 

78 III. Faith," bap. Oct. 17, 1773, m. Dea. Joseph Hatch. 
Z IV. Samuel," bap. Sept. 24, 1775. 

80 V. Sarah,-" bap. Sept. 17, 1777, m. David Dinsmore. 

81 VI. Rhoda," bap. JNIarch 5, 1780. 

82 VII. Mary Ann," bap. March 24, 1782. 

83 VIII. Bethiah," bap. April 4,. 1784. 

84 IX. Jonas Sheldon," bap. Sept. 3, 1786, m. Polly Preston, and 
2. "Widow Lu(^' Woodward ; has child, Harriet, lives in New York. 

85 X. Daniel," bap. Oct. 12, 1788, unm., lives in Woodbury. 

Elisha" (23) m. Hannah Minor, March 8, 1757. Children, 

86 I. Rachel," bap. Dec. 18, 1757. 

87 II. David," bap. April 13, 1759. 

88 III. Jerusha," bap. March 7, 1762. 

89 IV. David Minor," bap. July 15, 1764. 

90 V. Concurrence," bap. Oct. 5, 1766. 

91 VI. Sylvia," bap. March 5, 1769. 

92 VII. Ehsha," bap. March 17, 1771. 

93 VIII. Eunice," bap. July 9, 1775. 

94 IX. Reuben," bap. July 9, 1775. 

95 X. Reuben Ilinman, bap. Aug. 29, 1779. 

Nathan^ (24) m. Ellen Bradley. He d. at Woodbury, in 
1794. Children, 

96 I. Samuel." 

97 II. Truman." 

1^ III. Nathan," b. Aug. 7, 1768. 

99 IV. Ellen," m. Bildad Sherman, of Woodbury, and had chil- 
dren, John, Lucy, Bradley, Nancy, Judson, and Emily. He died at 
Angelica, N. Y., in 1840, and his widow at the same place, in 1834. 

100 V. Sybil," ra. Daniel Hurlbut. 

101 VI. Jason." 

102 VII. Phineas." 
TsJ VIII. Thaddeus." 

}JJ IX. Bradley," b. May 6, 1782. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 627 

105 X. Wait,^ lives at Avon, N. Y. 

Solomon'-' (31) m. Esther Mitchell, who was b. 1725, and d. 
Oct. 18, 1804. He d. July 24, 1805. Children, 
1^ I. Benjamin,' b. Nov. 25, 1754, d. April 30, 1782. 
\% II. Isaac,^ b. April 5, 1757, d. Nov. 6, 1832. 
108 III. Eunice," b. Sept. 24, 1759, d. June 27, 1761. 
^ 1^^ IV. Solomon,' b. June 15, 1762, d. 1816. 

U°9 V. Reuben,^ b. June 22, 1705, d. Feb. 14, 1836. 

111 VI. Eunice," b. June 27, 1771, d. April 29, 1782. 
Elijah" (37) m. Anne Smith, April 7, 1768. Children, 

112 Mary ,5 b. Feb. 8, 1769. 

113 Sarah Ann,' b. April 27, 1771. 

114 Eliphalet,5 b. Sept. 5, 1772. 

115 Marsh,^ b. Nov. 26, 1775. 

116 Faith,' b. April 22, 1778. 

117 Ashley,^ b. March 16, 1781. 

118 Elvira,^ b. Oct. 3, 1792. 

Lieut. John^ (34) m. Martha Judson, Jan. 27, 1763, who d. 
June 5, 1766. Children, 

119 I. Olive," b. Nov. 30, 1764. 

120 II. Martha," b. June 5, 1766. 

121 III. Noah," b. 1768. 
Truman" (59.) Children, 

122 I. Charles,^ bap. Aug. 23, 1795. 

123 II. Ruth,' bap. Aug. 23, 1795. 

, 124 III. Aaron,^ bap. Aug. 23, 1795. 

125 IV. Jennette,* bap. Aug. 23, 1795. 

Samuel" (79) m. Sally De Forest. He d. Feb. 7, 1849. She 
d. March, 1838. Children, 

126 I. Frederick,* m. Mary Ann Orton, July 11, 1839, and has 
children, Caroline E., b. Dec. 28, 1840; Mary 0.,b. April 12, 1843; 
Harriet E., b. July 26, 1846; John Orton, b. March 30, 1849, and 
Frederick Sheldon, b. Sept. 1,1851. 

127 II. John,^ m. Mehala Carmer. 

Nathan" (98) m. Abiah Minor, Sept., 1794. She was b. Oct. 
21, 1772. He moved from Woodbury to Peacham, Vt., 
March, 1809. Here his wife died Aug. 12, 1816. He 
moved thence to Clarkson, N. Y., May, 1835, and thence 
to Avon, Livingston county, N. Y., where he now resides, 
at the age of 85, in the enjoyment of good health. Chil- 
dren, 



628 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

128 I. Nathaniel,^ b. June 16, 1795, d. April 8, 1796. 

129 11. Curtis,-" b. Oct. 25, 179G, d. May 16, 1825. 

130 III. Infant son,^ b. May 3, 1798, d. May 12, 1798. 

131 IV. Betsey M.,^ b. Sept. 25, 1801, unm., lives at Avon. 
i^ V. Henry,"* b. Nov. 14, 1802. 

133 VI. Henrietta,^ b. May G; 1806, m. Truman Watrous, July 
22, 1835, and d. without issue, July 20, 183G. 

134 VII. Aaron Jason,' b. April 14, 1809, d. Feb. 7, 1834. 
Thaddeus" (103) m. Mehetable Throop, sister of Gov. Throop, 

of N. Y., Oct. 10, 1805. He resided at Avon, Livingston 
county, N. Y., where he d. April 23, 1826. Children, 
134 I. Mortimer Bradley," b. Oct. 18, 1806, and now resides in 
Kalamazoo county, Michigan, m. Mary Ann Beach, Feb. 16, 1841, 
and had two sons and one daughter. The wife and daughter ai-e de- 
ceased. 

Jg^ II. Enos Thompson Throop,^ b. Nov. 25, 1808. 

136 III. George Bliss,^ b. Sept. 12, 1811, m. Hannah Townsend, 
Sept. 3, 1835. 

137 IV. Harriet Byron,^ b. April 24, 1814, m. John Williams, of 
Salem, N. Y., Sept. 9,'l835. 

138 V. Thaddeus Osger,^ b. April 15, 1816. 

139 VI. Ilenry,^ b. July 5, 1818, d. Oct. 10, 1818. 

140 VII. Henry ,^ b. June 30, 1819, d. Dec. 5, 1819. 

141 VIII. Henrietta,' b. June 30, 1819, d. April 15, 1822. 

142 IX. Evelina Throop,^ b. Feb. 11, 1822, m. James II. Roches- 
ter, May 14, 1846. 

Bradley," (104) b. at Woodbury, May 6, 1782, and d. at Avon, 
N. Y., April 23, 1825, m. Harriet B. Hull, who was b. at 
Salisbury, Conn., Nov. 20, 1785. 

143 I. Eliza H.,* b. at Avon, N. Y., July 9, 1807, d. Feb. 23, 
1829, about four months after her marriage to Alfred B. Field, of 
Canandaigua, N. Y. 

\V, II. Henry IIull,^ b. Nov. 27, 1809. 

145 III. Harriet E.,^ b. April 6, 1817, m. James S. Polhemus, of 
Astoria, N. Y., June 20, 1849. 

146 IV. Jane Ann,^ b. Nov. 9, 1819, m. Anthony Blanchard, of 
Albany, Aug. 11,1841. 

Benjamin" (106) m. Hannah Atwood, who d. May 3, 1843, 
aged 88. Children, 

147 I. Esther,* b. Jan. 1, 1777, d. Nov. 16, 1819, m. Gordon 
Huntington, of Unadilla, N. Y., had children, 1. Hannah A., b. May, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AYOODBURT. 629 

1800, who m. 1. Calvin Balies, of New York ; m. 2. Rev. R. H. Wal- 
lace, of Coldenliam, N. Y. ; 2. Anna M., b. March, 1802, m, David 
P. Brewster, of Oswego, N. Y., Oct., 1826 ; children, Lucius Hunt- 
ington, b. July 31, 1827, whom. Maria P. Baron, Oct. 9, 1851, and 
had child, Anna H., b. Oct. 9, 1852. 

148 II. Phebe," b. June 22, 1779, d. May 1, 1785. 

149 III. Benjamin,^ b. May 11, 1781, d. Dec. 9, 1798. 

Isaac' (107) m. Mary Baldwin, Nov. 17, 1779; she was b. 
Nov. G, 1760, andd. March 13, 1833. Children, 
is? I. Isaac Mitchell,-^ b. .Jan. 2, 1781, d. Aug. 1, 1847. 
J3i II. Philo,^' b. July 29, 1783. 

152 III. Eunice,^ b. Sept. 27, 1788, d. Dec. 17, 1789. 

153 IV. Anna,^ b. Feb. 9, 1791, d. March 4, 1795. 
'^\ V. Jehiel P.,-^ b. Oct. 17, 1793. 

155 VI. Anna,'^ b. March 17, 1796, m. John Salisbury, of Jeffer- 
son, N. Y. ; children, Lucy, Mary, Philena C and Cornelius J. 

Solomon^ (109) m. Susan Scott, of Catskill, N. Y., 1796. 
Children, 

156 L Benjamin F.,^ b. March, 1802. 

157 IL William S.,'' b. March, 1802, m. in 1842, and has a son 
and daughter. 

158 III. EdwardjHi. 1804, m. in 1835, and has one child, Charles, 
b. in 1836. 

159 IV. Robert IL, b. 1808, m. Lucy Warner, of Hartford, Conn., 
May, 1836; children, Cornelia, b. 1838, and Kate, b. 1840. 

Reuben"' (110) m. March 4,1799, Sally Minor, who was born 
Dec. 8, 17G9. Children, 

160 I. Altha,'^ b. Feb. 11, 1800, ra. Dca. Natlianiel Minor, Aug. 
18, 1819; children, Antoinette, b. Nov. 25, 1821, d. March 24, 1843; 
Mary Root, b. March 25, 1826, m. Nathaniel L. Strong, Nov. 4, 
1846 ; child, Nathaniel Minor, b. April G, 1849. 

161 in. Olive,^ b. March 15, 1802, d. June 15, 1846, m. Thomas 
Olcott, Jr., March 10, 1824. He d. Nov. 25, 1838 ; children, Sarah 
M., b. July 22, 1827, ra. John E. Strong, June 8, 1852 ; Margaret T., 
b. Jan. 20, 1831. 

162 IIL Electa,-' b. April 9, 1804, d. Oct. 9, 1807. 

163 IV. Electa A.,-' b. Oct. 4, 1807, unm. 

164 V. Reuben B.,^ b. Jan. 14, 1813, m. Susan W. Cogswell, Oct. 
25, 1843; she was b. Oct. 12, 1812 ; children, Reuben Whittlesey, 
b. Jan. 26, 1845 ; Sally Cogswell, b. May 12, 1847, d. May 14, 1849 ; 
Esther Maria, b. Nov. 27, 1850; Susan W., b. Jan. 1, 1853. 



G30 HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 

Henry* (132) m. Tryphena Hawkins, of Alexandria, N. Y., 
Feb. 25, 1831. He resides at Buffalo, N. Y., and is largely 
engaged in railroad operations. Children, 

165 I. Henry Hawkins," b. Dec. 30, 1831. 

166 IT. Frank,'' b. Feb. 25, 1841. 

167 III. Van Rensselear," b. April 24, 1845. 

Enos Thompson Throop* (135) m. Cornelia Williams, of 
Utica, N. Y., June 1, 1837. He resides at Willowbrook, 
on the Owasco Lake, near Auburn, N. Y. Children, 

168 I. Mary Williams," b. May 14, 1838. 

169 II. Cornelia Eliza,« b. Feb. 10, 1840. 

170 III. Harriet Byron," b. July 2, 1841, d. Feb. G, 1845. 

171 IV. Evelina Throop," b. Feb. 28, 1843. 

172 V. Throop,"b. Dec. 23, 1844. 

173 VI. Emily Norwood," b. Nov. 29, 1846. 

174 VII. Eliza Williams," b. Dec. 17, 1848. 

175 VIII. John Williams," b. Sept. 24, 1850. 

176 IX. George Bliss," b. May 29, 1852. 

Henry HulP (144) m. Anna Townsend, Oct. 8, 1835. He 
studied law, and practiced the profession with ability, and 
good success, for some years. He now resides at Albany, 
N. Y., and is cashier of the Albany City Bank. Children, 

177 I. Henry Townsend," b. at Albany, Jan. 2, 1837. 

178 II Anna Lawrence," b. at Flushing, L. L, Sept. 3, 1838. 

179 III. Harriet Byron," b. at Albany, Jan. 1, 1840 ; d. Jan. 29, 
1844. 

180 IV. Bradley, b. at Albany, Dec. 18, 1841. 

181 V. Alice, "b. at Albany, Jan. 12, 1848. 

182 VL Frederick Townsend," b. at Albany, Dec. 6,1849. 

183 VIL Howard Townsend," b. at Albany, Feb. 28, 1853. 
Isaac MitchelP (150) m. Philena Guernsey, Feb. 16, 1801. 

She was b. May 31, 1776 ; d. Sept. 24, 1824 ; m. 2. Lou- 
isa Baker, April, 1825; d. Aug. 7, 1832; m. 3. Betsey 
Swetland, April 17, 1834. Children, 

184 L Emily," b. Dec. 30, 1801; d. June, 1828; m. Cushing 

Cunningham. Ch., two sons, d. young; Marilla C, whom. 

Galpin, and has one son. 

185 II. Bennet,"b. Aug. 1, 1805 ;*m. Asenath Smith, Nov. 28, 
1832. 

186 IIL Sarah," b. Jan. 30, 1810; m. Stephen Smith, June 26, 
1831. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 631 

187 IV. Catherine,'' b. Nov. 3, 1813. 

188 V. Harmon M., b. Aug. 29,1815; d. Oct., 1847. 

Philo' (151) m. Fanna Hurd, Dec. 21, 1803. She was born 
Dec. 6, 1780; d. Aug. 19, 1841. Children, 

189 I. Homer,^ b. Sept. 12, 1804 ; m. Sarah Dodge, of Albany, 
June 27, 1827, and has ch., 1. Edmund Philo, b. Oct. 8, 1829 ; 2. 
Frances H., b. July 10, 1831, d. June 18, 1837 ; 3. Sarah D., b. Sept. 
27, 1833, d. July 27, 1836; 4. Homer Dodge, b. Oct. 28, 1836. 

190 II. Laura," b. Nov. 30, 1805. 

191 III. Garret," b. Feb. 4, 1808 ; m. Lydia Warriner, April 16, 
1885, and has ch., Altana, b. March, 1836, d. May, 1837 ; Jason H., 
b. April 16, 1839. 

192 IV. Mary Ann,"b. Sept. 10, 1809. 

193 V. Betsey,^ b. Sept. 14, 1811, d. Aug. 13, 1847. 

194 VI. Philo Lewis,'= b. July 30,1813; m. Hannah S. Giddings, 
Sept. 30, 1847. She was b. March 26, 1829, and has ch., Moses 
C. G., b. Jan. 4, 1852. 

195 VII. Fanna Adaline," b. Sept. 15, 1815. 

196 VIII. A daughter,*^ b. Oct. 17, 1817 ; d. 

197 IX. Reuben," b. March 18, 1819 ; m. Charlotte S. Minor, 
Dec. 4, 1848, and had ch., Philo M., b. March 5, 1850 ; d. Dec. 30, 
1851. 

198 X. Joel," b. June 16, 1821. 

199 XL Isaac Mitchell," b. Sept. 16, 1824. 

Jehiel P.^ (154) m. Susan Watson, 1814. Children, 

200 I. Isaac," d. at eight years of age. 

201 IL PhebeAnn," 
• 202 in. Elizabeth," 



MARSHALL FAMILY. 

Edward Marshall,' a merchant of New York city, who is supposed 
to have been the son of Jarvis Marshall, of the same city, was the 
first of the name to whom the Marshalls of Woodbury trace their de- 
scent. He ra. Anna Maria , who after his decease, m. Rukard 

Burke, by whom she had ch., Anna and Mary. Her will is dated 
May 29, 1723. Children, 

3 L John,-b. Feb. 8, 1701. 

3 II. Susanna.- 



632 HIS TORT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

John' (2) was a shipping merchant at New York ; m. Elsie 
Rutgers, Jan. 27, 1709-10, and d. Aug. 21, 1750. Ch., 

4 I. Anna Maria,^ b. Sept. 29, 1731 ; m. Johannes Panet ; d. 
May 19, 1764. 

5 II. Hermanus,^ b. March 8, 1739 ; d. July 24, 1745. 

6 III. Edward,^ b. April 5, 1741 ; d. at Derby, May 30, 1773. 
? IV. John Rutgers,^ b. June 11, 1743. 

Rev. John Rutgers^ (7) was b. in New York ; resided in Strat- 
ford as a merchant from 1766 to 1771. lie finally became 
first rector of St. Paul's Church, Woodbury, and d. Jan. 
21, 1789. He was interred in rear of St. Paul's Church. 
He m. Sarah Bryan, of Milford, Nov. 19, 1766. Ch., 

8 I. Susanna Anna Maria,'' b. Feb. 19, 1768, m. Rev. Reuben 
Ives, of Cheshire, Conn., Jan. 25, 1789, and d. Aug. 26, 1849. Their 
children were Aima Burke, Maria, Susan, Cornelia, and Edward 
John. 

9 II. Rukard Burke,, b. Jan. 7, 1770; m. Ruth Preston, June 
18, 1795. No children. 

10 III. Sarah,^ b. Dec. 24, 1771; m. William Ilawley, of Red- 
ding, Dec. 24, 1794; d. at Oswego, June 24, 1845. Ch., William 
Marshall, b. Jan 12, 1795; Sarah Lydia, b. March 10, 1797; Wil- 
liam, b. May 23, 1799 ; Susanna Anna IMaria, b. Nov. 19, 1801 ; John 
Panet, b. Feb. 23, 1804; Henry Rutgers, b. April 29, 1806, and 
Mary Sophia, b. Aug. 29, 1809. 

11 IV. Anna Maria Susanna,'' b. Feb. 24, 1774; m. William 
Moseley, Feb. 24, 1799; d. at New Haven, March 2, 1837. Ch., 
Hermanns, John Rutgers, William and John. 

12 V. Hermanns,'' b. April 22, 1776 ; m. Abigail Judson, of Wash- 
ington, Conn., April, 1804 ; d. at Ogdensburgh, N. Y., Dec. 11, 1845. 

13 VI. John," b. May 17, 1778. Supposed to be d.; no ch. 
» VII. John Panet," b. Aug. 29, 1781. 

15 VIII. Anna Burke," b. Aug. 23, 1782 ; d. at seven years of 
age. 

16 IX. Elsie," b. June 18, 1784; m., in 1809, Hon. Charles B. 
Phelps, attorney at law, and judge of the Litchfield county court. 
She d. Dec. 21, 1825, and he m. 2. Amanda Parker. His ch. are, 
George Bartlett, b. Feb. 11, 1810 ; Charles Elisha, b.Oct. 29, 1811 ; 
Edward Marshall, b. Nov. 29, 1813 ; John Rutgers, b. March 20, 
1816 ; Susan Moseley, b. March 23, 1818 ; Elisha Charles, b. Sept. 
5, 1821 ; and by the second marriage, Amanda and Maria. 

John Panet* (14) m. Julia Perry, Dec. 10, 1812. Ch., 



H 1 S T O K r OF ANCIENT W O O I) B U K Y . ()o3 

17 I. Henry P./ b. Feb. 17, 1814; ni. Cornelia Conrad. Ch., 
John Henry," d. Au^. 9, 1850 ; Anna Dewitt.'' .lulia Perry," IMandi- 
na Tappan,'' Frederick Panet, and Henry. 

18 II. Frederick A.,' b. Jan. 20, 181»3. 
10 III. Julia P./ b. Oct. 24, 181!). 

20 IV. Walter P./ b. May 20, 1821. 



M I T C H E L L F A M 1 L Y . 

Persons of the name of Mitchell, ^\•e1•e early in New England. 
According to Farmei*, Experience Mitchell came over in the third 
ship, named the Ann, in 1G23. He was one of the company of Pil- 
grims in Holland, one of the first jtroprietors of Plymouth, and died 
in 1G89, aged nearly ninety. He liad fonr sons, Thornas. .lacob, John 
and Edward. 

According to Mather's IMagnalia, Pev. Jonathan Mitchell, (son of 
Matthew,) was born at Halifax, in Yorkshire, England, in ]G24; 
came to America at the age of eleven years, in the same ship with 
Ricliard Mather; arrived at Charlestown, Mass., where they were 
sick the first winter. He Avent to Concord in the latter part of the 
winter, next summer to Saybrook, Conn., the following spring to 
Wethersfield, and at the close of that year to Stamford. He gradua- 
ted at Harvard College in 1G47, preached his first sermon at Hart- 
ford, June 22, 1G49, and began to occupy the pulpit at Cambridge, 
Aug. 12, 1649, which he continued to fill for eighteen years. He 
was, according to this authority, the tiiird minister at this place. 

By Winslow's Journal, we are informed that the Mitchells came 
over in the ship James, of Bristol. 

According to information in the possession of Minot Mitchell, Esq., 
of White Plains, N. Y., the Mitchells were originally from Scotland, 
but removed to Halifax, in Yorkshire, wliere they resided for three 
generations. Matthew^ Mitchell, who is the ancestor of tlic family 
in this country, was born in 1590. He was a dissenter and is repre- 
sented to have been not only a very pious man, but a man of very 
considerable fortune. The dissenters from the Church of England, 
being constantly persecuted and annoyed in their religious worship, 
he with many others of his persuasion, determined to leave England; 
and on the twenty-third of May, 1635, they set sail from Bristol, and 
arrived at Boston, Aug. 17, the same year. On the 15th, two days 
45 



634 ^ HISTORY OF A N C I K N T \V O O U D U R T . 

before tliey landed, tliere arose au exceedingly severe storm, wliicli 
carried away their sails, cables and anchors, and they narrowly es- 
caped being shipwrecked on the coast. lie and his family spent the 
winter at Charlestown, and removed to Concord in tlje spring, where 
he lost considerable [property by fire. The next summer he removed 
to Saybrook, Conn., and the next spring to Wethersfield. Here he 
lost slill more of his j)r()p('rty. Toward the close of that year, his 
son-in-law was murdered by the Pequot Indians, who also destroyed 
his cattle and injured his estate, as history informs us, to the extent 
of several hundred pounds. His situation finally became so uncom- 
fortable there, that he changed his residence once more, and located 
himself at Stamford, which was then in the colony of New Haven. 
Here his house, barn and goods were consumed by fire, and at lengtli, 
after suiTering for some time with the gravel or stone in the bladder, 
he died, in 1 G45, aged 55. He had two sons, 2. Rev. Jonathan,- (men- 
tioned above,) and .3. David.^ 

David^ (3) settled in Stratford; had sons as follows : 
:5 I. Matthew,^ settled in Southbury society, previous to 1682. 
n IT. John,'' settled in Woodbury about the same time. 
6 III. Nathan,^ moved to Litchfield, and was one of the first 
grantees of the town. 

7 IV. Abraham,^ settled in Woodbury, had a dau. Hannah, bap. 
Aug., 1088, and nothing farther is at present known of him. 

Dea. Matthew,^ (4) m. Mary , who d. Jan. 18, 1711. 

He d. in 173G. Children, 
8 I. Mary," bap. Feb., 1G78-9. 
,9 II. Jonathan,^ bap. July, 168.3. 
10 HI. Mary,^ bap. July, 1087, m. Jonathan Judson, Aug. 22, 
1711. 

'J, IV. David," bap. Oct., 1G02. 

John' (5) m. Elizabeth , d. Jan. 3, 1732. Ills wife d. 

in 1730. Children, ^ 

12 I. David,'* bap. Nov., 1G70 ; d. young. 
10 II. David," bap. April, 1G80-1., 

14 III. Elizabeth," bap. Nov., 1G83; d. young. 

15 IV. Elnathan," bap. Oct., 1686. 
i? V. John," bap. Feb., 1G88-9. 

]?, VI. Knell," bap. April, 1G90-1. 

18 VII. Elizabeth," bap. May, 1693, m. Squire. 

19 VIII. Martha," bap. March, 1G9G-7, m. Abraham Ilurd, Feb. 
11, 1720. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT W O O D B U K T . bo.> 

Joiialhaii' (9) ni. Ilannali , wlio d. 17'")2. He m. 2. 

Elizalieili , and d. in 1744. His cli. were, 

20 I. Hiddah,Mjap. April, 1707. 
^^ ir. Matthew,^' b. March 3, 1701). 

22 in. Mary,^ b. May 17, 1711 ; d. young. 

23 lY. Marj,^ b. Sept. 13, 1713, in. Benjamin King, Aug. 19, 
1733. 

?^ y. Nathan,^ b. Sept. 8, 1715. 

25 VI. Hannah,'^ b. Feb. 15, 1718, m. Ebenezer Hinman, Jan. 5, 
1737. 

26 VII. Rhoda,'^ b. April 4, 1720. 

27 VIII. Susanna,^ b. Nov. 11, 1722; d. March 1, 1723. 
I] IX. Peter,= b. Dec., 1723. 

29 X. Simeon,''' b. May 17, 1725 ; d. young. 

30 XL Susanna,-5 bap. Oct. 30, 1726; d. Jan. IG, 1727. 

31 XII. Jonathan,^ b. Dec. 20, 1730; d. March 13, 1735. 
fi XIII. Eleazer,^ b. Nov. 27, 1732. 

David' (11) m. Sarah Galpin, Oct. 30, 1717; d. in 1757. 
Ch. as follows, 
i I. Abijah,^ b. Jan. 24, 1719. 

II II. Enos,' b. May 7, 1721, settled in Judea society. 
l^ III. Timothy,^ b. April 9, 1725. 

36 IV. Palience,' b. July 15, 1727, m. David Judson, Oct. 15, 
1746. 

37 V. Ann,5 m. Nathan llurd, April 20, 1748. ' 

Lt. John' (16) m. 1. Elizabeth Curtiss, Jan. 17, 1717, who 

d. May 14, 1738 ; m. 2. Mary . She d. Jan. 4, 1745. 

He d. April 22, 1748. and " Sarah his widow," d. Sept. 3, 
1749. Children, 

38 I. Joanna,' b. Nov. 18, 1718, m. Aaron Mallory, June, 1744. 

39 II. John,' b. Oct. 12, 1720; had ch., 1. Elisha,« bap. Oct. 8, 
1749 ; 2. Elizabeth,'' bap. April 20, 1752 ; 3. John,« bap. May, 1754, 
and had Doet. Henry," who went to Coxsackie, N. Y. 

i''", III. Asahel,'^ b. Oct. (!, 1723, remained in Woodbury. 
i^Jt IV. Elnathan,-' b. Feb. 9, 1728, settled in Judea society. 

42 V. Reuben,' b. Sept. 1733; d. Jan., 1737. 

KnelP (17) d. in 174i); his wife Martha d. 1730. Ch., 

43 I. Daniel,' b. July 2, 1721 ; d. March 28, 1739. 

44 II. Eunice,' b. May 6, 1723, m. Andrew Martin, Nov. 5, 1746. 

45 III. Esther,' b. April 20, 1725. 

46 IV. Bettcrus,-' b. Nov., 1727, m. Jehiel Preston. 



636 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

47 V. Isaac/' b. Sept. 17, 1730, m. Jcrusha Eoot, Dec. 5, 1753; 
d. Jan. 1755. lie had a son Isaac, b. Sept. 20, 1754, also a posthu- 
mous eh., name not known. Isaac, Jr., d. in 177G, leaving a wife 
Sarah, no issue. 

Lt. Matthew* (21) was blind many years. He m. Hannah, 
dau. of Hon. William Preston, who d. in 1761 ; m. 2. Abi- 
gail Sanford. He d. Oct. 29, 1792; ch., 

48 I. Damaris,'' b. Aug. 30, 1735, m. Elijah Bronson. 

49 11. Jonathan," b. Jan., 1739 ; d. March 29, 1739. 
ifo HI. Jonathan,^ b. Feb. 8, 1740. 

51 IV. David," b. Jan. 4, 1742. 

52 V. Hannah,'"' bap. Marcli 4, 1744, m. Eleazer Knowles, in 17G4. 

53 VI. Rhoda," bap. March 9, 1746', m. Ilinman. 

1^4 VII. David," bap. Nov. G, 1748. 

« VIII. Matthew," bap. July 14, 1751. 
56 IX. Mary," bap. June 3, 1753. 
1^4 X. Simeon," b. April 10, 1757, 

58 XL Sarah," ) , i> i i i-,m m. Truman Richards, Aug:., 

59 XII. Hester," j ^''^'' ^^^^^- ^'^ ' ^'^^ [1787. 

Nathan* (24) m. 1. Mary, dau. of Hon. William Preston, 
Dec. 11, 1739. She d. Dec. G, 1751 ; he ra. 2. Jerusha 
. He d. Nov. 20, 17G9. Children, 

60 I. Seth," bap. April 5, 1742, m. Rhoda Hinman, Dec. 19, 1762, 
and had 2 ch., Nathan' and Seth." The last had 2 daus. Mary," 
who d. Sept. 24, 1794, a. 10. Rhoda,^' d. May, 1805, a. 33. 

61 11. Jehiel," bap. Sept. 28, 174G; d. young. 

62 III. Jehiel," bap. Feb. 12, 1749; d. Jan. 8, 1753. 

63 IV. Beriah," bap. Dec. 23, 1753; lived in Roxbury soc, had 
2 sons, Edward, b. in 1798, and James Preston, b. June 24, 1800. 

64 V. Ichabod,* bap. Oct. 5, 1755 ; went to Vermont. 

65 VI. Jerusha," b. Aug. 21, 1757. 

66 VII. Mary," bap. June 3, 1759. 

67 VIII. Esther," bap. Sept. 7, 1761. 

68 IX. Jehiel," bap. Jan. 1, 1764. 

Peter* (28) m. Elizabeth of Stratford, who d. Feb. 18, 

1780. Children, 

69 I. Lampson," b. Sept. 25, 1748. 
™ II. Nathaniel," Sept. 22, 1750. 

71 III. John," bap. Aug. 2, 1752, m. and had a sou Lampson 
Preston. * 

72 IV. Mary," bap. Jan. 19, 1755. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 637 

73 V. William," bap. Nov. IG, 17G0, removed to Genessee, N. Y., 
had sons James" and Peter.'' 

74 VI. Elizabetli,^ bap. April 22, 1764. 

Dea. Eleazer' (32) m. 1. Olive Ilicock, Ocl. 5, 1758 ; m. 2. 
Wid. Abigail Ilicock, who after his death, resided with her 
dau., Mrs. Zephaniah II. Smith of Glastenbury, Conn., 
Avherc she d. in 1831, a. 92. The eh. of Dea. Eleazer 
were as follows, 
,1 I. Simeon," b. Sept. 5, 1759. 

70 II. Eunice," bap. Jan. 20, 17G2, m. Wait Ilinman, June 29, 
1785, and had Josiah, b. May 23, 1780 ; Olive E., b. Sept. 28, 17^7. 
g III. Warren," b. Jan. 15, 17GG. 
^^, IV. Amos," b. April 30, 17G8. 

79 V. Benjamin," b. June 30, 1770. 

80 VI. Olive," b. April 11, 1774, m. Joel Crane, Jan. 20, 1804, 
ch., Simeon, b. March 24, 1804; Anna, b. Oct. 21, 1807 ; William, 
b. April 30, 1810; William II., )>. May 14, 1813; Charles E., b. 
Jan. 30, 1815. 

fl, VII. Benjamin," b. April 22. 1777. 
Abijah^ (33) had, 

82 I. Sarah," b. March 20, 17G0. 

83 II. Eunice," b. Feb. G, 17G2. 

84 III. Ruth," b. May 21, 17G4. 

85 IV. Rebecca," b. Sept. 10, 176G. 

86 V. Lucy," bap. Oct., 17 69. 

87 VI. Benjamin," b. July 23, 1773, went west. 

Enos^ (34) m. Susannah, dau. of Lt. Joseph Judson, June 4, 
1750. She was b. in 1730. Children, 

88 I. Patience," b. Dec. 24, 1751. 

89 II. David," b. Sept. 30, 1753 ; d. unm. 

90 III. Ann," b. March 21, 1755, m. Nathan Ilicock. 

91 IV. Simeon," b. March 10, 1757, m. Aunis , no issue. 

92 V. Susanna," b. May 20, 1760. 

93 VI. Samuel," b. Aug. 4, 1763; d. unm. 

94 VII. Mary," b. Aug. 21, 1765. 

95 VIII. Philo," b. May 14, 1767. 

9G IX. Timothy," b. May 5, 1769, m. Silence Baker. Ch., Eliza, 
Julia, Edna and Silence, all unm. lie also had a son Garwood, who 
was educated at West Point, waa ^apt. in the army, and d. in Flori- 
da durin-T; the late war with the Indians in that state. 



638 II I S T O K T OF ANCIENT "VV O O D 15 U 11 Y . 

97 X. P^nos,'' b. Dec. 2, 1771, ra. Lucrctia Baker, both living in 
Washington, no issue. 

Timothy'^ (-55) in. Elizabeth Stoddard, May 1, 17G0, d. 17G8. 
Children, 

98 I. Abijah,''" b. Feb. 24, 1701, d. same year. 

99 11. Anna," b. INIay 22, 17G2. 

100 III. Capt. Abijah," b. March 20, 17G4, m. Root; Ch. 

Nathaniel," bap. Sept. 5, 1795 ; Timothy" and Lee," Feb. G, 1803, 
and others, names not known. A part of this family now reside in 
Delaware county, N. Y. 

101. IV. Patience," b. Aug. 10, 17G0. 

Capt. AsaheP (40) lived and d. in West Side, Woodbury. 
He m. Olive Root, Jan. 21, 1747, d. IMay 1, 1797. She 
d. Oct. 1, 1813, aged 88. Children, 
Isl I. Reuben," bap. Dec. 25, 1748. 

103 II. Daniel," bap. Aug. 19, 1750, m. Root, and d. May 

13, 1824; children, Asa" and Curtiss ;'' Asa m. 1. Mary Drakeley, 
who d. Oct. 24, 1841 ; m. 2. Widow Eunice Osborn ; has children ; 
resides in Woodbury. 

104 III. Susanna," bap. Oct. 15, 1752, m. Sanford. 

1^ IV. Rev. Justus," bap. Sept. 8, 1754, settled in New Canaan. 
100 V. Asahel," bap. Oct. 17, 175G, m. Lucy Judson, d. Sept. 21, 
1819. 

Elnathan'' (41) m. Sarah Tcnny, of Norwich, Conn., settled 
in Judea society, about 1750, d. Feb. 28, 1818, aged 90* 
His children were, 

107 I. Elisha," d. aged 22, unm. 

108 II. Eunice," m. Isaac Plum. 
™ IIL Simeon," b. Jan. 1, 1759. 
Z IV. Abner," b. about 1764. 

Dea. Jonathan" (50) m. Elizabeth Boland, Dec. 7, 1764, who 
d. Aug. 2, 1814, aged 73. He d. in 1825. Children, 

111 L Lucinda,''bap. Aug. 28, 1768, m. Abel Stiles, Jan. 6, 1790. 

112 IL Preston,^ b. 1771, d. 1774. 

113 IIL Molly ,^ bap. Feb. 11,1776, d. Aug. 29, 1818. 

114 IV. Elizabeth,^ ra. David S. Bull, Jan. 18, 1801. 

David' (54) m. Sarah Pierce, April 27, 1775, d. Aug. 26, 
1810. Children, 

115 I. David,'' b. July 2, 177G, removed to Meredith, N. Y. 

116 IT. Aaron," b. Jan. 8, 1779, d. unm. 

117 IIL Sarah.^ 



HISTORY OK A X C I E X T AV O O D B U R Y . G30 

118 IV. Pierce,' m. Nabby Burr, Nov. 14, 180G. 

119 V. William," m. Lewis, and went we^t. 

120 VI, Truman," I). Jan. 2, 170O, m. Sojjhia Ilinman. and liad 
Juliette Sophia, b. July 10, 1817 ; Maria, Louisa, b. June 121, 1810. 

Matthew" (55) m. Patty (iraliain, dau. of Doet. Andrew, d. 
Dec. 10, 1800. She d. Sept. 9, 1794. Children, 

121 I. Esther,'' bap. Sept. 7, 17s;i, d. in 1785. 

122 IL Preston,^ b. 178G,d. in 17U4. 

I'lo III. John G.,'' bap. June 5, 171)1, setlled in Salisl)ury, Conn., 
is an attorney, m. Julia Lotz, Nov., 1818, has children. 

124 IV. Nathan,^ b. Xov. 10, 171I-2. 

Simeon" (57) m. Anna, dau. of Joseph Pierce, Jiui. 15, 1788. 
He d. April 20, 1820, and his widow d. Feb. 17, 18;];3. 
Children, 

125 L Anna," b. Oct. 22, 1781), m. William Johnson, Oct. 10. 
1818. 

120 IL Phanna," b. Sept. 30, 171)1, m. Frederick Ilinman, IMay 
'8, 1814. 

127 HI, Polly," b. Oct. 25, 171)7, d. aged eleven months. 

128 IV. Mitchell Simeon," Es(}., b. Jan. 24, 1801, m. Fanny, dau. 
of Park Brown, Esq. He built the hou:-e in Soutliliury known as 
Mitchell's Mansion, now occupied by Mrs. Whitlock. He i-esides in 
Brooklyn, N. Y. ; children, as follows : I. Mary Frances,' b. Aug. 13, 
1831, d. April 1, 1830; IL :\rordaunt Sebastian,^' b. June 10, 1833, 
d. July 29, 1849, while a member of Yale College. He was a youth 
of rare promise, and in his grave were laid at once an only son, and 
all a parent's fondest hopes ; HI. Mary Elizal)eth,^ b. Ani'il 10, 1835. 
d. April C, 1839. 

CoL Nathaniel" (70) had 

129 I. Mary,^ bap. March 2, 1784. 

130 IL Lampson," b. March 2, 1784. 

131 III. Sarah," bap. June 27, 1780. 

132 IV. Nathaniel." 

133 V. David," bap. July 2^), 1788. 

134 VI. Annis," bap. I\larcli 2.S, 1790. 

135 VII. Almira," bap. June 24, 1792. 

Simeon'' (75) m. April 10, 1783, Hannah Johnson, who died 
Jan. 28, 1790. Children, 

136 L Polly,'' b. Dec. 7, 1783, m. Burton Canfield, Esq. 

137 II. Olive,^ b. Dec. 3, 1785, m. Seth Noble Wheeler. 

138 HI. Betty," b. Aug. 30, 1788, m. Lemuel Canfield. 



(>40 H 1 S T () K V OK A N C I K N T WOODBURY. 

Dcfi. Wanvii" (77) m. Nov. 19, 1788, Milly Kimberlj. Cli. 
18!) I. Cyrus,' b. July 11, 1790, m. Cliarlotte Pierce, Dec. 23, 
1812, and liad I. Ann J.," b. Dec. 26, 1814; II. Betsey,^ b. Sept. 22, 
1817 ; III. Mary C," b. Feb. 17, 1820, m. Curtis A. Downs, Oct. 
22, 1839 ; IV. Nelson U.," m. Edna Piatt, Feb. 28, 1842; V. Cyrus 
L.," b. Sept. 8, 1828. 

140 II. Sally,' b. March 12, 1705, m. Ebenezer Johnson. 

141 III. Anna,'' b. May 11, 1799, m. Anson Bradley. 

142 IV. Nancy P.,^ b. March 26, 1803. 

Amos'' (78) m. 1. Ruth Curtiss ; m. 2. Kuth Judson. He 
was killed by a fall. Children, 

143 I. Eleazer S.," b. June 10, 1798. 

144 11. Harriet,^ b. Aug. 10, 1800, died young, 

145 III. Betsey II.,' b. Aug. 5, 1807. This last by second wife. 
Benjamin' (81) m. Hannah Pierce, in 1801. Children, 

14G I. Erastus,^ b. Sept. 11, 1802, m. Judith Downs, Jan. 6, 1829, 
and had Anna E.," b. March 18, 1830 ; Laura A.,« b. April 12, 1835. 

147 II. Eleazer," b. Oct. G, 1804, m. Cornelia M. Merwin, Jan. 
18, 1829 ; his children were, 1. Lawrence, b. Feb. 27, 1832; 2. Da- 
vid M., b. Oct. 16, 1841 ; 3. Mary, b. Sept. 3, 1844 ; 4. Benjamin 
B., b. Dec. 25, 1846. 

148 III. Amos P.," b. Aug. 3, 1807, ra. 1. Thalia M. Painter; m. 
2. Maria Tyler, May 80, 1850 ; children, 1. Josephine,^ b. April 23, 
1839; 2. Henry P.,« b. Jan. 25, 1841; 3. George," b. March 12, 
184G ; 4. William,'' b. March 18, 1849 ; 5. Julia T.,"* b. May 11, 1852. 

♦149 IV. Phebe A.,' b. June 28, 1809. 
loO V. Oliver,^ b. Sept. 5, 1818, m. Mary II. Griirmg, Feb. 22, 
1837, and had Benjamin G., b. Jan. 4, 1838. 

151 VI. Laura,'' b. April 15, 1817. 

152 VII. Julia H.,^ b. Jan. 10, 1822, m. Merwin Waller, Oct. 15, 
1845. 

153 VIII. Bennet,' b. May 14, 1829. 

Reuben, Esq.," (102) m. Judson, d. Nov. 9, 1822. His 

wife d. Feb. 23, 1817, aged G6. Children, as follows: 
(probably not all.) 

154 I. Olive,'' m. Justus Minor. 

155 II. Asahel,'' m. Nancy Lambert, and d. 1825, aged 30. Ch. 
1. Julia ;^ 2. Asahel W.,"* now in California; 3. Mary,^ m. Cornelius 
J. Minor. 

156 IIL Ruth.'' 

157 IV. Reuben,' m. Ruth M. Bloss, d. Nov., 1853, no issue. 



HISTOKT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 641 

158 V. Susanna," ii^- Abnor Allen. 

159 VI. Polly/ died iinni. 

IGO VII. Bede," died unm.. Feb. 25, 1818, aged 30. 

Rev. Justus" (105) m. Sept. 7, 1779, Martha, dau. of Rev. 
Josiah Sherman, of Woodbridge, Conn. She was sister of 
Hon. Roger M., niece of the Hon. Roger, signer of the Dec- 
laration, and was an exceedingly intellectual and beautiful 
WT)nian. Rev. Justus settled at New Canaan, Conn., and d. 
in 1807. His wife survived him, and d. at White Plains, 
N. Y., Oct. 24, 1820. Children, 
IGl I. Elizabeth,'' b. Aug. 28, 1780, d. June 10, 1825, m. Charles 
Thom])son, Esq., had one son, Charles C. Thompson, Esq., now of 
New York. 

1G2 II. Sherman,'' b. July 2, 1782, d. in 1823. He m. Hannah 
Fitch, had one daughter, Martha, who m. Joseph Sullivan. 

1G3 HI. Minot,'' b. Sept. 24, 1784, m. Eliza Leeds Silliman, re- 
sides at White Plains, N. Y.. is a prominent lawyer, and has accumu- 
lated a large estate. His children are, I. Joseph S.," b. Feb. 11, 
1809 : II. William Minot," b. May 29, 1811 ; III. Chaunccy Leeds," 
b. Nov. 10, 1813 ; IV. Josiah Sherman," b. Feb. 2, 181G; V. Ann 
Eliza,'' b. Oct. 28, 1818 ; VL Charles Ilalsey, b. Feb. 13, 1824 ; VII- 
and VIII. Caroline Minot and James Minot, b. May 12, 1829. 

1G4 IV. Chauncey Root," b. June 25, 1786, m. Anna, dau. of 
Hon. Robert Johnston, in 1807, settled as a lawyer at Delhi, N. Y. 
He possessed brilliant talents, and was highly gifted as an orator. 
He died at the early age of 25, at Delhi, N. Y., Feb., 1811. His 
children were, I. Elizabeth Thompson," b. Oct. ID, 1807, m. William 

5. Stanley, M. D., Maj 10, 1832 ; IL Martha M.,» b. JMay 2, 1810, 
m. Isaac Depeu, Esq., Dec. 26, 1832 ; HI. William Ogden,'' b. June 

6, 1812, d. June 6, 1831 ; IV. Lucia Johnslon,« d. Aug. 19, 1814, m. 
William Govan, M. D., July G, 1844. 

Simeon" (109) lived in .ludea society, m. Esther Farrand, d. 
Sept. 15, 1832. Children, 

165 I. Sally,'' m. Alanson Allen. 

166 IL Daniel T.,'' b. June 14, 1786, m. 1. Tlieodosia Hazen, who 
d. in 1813 ; m. 2. Lois Dudley, of Bethlem, March, 1815, had one 
child, Simeon W.," b. Oct. 22, 1810. 

1G7 III. Esther,'' m. Charles A. Judson, now of New Haven. 
1G8 IV. Abigail,'' m. D. Elliot Brinsmade. 

Abner" (110) m. Phebe Elliott, of Kent, d. July 3, 1839, aged 
75. Children, 
169 I. Elisha," D. D., b. 1793, m. Maria North; professor in the 



(342 



n I S T O E T OF ANCIENT AV O O D B U R T . 



University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill ; cliildren, Mary," 
Ellen,'' Margaret,'' EHza'' and Charles.'* 

170 IT. Ehiathan," b. Jan. 14, 1707, m. Harriet Wheeler, Aug., 
1818. His children arc I. Eunice,'' b. July, 1819, m. Daniel S. Lem- 
on, Feb. 14, 1844, has a daughter, Harriet J. ;' II. Abner W.," b. 
June, 1821, m. Lydia, dau. of William Leavitt, Jan. 12, 1847, and 
has Frances E." and Charles L. f III. Mary IL," b. Jan., 1833. 

171 III. Matthew E.,' b. 1799, m. in 1823, Eunice M., dau. of 
Seth N. Wheeler, of South Britain, and d. Dec. 15, 1827 ; children, 
I. Sarah M.," b. Aug. 11, 1824, m. Doct. Nathan C. Baldwin' Oct. 
31, 1844, and has two children, Mary E." and Hilliard W.'' ; II. 
Betsey Ann," b. April 16, 1827, m. David C. Ilinman, and has Ed- 
ward C, b. Dec. 4, 1848. 



MINOR FAMILY. 




Gules, a fesse between three plates, argent. 

The first of those who have borne the name of INIinor, or ^Miner, 
was Henry, who lived in the reign of one of the Edwards of Eng- 
land, at IMendippe Hills, in Somersetshire, England, and died in 
1359. The name, with armorial bearings, Avas given him by King 
Edward, in acknowledgment of his loyal service, in providing an 
escort for the king on his way to embark for France. His name is 
said to have been Bullman, before it v/as changed, and his business 
that of a miner. King Edward, in giving him a coat of arms, hon- 
ored his profession by giving the name of his trade for a surname. 
The coat of arms given above was procured at the herald's office, in 
London, by the first Thomas, of New London, in 1680. There is a 
complete pedigree of the family, from the first Thomas, of New Lon- 
don, back to the first Henry, who died in 1359, in the possession of 
J. Hammond Trumbull, Esq., of Hartford. I should have been 
much gratified to have presented it in tins sketch of the name, but 
though I personally applied for it, some years ago, and have since 
applied for it througli the medium of a friend, I have not succeeded 
in obtaining it. Mr. Trumbull seemed unwilling to impart his in- 
formation on this subject. Perhaps he intends publishing a geneal- 



niSTOKY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKT. G43 

ogy of the family himself, and for this reason preserves his materials. 
If this is his design, my regret in not being able to present the in- 
formation in this account of the family, will be greatly mitigated on 
its being pubHshed to the world. 

3. Tiiomas,^ sou of (2) Clement,- and grandson of (1) William,' 
who died at Chew-Magna, in England, Feb. 23, 1585, was b. April 

23, 1G08, came to New England in 1G30, and m. Grace, daughter of 
Walter Palmer, April 23, 1G34. Thomas Minor came with John 
Winthrop's company, to Pequot, and settled there about 1G4G-7. lie 
d. at Stonington, Oct. 23, 1G90, aged 83. Grace, his wife, died the 
same year. He was a leading man in the settlements in the eastern 
part of the state. He is the ancestor of all bearing the name in this 
country, so far as can be ascertained. Children, 

4 I. Thomas,^ died young. 

5 II. Clement,* settled in New London, and is the ancestor of 
most of those bearing the name in that vicinity. 

il III. John,' b. in 1G34, went to Stratford, and thence to Wood- 
bury, and left numerous descendants. 

7 IV. Manasseh,! remained in Stonington. 

8 V. Ephraim,^ remained in Stonington. 

9 VI. Joseph,^ remained in Stonington. 

10 VII. Judah,* went to Massachusetts. 

11 VIII. Samuel.' 

12 IX. Ann.^ 

13 X. Max'ie,'' died young. 

14 XI. Eunice,'' died young. 
7 15 XII. Hannah.^ 

Capt. John* (G) removed first to Stratford. He was town 
clerk and a leading man in the affairs of the town for many years, till 
his removal to Woodbury, among the first settlers, where he stood 
equal among those who were most distinguished. In this history of 
the fjimily name, we propose to trace his descendants only. It would 
take a volume of good size to give all the descendants of the first 
Thomas. For a personal account of Capt. .Tohn, reference may be 
had to page 58 of this volume. He m. Elizabeth, dau. of Richard 
Booth, Oct. 19, 1G58. He d. Sept. 17, 1719, aged 85. She d. Oct. 

24, 1732, aged 9G or 98. Children, 
!| I. John,^ b. Sept. 9, 1G59. 

J'a II. Thomas,'' b. May 29, 1GG2. 

18 HI. Hannah,'' b. Aug. 2,1 GG4. 

19 IV. Elizabeth,^ b. Jan. IG, 1G67, m. Dca. Zechariah Walker. 



644 HISTOUY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

20 V. Gracc,^ b. Sept. 20, 1G70, m. Grant. 

^ VI. Josej)h/b. March 4, 1072-3. 
i g VII. Ephraim/ b. Oct. 24, 1G75. 

23 VIII. Sarah,'^ b. June ID, 1G78, m. Stephen Curtiss, Nov. 2, 
1G99. 

24 IX. Abigail/' b. Feb. G, 1680-1, m. 1. John Treadwell, Feb. 8, 
1699; m. 2. Samuel Miles. 

25 X. Joanna,^ bap. July, 1683, m. William Gaylord, or Galpin, 
Feb. 12, 170G-7. 

John' (IG) m. Sarah . He d. March 14, 1731. She d. 

about the same date. Cliildren, 

26 I. Samuel,''' bap. Nov. 14, 1G8G, d. Dec. 22, 1734, without issue. 

27 II. Elizabeth," bap. .Inly G, 1G90, m. Dunning. 

28 III. Hannah," bap. Jan. 29, 1692-3, m. Thomas Mallory, Aug. 
10, 1720. 

i IV. John," bap. Feb. 27, 1697-8. 

30 V. Sarah," b. April 7, 1709 ; had son, Daniel," b. March 13, 
1729-30, m. Moses Matthews, March 3, 1730-31. 

Coh Joseph^ (21) m.. Susanna Roots, July 12, 1710. He d. 
Oct. 30, 1774, aged 102. She d. April 26, 1738. For a 
sketch of his life see p. 62 ante. Children, 

31 I. Joseph," b. April 12, 1711, ra. Jane Nichols, Dec. 22, 1741, 
d. Aug. 19, 1749. 

32 II. Sarah," b. April 3, 1713, m. John Judson, Nov. 23, 1737. 

33 Iir. Susanna," b. Nov. 21, 1718, m. Ebenezer Warner, Aug. G, 
1755 ; dau. Patience,' b. Feb. 15, 1742. 

f, IV. David," b. May 26, 1721. 

Ephraim,'' (22) b. Oct. 24, 1675, m. Rebecca Curtiss, Aug. 21, 
1701. He d. Sept. 16, 1762, aged 87. She d. March 13, 
1763, aged 96. 
■^ I. Timothy," b. Dec. 10, 1702. 
7' II. Jehu," b. June 30, 1705. 
'^ S III. Matthew," b. Sept. 2, 1708. 

38 IV. Rebecca," b. June 30, 1712, m. Elnathan Judson, June 30, 
1736. 

9' V. Ei)hraim," b. July 15, 1715. 

Thomas-' (17) m. Hannah . He d. June 15, 172.2. Ch., 

T, I. Josiah," bap. July 8, 1 G93. 

\l II. Dea. Samuel," bap. May 11, 1697. 

42 HI. Peter," b. Dec. 10, 1700, d. June 10, 1703. 

,t?3 IV. Thomas," bap. Feb. 28, 1703. 



HISTOKY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 64o 

Jf, V. Peter," bap. Dec. 11, 1705. 
45 VI. Clement," b. March 22, 1710, d. Sept. liG, 1718. 
4G VII. Hannah,'' b. June 10, 1712 ; d. June 27, 1712. "- ■ 

47 VIIL Peace," b. .Inly It). 1713 ; d. June 24, 1714. 
S IX. Clement," 1). Nov. 11, 1710. 

Dea. Samuel" (41) m. Rachel . lie d. in 17G7. She 

d. April 12, 1777. Children, 
49 I. Dea. Clement," b. Oct. 2o, 1722; m. Sarah Crissey, April 
12, 1750. 

i"^, II. Nathan,' b. May 25, 1724. 

1% III. Gideon,'' bap. March 2, 17"20 ; moved to Vermont. 

las IV. Benjamin," b. April 22, 17.'-)0. 

,4^ V. Dea. Josiah," b. IMarch 2(). 17.'!2. 

54 VI. Hannah," b. March 2, 173S: m. Elislia Martin, March 8. 
1757. 

Jolm'' (29) m. Elizabeth . lie d. May 2, HGl. Ch., 

55 I. Eunlee,'' b. Jan. 14, 1733 ; m. Averet, Fcl). 1. 1768. 

5G II. Elizabeth," m. Joseph W;iu,i,di, July, 1754. 

57 III. P.culah," b. Aug. 20, 1734; m. Porii'r. July 24. 

1754. 

J'^g IV. Jolm," b. ]\Iarch 13, 1737. 

David" (34) ra. 1. Prudence ]\Iariin, Feb. G, 174G ; 2. Eliza- 
beth Walker. He d. Jan. 17, 1770, ajred G3. Ch., 
59 I. Simeon," b. Jan. 10, 1747 ; d. Aug. G, 1740. 
GO II. Ann," b. June 13, 1740; m. Jolm Royce, Nov. 20, 1772. 
?5s III. Simeon," bap. Sept. 0, 1750; m. Damaris Ilinman, Sept. 
18, 17G9. 
. — (J2 IV. Prudence," b. Sept. 10, 1753; d. May 0, 178G. 
G3 V. Annis," bap. Jan. 16, 1757. 

G4 VI. Joseph," b. Feb. 20 : d. .Tan. 7. 1.S41 ; m. 1. Minor: 

2. Philcna Martin, who d. July 23, 1811, aged 09. Ch., Simeon. 
Martin, Joseph, Ijennctt and Albert. 

65 VII. David,^ b. Oct. 15, 1760 ; m. Eunice Warner, and had 
ch., Sheldon, Rev. Sherman, David, Simeon, Harlow, Ashley and 
Harvey. 

66 VIIL Jonas," b. March 31, 1762 ; d. 1825. Ch., Electa, m. 
Minot Smith, Esq.; Chloe, m. Burton Judson; Armilla, m. 1. Alfred 
vScott, 2. Frederick S. Atwood ; and Jonas. 

67 IX. Sarah Emm," b. May 27, 1764 ; d. Jan. 12, 178G. 

Timothy," (35) b. Dec. 10, 1702, m. Elizabeth Judson, June 
* 11,1729. He d. Nov., 1760. Ch., 



646 DISTORT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

68 I. Adoniram,^ b. April 2, 1730; d. Sept. 14, 1749. 

69 II. Noah,' b. Nov. 7, 1731. 
,'°, III. Seth,'' b. Nov. 23, 1733. 

71 IV. Elizabeth," bap. Jan. 18, 1730 ; ni. John Hunt, Jim., Jan. 
20, 1756. 

72 y. Rebecca,' b. April 2, 1738 ; m. Abijali Ilinman, March 8, 
1757. 

73 XL Phebe," b. March, 1740 ; m. Noah Ilinman, July 15, 
17G1. 

7,^ VII. Timothy," b. April 22, 1743. 

Dea. Jehu,'' (36) b. June 30, 1705, m. Mary Judson, Nov. 
18, 1731. He d. Feb. 15, 1790, aged 85. She d. Sept. 
28, 1762. Ch., 
75 I. Justus,' b. Sept. 4, 1730. Ch., Si!;-an, Dotlia, Cyrus and 
Peter. 

70 II. James,'^ b. Oct. 19, 1732. 

,7i III. James," b. Sept. 17, 1733. 

,*y^3 IV. Reuben," b. April 29, 173G. 
79 V. Mary,' b. June 3, 1738. 

^•3 VI. John,' b. Dec. 25, 1740. 

s7, VII. Jehu,'b. JuneO, 1743. 

« VIII. Elisha,' bap. July 14, 1745. 

83 IX. Aaron," bap. Nov. 23, 1746. 

Capt. Matthew," (37) b. Sept. 2, 1708 ; m. 1. Sarah Preston,- 
Oct. 9, 1734; 2. Widow Mary Sanfbrd; 3. Widow Mary 
Minor. He d. Nov. 21, 1778. Widow Mary (Sanford,) 
Jan. 12, 1700. Ch., 

84 I. Emm," b. Dec. 31, 1734. 

85 II. Emm," b. April 21, 1736; m. Thomas Roots, Dec. 29, 
1757. 

86 III. Sarah," b. Aug. 24, 1738. 

87 IV. David," bap. April 12, 1741 ; m. Jerusha Atwuod. Ch., 
Electa, m. Reuben Martin, and Sarali, m. Daniel Hill. 

88 V. Sarah,^ b. March 30, 1743; m. David Curtiss, 3d, 1764. 

89 VI. Matthew," b. Aug. 18, 1745 ; d. Aug. 25, 1749. 
,^ VII. Solomon,'' b. Dec. 2, 1747. 

91 VIII. Matthew,^ b. March 25, 1750. 
2% IX. Matthew," b. Feb. 11, 1753. 

Ephraim," (39) b. July 15, 1715 ; m. IMary [Martin, Nov. 20, 

1739; m. Widow Hannah . He d. May 24, 17,83. 

Children, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT \V O O D B U R Y . 647 

2^^ I. Adam,' b. Aug. 14, 1740. 

94 II. Samuel," b. April 30, 1748; m. Mary Ilendee, May 2G, 
17G8. Sl'.e was b. Aug. 2, 1748, and had cli., Lydia, b. Jan. 6, 17G9, 
and Olive, b. Jan. 5, 1772. 

95 III. Olive,' b.; m. Stoddard Martin. 
9G IV. Elisha,'' b. Jan., 174G ; d. young. 

07 V. Elisha," b. May 30, 17-10; d. Dee. 7, 1783. 
. 98 VI. I^Iary," b. April 20, 175;"). 

Josiah," (40) bap. July 8, 1G!.'3; m. Mary Ilurlbut, July C, 
1715 ; m. 2. I\[ary Barnum, Oct. 9, 1734. She was dau. 
of Rev. Seth Shove, of Danbury ; d. March 30, 17G8. He 
d. in 17Gi3. Ch., 
^ I. Israel,' bap. Aug. 3,1735. 

100 II. Olive,' bap. Aug. 3, 1735; d. Sept. 8, 1735. 

101 III Seth," b. Dec. 31, 173G. 

102 IV. Jerusha,' bap. ^larch 18, 1739. 

103 V. Shove," b. Feb. 5, 1741; m. Abigail Johnson, Oct. 19, 
17G8. She d. Aug. 12, 1784. 

Thomas- (43) bap. Feb. 28, 1703; m. Fcda. lie d., June IG, 
17 9G. She d. Oct. 3, 1749. Ch., 

104 I. Gilbert,' b. Oct. 23, 172G. 

105 IL Ann,' bap. Aug. 4, 1728. 

. 100 HI. Hannah," b. Dec. 2S, 1729. 

107 IV. Esther," b. Feb. 15, 173,2. 

108 V. Kebeeca,' bap. June IG, 1734. 

109 VI. Isaac,'' b. July IG, 173G; m. Mary Butler, April, 1758 ; 
had eh., Andi'ew, ba}-.. June 3, 1759, and d. Jan. 27, 1839. 

Ill Vil. Thomas," bap. June 25, 1738. 

111 VIII. Simeon,' bap. April 10, 1743. 

112 IX. Andrew,' bap. May 15, 1748; d. Sept. IG, 1749. 
Peter," (44) b. Dec. 1, 1705 ; m. Judith Squire, Oct. 1, 1734 ; 

d. Aug. 17, 1797. She d. May 11, 17G9, aged 59. Ch., 
Ill I. Daniel," b. July, 1735. 

114 II. Peace," b. Oct. 9, 1737; fatlier of Silas, of Roxbnry ; 
father of Peter and Charles. 

115 III. Anna,' b. Ajjril 12, 1740 ; m. Edwards. 

IIG IV. Peter," b. Dec. 19, 1742; d. Sept. 29, 1778 ; m. Eunice 
. Ch., Sally, wife of Silas Minor, above. 

117 V. Olive,^ bap. May 2G, 1745; d. Oct. 23, 1749. 

118 VI. Jerusha,' bap. Aug. 30, 1747. 



648 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

119 VII. Andrew/ bap. IMarch 4, 1750; d. iinm., Jan. G, 1836, 
aged 8G. 

120 VIII. Elisha,"m. Sally Chidsej, April 25, 1831 ; d. Jan. 27. 
183'.), aged 84 ; gave his property to Yale College. 

Dea. Clement,*^ (48) b. Nov. 11, 1719; m. Mary Barnum, 
June, 1744. He d. 1798. She d. Sept. 17, 1785. Ch., 

121 I. Ruth,' b. July 20, 1745 ; m. Judson. 

122 II. Thaddeus,' b. Nov. 28, 1747. 

Nathan'^ (50) rn. Elizabeth Nichols, Nov. IG, 1753. He d. 
Feb. G, 1797, aged 73. She d. Sept. 17, 1785. Ch., 

123 I. Annis," bap. May 18, 1755 ; m. 1. Peter Walker; 2. Tru- 
man Hurlbut. 

124 II. Martha,= bap. Feb. 5, 1758 ; m. Walker Mallory, Oct. 12, 
177G. 

125 III. Olive," bap. March 1, 17(51; in. I.Matthew Judson; ra. 
2. Solcnion I\Iinor. 

126 IV. Elizabet^i,' bap. Aug. 5, 17G4. 

127 V. Nathan Treston,^' bap. Feb. 8, 17G7. 

128 VI. IMary Ann,' bap. Aug. G, 17G9 ; m. Matthew Judson. 

129 VII. Samuel Curtiss," bap. April 1, 1773. 

130 VIII. Sarah Curtiss,' bap. Marcli 2G, 1775 ; m. Garry Ba- 
con, April 4, 1798. 

• 2^*4 IX. Samuel Curtiss,'' bap. Jan. 17, 1778, 

Gideon" (51) m. Elizabeth Lewis, who m. 2. Joel Strong. 
He removed to Rutland, Vt., and d. 1808. 

132 I. Abigail,^' bap. March 23, 1766; m. Rev. Thomas Da- 
vidson. 

133 II. Samuel Lewis," bap. April 12, 17G7; m. and had six 
children. 

134 IIL Joel Strong," bap. July 30, 1769 ; m. Lncrctia Allen ; 
moved to Montpelier, Vt., where he died. His ch. were, 1. Rev. 
Ovid, of Syracuse, N. Y., who has a son, Brinkerhoff; 2. Hon. Joel, 
of Austin, Texas, judge of the supreme court ; 3. Rev. Lamson ; 4. 
Decia, who m. Otis Richmond ; 5. Electa, insane. 

135 IV. Gideon," bap. March 24, 1771. 

136 V. Asenath,M)ap.Jan. 31, 1773. 

137 VL Lampson,'= bap. Feb. 12, 1775. 

138 VII. Elizabeth,^ bap. Jan. 81, 1779. 

Benjamin'' (52) m. 1. Rachel ; 2. Lydia Buller, Jan. 2, 

1750-1. He d. in 1772. Widow Lydia, m. 2. John Aber- 
nethy, Oct. 23, 1778. Ch., 



HISTORT OP ANCIENT WOODBTJRT. 649 

139 I. An infant.' 

140 IL Eachel,' 1). March 20, 1758. 

141 III. Sarah,"^ bap. March 20, 1759. 
}^l TV. Samuel,^ bap. Jan. 3, 1762. 

143 V. Ehiathan,« bap. Dec. 25, 17G3. 
i^,1 VI. Benjamin,^ bap. July 12, 17G7. 
145 VII. Enos," bap. Dec, 1769. 

Dea. Josiah'' (53) m. Jerusha Mitchell, March 8, 1757. He 
(1. 1801. Ch., ,; .^,^ 

14G I. Hannah,^ bap. June 23, 1758; m. — ^ Mallory. 

147 II. Ann,' bap. May 18, 1760; m. Lemuel Hill, June 15, 
1784. 

148 HI. Thankful,'' bap. March 4,1764; m. Reuben Ilotchkiss. 

149 IV. Ruth/ bap. Oct. 13, 17G5. 

150 V. Ichabo(l,« bap. Jan. 3, 17G8. 

151 VI. Ruth,' bap. Feb. 11, 17G9 ; m. 1. Preston Curtiss ; 2. 
Amos Mitchell. 

152 VII. Deborah," bap. May 1, 1770. 

153 VIII. Josiah Hinmaui,'' a lawyer. 

John'^ (58) m. Sarah Dutton, Sept. 19, 1758. Ch., a'u, 

154 I. John,'' b. July 7, 1760. (^;r(. ..^' (Jk/vv^' ■ *^ ' 

155 II. Justice," b. Jan. 29, 1762."^, ' 
15G III. Thucle,3 ^- May 7, 1765. 

Simeon^ (61) m. Mary . He d. 1802. Ch., 

157 I. Anna,** bap. April 17, 1785 ; ni. Heaton. 

.'^t II. William,^ bap. April 17, 1785; m. RhodaJudson. 

159 III Eunice," bap. April 17, 1785 ; m. Spaulding. 

160 IV. Polly," bap. April 17, 1785. 

161 V. Truman,«bap. May 17,1789; of New Milford. 
— 162 VI. Prudence," bap. Dec. 2, 1792. 

Seth'^ (70) m. Eunice Root, March 8, 1757; She wash. 
1738, and d. Oct. 27, 1787. Hem. 2. Rhoda Durkee 
Apri 18, 1792. Ch., 

163 I. Adonirani," b. March 20, 1758, d. aged two years. 

164 IL Susanna," b. Nov. 17, 1759 ; m. Nathan Atwood; d. June 
23, 1840. 

165 III. Elizabeth," b. Oct. 1, 1761 ; m. Jesse Root; d. April 9, 
1830. 

}^ IV. Adoniram," b. Dec. 3, 1763. 
JS V. Seth," b. Jan. 15, 1766. 
46 



650 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

168 VI. Phebe/b. Dec. 25, 17G7; m. Uriel Strong; cl Dec. 30, 
1825. 

}^ VII. Noah,«b. May 17, 17 GO. 
170 Vin. Eunice," b. June .SO, 177]. 
^ 171 IX. Esther,'' bap. May 30, 1773. 
' 172 X. Love,'' bap. Nov. 10, 1770. 
•i;? XI. Wait," b. Oct. 27, 1780. 

Dea. Timothy" (74) m. Elizabeth Down, June 5, 1704. Ch., 

174 I. Betsey," b. Oct. 18, 1765. 

175 II Judson,« b. Oct. 30, 1767. 

176 III. Urania, or Anna,'' bap. May 26, 1771, d. March, 1788. 

177 IV. Treat,« bap. June 23, 1771. Twins. 

178 V. Gerry." 

179 \^. Mary.^ 

•bl VII. John,b. Aug. 29, 1776. 
181 VIII. Rev. Timothy, an Episcopal clergyman in New York. 
James," (77) b. Sept. 17, 1733, m. Mary Crissey, Nov. 29, 

1753, who d. Oct. 17, 1779; m. 2. Aner . He died 

1794. Children, 
132 I. Ann," bap. Nov. 19, 1754. 

183 II. Aaron," b. March 22, 17.57. 

184 III. James,' bap. March 11, 1759, m. Anne Judson, Dec. 12, 
1776. 

185 IV. Abigail," b. Nov. 2, 1761, d. March 11. 1776. 

186 V. Rebecca," b. Dec. 2, 17G3. 

187 VI. Rhoda,^ b. March 29, 1766, m. Bacon. 

188 VII. Jehu, b.May 14, 1768. 

189 VIII. Elizabeth Mary Lucina," bap. May 5, 1771. 

190 IX. John Judson," bap. June 15, 1777. 
101 X. Philo," bap. Feb. 1, 1770. 

192 XI. Philo," bap. July, 1781. 

193 XII. Eastman,^ bap. March 3, 1783. 

194 XIII. Clement," bap. Aug. 2, 1784. 

195 XIV. Abigail," bap. Oct. 26, 1780. 

196 XV. Lacine,"m. Tuttle. 

Reuben'' (78.) 

197 I. Mary," bap. May 17, 1761. 

198 II. Abner," bap. Nov. 14, 1762. 

199 III. RHth," bap. Nov. 18, 1764, m. William Luttington, 
March 23, 1786. 

200 IV. Lorana," bap. June 11. 1767. 



HISTOKT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 651 

,--^201 V. Prudence," bap. March 26, 1709. 
"" 202 VI. Jerusha," bap. May, 1771. 

203 VII. Rufus,'* bap. May 4, 1774. 

204 VIII. Reuben,' bap. May 29, 1774. 

205 IX. Anna,^ bap. Oct. 13, 177G. 

206 X. Abraham," bap. Oct. 21, 1779. 

207 XL CUirinda," bap. Jan. 20, 1782. 

208 XII. Truman,' bap. June 12, 1785. 

John" (80) m. Abigail Summers, Oct. 28, 1766. He d. June 
10, 1797. Children, 

209 I. Sarah," b. April 14, 1768, m. Truman Minor. 

210 11. Nathan Summers,' b. Jan. 17, 1770, d. Dec. 16, 1776. 

211 III. Abiaj^bap. Nov. 10, 1771, m. Nathan Martin. 

212 IV. Curtiss," bap. Feb. 4, 1776, d. Dec. 9, 1797. 
218 V. Mary," bap. Jan. 17, 1779, m. Aaron Hitchcock. 

214 VI. Betsey," bap. Aug. 8, 1783, m. Abijuh Hatch. 

Rev. Jehu" (81.) He graduated at Yak- College, and settled 
" over the church at South Britain, vvliere he resided many 
years ; m. Sarah Canfield, Sept. 20, 1769. Children, 

215 I. Russell Cantield,' bap. Oct., 1770, d. May 13, 1771. 
210 II. Judson,'^ bap. March, 1772, d. March 26, 1772. 

217 III. Mary Matilda,' b. April 11, 1773. 

218 IV. Sarah Lucretia,^ b. Feb. 20, 1776. 

219 V. Sylvia Priscilla," b. Oct. 12, 1777. 

220 VI. Jehu Russell," bap. March, 1780. 

221 VII. Elihu," bap. May, 1782. 

222 VIII. Urania Pamelia, bap. Jan. 17, 1783. 

223 IX. Canfield, bap. Nov., 1785, d. Nov. 25, 1785. 
Elisha^ (82) m. Anna Smith, April 7, 1772. Children. 

224 I. Allen Smith," b. April 28, 1773. 

225 11. 'Ruth Ann," b. Jan. 18, 1775. 
" 226 III. Lovisa," b. July 80, 1776. 

227 IV. Anna," b. April 15, 1778. 

228 V. Salmon, b. March 11, 1781. 

Solomon'^ (90) m. 1. Mary Root; m. 2. Widow Olive Minor, 
who d. June 23, 1792. Children, 

229 I. Betty," b. July 12, 1772. 

•^{ 11. Jesse," b. March 11, 1775, d. Dec. 11, 1853. 

231 III. Annis,«b. May 2, 1778. 

232 IV. Solomon Benedict," lives in Waterbury, m. Car- 

rington. 



652 nisTORT OF ancient -vvoodbury. 

Iff V. Dea. Nathaniel/' b. April 20, 1788. 

234 VI. David Stiles," b. Nov. 28, 1790, m. Lydia Judson, Dee. 
11, 1822. 

235 VII. 01ive,=' b. June, 1798. 

236 VIII. Garry, M. D., b. Dec. 29, 1802, m. Susan Allen, and 
lives at South Fai-ms, Conn. 

Dea. Matthew' (92) m. 1. Phebe Root, who d. April 25, 178G; 
m. 2. Widow Charlotte (Mallory) Judson, Nov. 29, 1792, 
who d. Sept.. 13, 1843, aged b'l . He d. July 20, 1835, aged 
88. Children, 

237 I. Hannah,«b. Aug. 22, 1776, died young. 

238 II. Sarah," b. Oct. IG, 1778, m. Asa Judson. 
Ill III. Matthew,'^ b. Oct. 22, 1780. 

. 240 IV. Armilla,'' b. Feb. 4, 1783, m. Reuben Walker. 

241 V. Phebe,' b. July 24, 1785, m. 1. Wheeler Kirtland ; m. 2. 
Dea. Upson. 

li VI. Erastus,^ b. March 27, 1796. 

243 VII. Charlotte," b. July 4, 1799, ra. Charles H. Judson, Oct. 
30, 1822. 

244 VIII. Eliza,'' b. April 26, 1801, m. WiUis Lambert, Feb. 25, 
1823. 

245 IX. Cornelia," b. July 9, 1803, ra. Phineas Smith, March 17, 
1828. 

' 246 X. Jane," b. Aug. 15, 1809, m. 1. Cyrus Pierce, Jan. 24, 
1881 ; m. 2. Clark Sackett. 

Adam" (93.) Children, 

Ilsii.S!.}'"™'"'"'-"'™''^*'''"'- 

249 III. Lucina," bap. Aug. 1, 1773. 

250 IV. Asa,^ m. Stoddard, and had childi-cn, Phebe and 

Betsey. 

IsraeP (99) lived in Roxburyj ra. 1. Anna Lake, July 9, 
1762, who d. June 1, 1787 ; m. 2. Widow Betty Cheravoy, 
May, 1793. lied. 1811. Children, 

251 I. Mary," b. March 30, 1763, m. Piatt Wakeley, Jan. 15, 
1789. 

252 IL Seth," b. July 8, 1764, m. Susanna Frisbic, June 8, 1789, 
and had children, I. Sherman, b. Sept. 5, 1790, m. Jerusha Norton, 
and had children, Charles S., Esq., a lawyer at llonesdale. Pa., Eliza 
and Harriet; U. Truman, b. Nov. 4, 1795, who ra. March 26, 1820, 
Eunice Peet, who was b. Sept. 10, 1799, and had children, 1. Mari- 



II I STOUT OF JLNCIENT W O O D B U K Y. 65B 

ctta, b. Marcli 15, 1821, m. Morris E. Clinton ; 2. George, d. young ; 
3, William, a graduate at Yale College, and a lawyer, m. Frances J. 
Clinton ; 4. Emily Manvrlle, b. Nov. 5, 1829, m. Doct. James II. 
Carry; 5. Frederick T., b. May 2, 1833, d. aged 15 years ; and G. 
Cornelia, b. July 13, 1835 ; III. Susan. 

253 III. Edward," b. 170(5. 

254 IV. Josiah,« b. April 9, 1768. 

255 V. Israel," b. April 1, 1770. 
25 G VI. Shove.'' 

257 VII. Abia," b. Marcli IS, 1773, m. Isaac Beers. 

258 VIII. Anna," b. April 29, 177C, m. Tr««ian Perry. 

259 IX. Jerusha," b. Nov. 13, 1778, m. Amariah Royco. 
200 X. Abigail," b. Oct. 29, 1780, m. Eli Booth. 

261 XI. Euth." I 

262 XII. Joseph," died young. 

263 XIII. Aaron." 

Rev. Thomas' (110) settled in the parish of Westfield, Mid- 
dletown, m. Dorothy Brainard, niece of the missionary, David Brain- 
ard. She was b. Dec. 20, 1739, and d. June 5, 1828. He d. April 
28, 1826; children, Doct. Thomas, b. Oct. 15, 1777, a distinguished 
physician at Middletown, Conn., who d. April 23, 1841 ; David 
Brainard and Gilbert, both d. unm. 

DanieF (113) m. Abigail . lied. Jan. 15, 1791. Ch., 

264 I. Truman," b. Jan. 16, 17 G3, 

265 II. Daniel," b. Dec. 1, 1764. 

266 III. Rev. Justus," b. Nov. 18, 1768. 

267 IV. Ruth," b. July 25, 1772, m. Shehon. 

268 V. Asahel. y 

269 VI. Peter. 

270 VII. Judith. 

Sanmel" (142) m. Molly . Children. 

271 I. Olive,'' m. Martin. 

^ II. Ephraim,") , a -i o? i7q-> 
273 III. Amos,« T^P' ^P"^ ^^^ ^^'"'■ 
fjj IV. Anthony,^ b. Aug. 31, 1783. 

Samuel Curtiss" (131) m. Polly Royce, May 23, 1810. Ch., 

275 I. John C.« 

276 II. Polly A.,« m. Samuel A. Castle, June 20, 1846. 
Benjamin" (144) m. Mehetable Turner, 1787, and d. A]jril 

16, 1845. She d. April 9, 1842. Children, 
§n I. Gilbert Somers,' b. Jan. 2, 1788. 



654 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

278 II. Sarah Amanda,^ bap. April 19, 1795, m. Chaunccy N. 
Castle, Dec. 7, 1828. 

William" (158.) Children, 

279 I. Sarah," bap. Nov. 20, 1803. 

280 II. Harriet,") , t i oq iqaq 
28im.To\lj/ \^''^■'^''^y^^'^^^^' 
2S2 IV. Henry," m. Betsey Booth, April 8, 1840. 

Adoniram'^ (166) m. 1. Patience Mitchell, Oct. 5, 1785. She 
Avas b. Aug. 10, 176G; m. 2. Elizabeth Forbes, July 3, 
1818. She was b. Aug. 9, 1778. He d. April 21, 1847. 
Children, 
^i 1. Judson," b. March 20, 1787. 

284 II. Abijah Mitchell,'-' b. Aug. 18, 1792, m. Maria M. Clark, 
Oct. 9, 1822, who was b. Oct. 10, 1799. 

285 III. Ruth Alva," b. Nov. 11, 1793. 

286 IV. Anna Maria," b. July 4, 1795. 

287 V. Ruth Alma," b. Sept. 20, 1797. 

288 VI. George Alva," b. Feb. 22, 1800, m. 1. Pamela Clark, 
April 12, 1831 ; m. 2. Ancey Beach, April 1, 1837. 

289 VII. Albert," b. May 1, 1B19. 

290 VIII. Charlotte," b. May 21, 1823, m. David A. Tuttle, May 
10, 1843. 

Dea. Seth" (167) m. Emm Judson. He d. Aug. 14, 1830. 
Children, 

291 I. Horace," bap. March 15, 1795 ; d. Aug., 1814. 

292 II. Harriet," bap. July 4, 1802, m. Benjamin Hinman, Oct. 
29, 1823. 

Dea. Noah,« (169) b. March 17, 1769. Lives in Norfolk, 
Conn. Children, 

293 I. Harriet," bap. Nov. 30, 1794, m. Humphrey. 

294 II. Preston," bap. Jan. 10, 1796. 

295 III. Alden," m. Cady. 

Wait" (173) m. Susanna Judson, Nov. 10, 1801. She was 
b. April 20, 1781. Children, 

296 I. Lura," b. Dec. 14, 1802, m. Philo Pierce, Feb. 28, 1823. 

297 II. Roxa," b. Aug. 6, 1804, m. Horace Hurd, Nov. 19, 1827, 
and has 1 ch., Marcus Andrew, b. July 16, 1829. 

ifj III. Israel," b. March 17, 1807. 

299 IV. Burke," b. Aug. 16, 1809, m. Eliza Turner. Have ch., 
Catherine. 

300 V. Charlotte," b. April 7, 1812 ; d. unm. Nov. 8, 1835. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 655 

301 VI. Flora,'-' b. Feb. 10, 1814, m. Russell W. Robinson, and 
d. April, 1840. 

302 VII. Cyrus Setli," b. Aug. 28, 1817, m. Catherine R. Hat- 
field, May 21, 1845, who was b. Nov. 19, 1822, and have eh., Flora 
Louisa, b. Nov. 9, 1846; Edward Howard, b. Oct. 25, 1848; Mary 
Elizabeth, b. Sept. 19, 1850, and Cyrus Wait, b. July 30, 1853. 

303 Vni. Noah Bennett," b. Dec. IG, 1821. 

John" (180) m. Eunice Jones of Stephentown, N. Y., Oct., 
1801. Children, 

304 I. Eunice.^ 

305 II. Hiram J., owner of the H. J. Miner's Bank, Fredonia, 
N. Y., m. Adeline M. Hungerford, Oct. 19, 1830. 

306 III. John.'-" 

307 IV. Isaac.^ • 

308 V. Eliza.'' 

309 VI. Mary,« d. young. 

310 VII. Caroline." 

311 VIII. Heman.'^ 

Capt. Jesse," (230.) Children, 

312 I. Nancy,'' | , t o ioap '^i- Leman Sherman. 

313 II. F^^n/,;^. I J^ap. June 6,1806. 

314 III. Sarah Augusta,'-' bap. Oct. 9, 1808, m. Whittlesey. 

315 IV. Solomon B.," m. Frances A. Walker, 2 ch. 

316 V. Cornelius L,' bap. Oct. 11, 1812, m. Mary Mitchell. 
Dea. NathanieP (233) m. 1. Betsey Betts; m. 2. Altha Mar- 
tin, Aug. 18, 1819. Children, 

317 I. Juha," m. Amos Eno Allen, Feb. 8, 1832 ; d. Oct. 3, 1844, 
aged 32. 

318 II. Antoinette," b. Nov. 25, 1821 ; d. March 24, 1843. 

319 III. IMary Root,'-' b. March 25, 1820, m. Nathaniel L. Strong. 
Hon. Matthew" (239) m. Lorena Bacon, Oct. 22, 1802. He 

d. Dec. 17, 1839. She d. May 30, 1848. Ch., 

320 I. Josiah Giles,'" b. July 23, 1803, m. Catherine E. Blois, 
April 18, 1832. 

321 II. John Betts,'" b. March 19, 1805; d. July 18, 1814. 

322 III. Maria Jennet,'" b. May 3, 1807, m. Treat Lambert, Feb. 
23, 1841. 

323 IV. Mary Lorena,'" b. Aug. 10, 1809 ; d. Aug. 7, 1811. 

324 V. Eliza Jane,'" b. Nov. 11, 1812; d. Feb. 16, 1826. 

325 VL Henry,'" b. April 26, 1816, m. Altha Greene, May 30, 



656 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

1839, and has ch., James Henry, Mary Joy, George Bacon, Emily 
Lorena and Julia Bacon. 

326 VIT. Mary,i° b. Aug. 6, 1818, m. Asahel M. Huxley, M. D., 
June 14, 1837. 

326 Vni. John B.,'" b. March 9, 1821, m. Ursula S. Allen, Sept. 
24, 1844, and have ch., William Henry. 

327 IX. Samuel,'" b. March 27, 1823, m. Mary T. Boughton, 
May 1, 1850. 

328 X. Emily Jane,'" b. March 2, 182G, ra. Enos Benham, Sept. 
9, 1851. 

Erastus^ (242) m. Mclinda ManviUe, Dec. 21, 1834. Ch., 

329 I. Sarah Ehza," b. Oct. 22, 1835. 

330 II. John,'" b. Aug. 31, 1837 ; d. young. 

331 ni. Mary,'" b. May 9, 1839. 

332 IV. Susan,'" b. Oct. 12, 1841. 

333 V. Jane,'" b. Jan. 30, 1844. 

334 VI. Horace,'" b. Oct. 14, 1845. 

335 VII. Charlotte,'" b. April 30, 1848. 
33 C VIII. Thomas,'" b. July 22, 1850. 
337 IX. Maria,'" b. Aug. 11, 1852. 

Ephraim^ (272) m. Olive Judson. Children, 
388 I. Olive,'" bap. Aug. 30, 1807. 
' 339 II. George,'" bap. May 5, 1808, m. Sally Kirtland, March 

17, 1829 ; ch., Cornelia and Charlotte, who d. Aug. 3, 1836. She m. 
2. James Abrams, Esq., of Rochester, N. Y. ; d. 1853. 

340 HI. Charles J.,'" bap. JVLay 5, 1808, m. Clarissa Terrill, Jan. 

IB, 1828, and had ch., Mary Jane, b. Oct. 26, 1830, who m. 

Scott, andd. 1853; David Stiles, b. July 27, 1834, and Charles D., 
1). Nov. 25, 1842. 

341 IV. Nathaniel.'" 

Anthony" (274) m. Olive Tuttle, Oct. 7, 1801, who was b. 
Nov. 22, 1778, and d. 1853. Children, 

342 I. Dea. Truman,'" b. Oct. 24, 1802, m. Harriet Curtiss, Dec. 

18, 1827, and have had ch., Henry Stiles, b. Oct. 1, 1830; Truman 
Smith, b. Sept. 8, 1832 ; John Hemy, b. Dec. 14, 1837, and Harriet 
Eliza, b. Nov. 7, 1843. 

343 II. Horace,'" b. Aug. 24, 1804, m. Emelinc Leavenworth, 
Oct. 13, 1824. 

344 III. Mariette,'" b. April 18, 1822, m. Henry N. Dudley, Oct. 
2, 1844. 

Gilbert Somers'' (277) m. 1. Sabrina Sedgwick ; m. 2. Ch., 



HISTORY OK ANCIKNT WOODBURY. 657 

345 I. Frederick M.,'" m. Samnntha Franklin, and has ch., Thom- 
as Burton and Ellen Frances. 

y4G II. Frances Amanda,'" m. Alfred F. Betts, Oct. 14, 1840. 
Judsou" (288) ra. Electa Way, April 17, 1809. Children, 

347 T. Henry J.,"^ b. March 28, 1814, m. Nancy J. Mather, March 
14, 1838, and has ch., Henry A., b. April lo, 1843, and Emma Jane, 
h. Oct. 19, 1848. 

348 II. Charles M.,'" b. Dec. 12, 1817, m. Harriet N. Ketchell, 
Aug. 23, 1841, and have ch., Charles Hubert, b. Sept. 14, 1844. 

349 III. Isaac L.,'» b. May 21, 1824, m. Esther J. Cramner, Jan. 
2, 1848, and has ch., Harriet Electa, b. April 9, 1850. 

Dea. Israel' (298) is a wliolesalc druggist in the city of New 
York ; m. 1. Nancy Giles, March 23, 1829 ; who d. .Ian. 22, 
1835, m. 2. Charlotte L. Crannell, June 4, 1837. Ch., 
^ I. Charles Edward,"" b. Feb. 19, 1830. 

351 II. Frances Susan,'" 1>. March 12, 1832. 
By second wife, 

352 III. Eobert Crannell,'" b. Ai)ril 30, 1839. 

353 IV. Israel, Jr.,'" b. Nov. 11, 1840. 

354 V. John Crannell,'" b. March 3, 1843. 

355 VI. Albert Judson,'" b. March 12, 1849. 

Charles Edward'" (350) m. Fanny Dolsou, April 7, 1852. 
Child, 

356 I. Louis," b. March, 1853. 

* 



NICHOLS F A M I L Y . 

The name of Nichols is found on the early records of Conn. Ca- 
leb and Isaac were at Stratford previous to, or as early as 1750. Isaac 
was son of John of Fairfield, and whether Caleb was his brother, is 
at present unknown. Caleb removed to Woodbury, about 1694, and 
his ch. were, Hannah, b. Aug., 1GG7 ; Caleb, b. Feb., 1668 ; Phebe, 
bap. Nov. 12, 1671, m. Isaac Knell; John, bap. Nov. 12, 1676; 
Abraham, Anna, Abigail, m. Martin, Mary, m. Hull. 

Sergt. John, son of Caleb, d. in 1727. Cli., by his wife Jane. I. 
Sarah, bap. March, 1707; d. young. 11. Caleb, b. Dec, 1708 ; d. 
June 17, 1710. IIL John, b. April 28, 1711, m. 1. Elizabeth Pres- 
ton, Feb. 2, 1732, who d. 1733 ; m. 2. Abigail Judson, she d. May, 
1749; m. 3. Mary Tuttle, who d. May 9, 1768. He d. April 4, 
47 



\ 

658 . HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

1791. Ch., 1. Elizabeth, b. Feb. 9, 1733 ; 2. Andrew, b. Oct., 173G ; 
3. Caleb, b. Aug. 7, 1738 ; 4. Ann, b. June, 1741 ; 5. Elisha, b. 
April 7, 1743 ; d. Aug.,1749; 6. Sarah, bap. April 10, 1748; 7. 
Elisha, bap. Aug. 7, 1757, killed at New York, Nov. 4, 177G ; 8. 
Mary, bap. May 21, 1758; 9. Susanna, bap. Oct. 20, 1761; 10. 
Anna, bap. June 29, 176G. IV. Caleb, b. March 18, 1713 ; d. April 
1, 1727. V. Andrew, b. Oct. G, 1715 ; d. young. VI. Joseph, b. 
Jan. 28, 1718, m. Phebe Smith, Sept., 1739, and had 1. Ephraim, b. 
Feb. 2, 1741 ; d. young ; 2. David, b. Sept. 14, 1743 ; d. young; 3. 
David, b. Sept. 23, 1744 ; d. young ; 4. Abraham, bap. June 8, 1746 ; 
5. Esther, bap. Sept. 13, 1747 : 6. Jane, bap. Jime 25, 1749 ; d. Sept. 
5,1749; 7. Elizabeth, bap. July 19, 1752; d. Dec. 2, 1753; 8. 
Elizabeth, bap. July 13, 1755 ; 9. Simeon, bap. March 20, 1757 ; 
10. Ann, bap. Dec. 1(3, 1759; 11. Caleb, bap. Jan. 3, 1761. VII. 
Mary, b. July 7, 1720. VIII. Samuel, bap. March 10, 1723, and 
had, Elisha, bap. May 20, 1750 ; Eunice, bap. Jan. 27, 1752. 

The following are disconnected, for want of perfect record. 

Samuel Nicliols was in Woodbury, Sept., 1687, as he had a son 
Josiah, bap. at that date. In March, 1688-9, Andrew, another son 
was bap., this being the last time that either his, or his sons' names, 
are found on record. 

Eobert Nichols of Roxbury society, had Anna, bap. May 27, 1759 ; 
Jerusha, bap. Sept. 20, 1763. 



OSBORN FAMILY. 



Dea. Timothy Osborn came Irom Long Island, settled in South- 
bury, married Rachel Judd, Julj' 19, 1744, and had issue as follows, 
Shadrach, b. April 14, 1747 ; Timothy, d. in Virginia, Dec. 25, 1784 ; 
Wilham", bap. Jan. 1, 1749, d. July, 1801 ; Simeon, bap. April 3, 1763 ; 
Asa, bap. Sept. 27, 1767 ; Lois, bap. May 16, 1755, and m. Daniel Munn. 

Shadrach, son of Dea. Timothy, m. Mary Hinman, May 9, 1774, 
who d. Jan. 18, 1777, leaving a dau., Mary E., who ra. Leman Dun- 
ning, now of New Haven. Mr. Osborn m. 2. Alletta Blagg of New 
York, she d. March 21, 1845. He d. Aug. 27, 1838. Ch., 1. Eras- 
tus, b. June 15, 1785, m. Martha Curtiss, 1811, who d. May 19, 
1852, no issue ; 2. Benjamin B., b. Jan. 18, 1787, m. 1. Sarah, dau. 
of Ephraim Stiles, who d. Sept. 4, 1809 ; ra. 2. Ruth, sister of his 
first wife, Feb. 27, 1811. He d. Oct. 20, 1839 ; 3. Alletta, b. May 



IIISTORT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY, C59 

9, 1789, m. Tompkins; 4. Sally, b. Dec. 17, 1792, m. E. E. 

Stiles ; .5. Henrietta, b. June 30, 1795, m. Adam Lum. 

Asa, son of Dea. Timothy, m. Hyde, 1789, and had, Lucy, 

b. 1789 ; Simeon, b. 1792 ; Asa, b. 1794; Abijah, b. 1795. 



OUT ON FAMILY, 



Thomas Orton* came from England to this country about 1640. 
He was born in IGlo, m. Mary Pratt of Windsor, Conn., in 1641, 
and probably resided for a short time after his marriage at Charles- 
town, Mass. He was at Windsor some years, whence he removed to 
Farmington, where both he and his wife died. His ch. were, 
g I. John," bap. 1G48. 
o IL JMary,^ bap. 1G50, m. John Root. 

4 III. Sarah,- bap. 1052, ni. Daniel Dewey, had 4 sons and 3 
daus. 

5 IV. Elizabeth,- bap. 1G54, m. Samuel Lewis. 

6 V. Hannah,- bap. IGoG, m. Samuel Lewis. 

John^ (2) m. 1. Hannah ; m. 2. Mary Tudor, who sur- 
vived her husband, and m. John Judson of Woodbury. Ch., 
n I. Thomas,'' joined the church in 1707. 

8 II. Margaret," in. John Thompson. 

9 III. Mary,=' bap. May 20, 1688. 

l"u IV. John,=^bap. Dec. 4, 1692, settled in Woodbury. 
.^1 V. Samuel.'' l)ap. Nov. 11, 1694, settled in Litchfield. 

Thomas" (7) m. Ann Buckingham. He lived at Farmington, 
in that part novv' Avon. Children, 

12 L Sabrah,' bap. Feb. 7, 1699, m. Jonathan Hurlbut, July 6, 
1727. 

13 IL Thomas," bap. Jan. 4, 1701 ; d. 1700. 

14 IIL Anna,* bap. Feb. 9, 1703. 

15 IV. Mary," bap. March 7, 1705. 

16 V. Margaret,'' bap. July 1, 1707; d. July 3, 1703. 
II VL Thomas,-* bap. April 30, 1709. 

18 VII. Margaret,' bap. March 31, 1712. 

19 VIIL Esther,' bap. Oct. 11, 1714; d. April 1, 1738. 

20 IX. John," bap. Sept. 17, 1717. 

John^ (10) removed from Farmington to Woodbury in 1717, 



6G0 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOOUBUKY. 

or previous to that date. He m. Mary , who d. in 

1784. He d. in 1763. Children, 
21 I. Sarah,^b. 1725, m. John Mitchell in 1748; d. in 1749. 
^l II. John," b. Oct. 5, 1729. 
23 ni. Elizabeth," b. Nov. 16, 1734. 
% IV. Samueh" b. Dec. 8, 1741. 

25 V. Mary," bap. Feb. 22, 1741, m. Nathan Judson. 

SamueP (11) removed from Farminp;:ton to Woodbury in 
1718, and thence to Litchfield in 1720. He m. Abigail 
Smedley, Oct. 26, 1723, and d. March 28, 1779. Ch., 

26 I. Samuel,' b. Oct. 18, 1724. 

27 II. Hezekiah," b. April 29, 1727. 

28 III. Azariah," b. Aug. 17, 1729. 
% IV. Samuel," b. March 24, 1735. 

30 V. Jemima," b. Nov. 11, 1740 ; m. Capt. Archibald McNeil. 

31 VI. John," b. March 4, 1744; removed to Sharon, Conn. 

32 VII. Gideon, b. Aug. 18, 1732. 

Thomas" (17) settled at Cornwall in 1743 ; removed to Tyr- 
ingham, Mass., in 1749 ; m. Eliza Sedgewick, June 18, 
1730, who d. Aug. IG, 1758; m. 2. Ilepzibah Buel. Ch., 

33 I. Eoger,* b. March 11, 1731 ; d. 1731. 

34 II. Elizabeth,^ b. Nov. 8, 1732. 

35 III. Thomas,-' m. and settled in Tyringham. He d. April, 
1780, leaving a wife, four sons and two daughters. Of the sons, 
James m. and removed to the state of New York. Thomas settled 
in Hamilton, N. Y.; d. leaving a large family. Abiram m. and emi- 
grated to Porafret, N. Y.; d. in 1837, no issue. Judge Philo, b. Sept. 
9, 1778 ; was one of the pioneer settlers of Chautauque co., N. Y., 
and is now living in Pomfret in that state. 

36 IV. Anna,^ b. May 8, 1736. 

37 V. David,' m. in Tyringham ; emigrated to Johnstown, N. Y.; 
had two ch., son and dau. 

38 VI. Esther,* b. May 12, 1738. 

39 VII. Roger,'^ m. in Tyringham ; settled on the old homestead 
and had a numerous family. He finally removed to Geneseo, N. Y. , 
where he d. in 1813 or '14. 

40 Vni. Margaret,* b. Dec. 6, 1742. 

John" (22) m. Abigail Leavenworth, June 29, 1763 ; m. 2. 
Patience Warner, March 4, 1782, who d. Feb. 11, 1814. 
He d. April 2, 1808. Ch., 



HISTORl' OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 661 

41 I. Sarali,= b. April 29, 1765 ; m. 1. Hard; 2. Ball; 

removed to Canada. 

42 II. Mary Ann,-^ b. July 23, 1768 ; m. Eli Smith ; settled in 
Orange, Conn. 

43 III. Esther,'' b. Aug. 2, 1771 ; m. Hollister Judson. 
•i IV. John," b. Dec. 6, 1782. 

U V. Truman,^ b. June 16, 1784. 

Doct. SamueP (24) m. Ruth Judson, and d. in 1819. Ch. 

46 I. Doct. John,'' now resides in Sherman, Conn. 

47 II. Doct. Samuel,^ ra., settled in Bridgewater, (New Milfbrd,) 
and is dead. He left a son, Samuel D., who is a lawyer in New 
Milford. 

At III. Elizabeth,* unmarried. 

49 IV. Doct. Henry T.,* resides in Washington, Dutchess co., 
N. Y. 

50 V. Doct. David J.,' urnnarried. 

51 VI. Mary,-^ m. Ebenezer Finch, Aug. oO, 1812, and is dec'd. 
She had, 1. Sarah, m. Rev. Jonathan Brace, of Milford ; 2. Mary 0., 

m. Dewell ; o. Henry; 4. .Julia A., m. George P. Allen, in 

1851. 

52 VII. Doct. James,' resides at Caldwell, N. J. 

53 VIII. Sarah,'' is unmarried. 

Samuel' (29) m. Ruth Mason, who d. Nov. 10, 1798. He 
d. March 31, 1810. Ch., 

54 I. Levi,''b. Nov. 6,1750; d. 1776. 

55 II. Abigail b. April 14, 1752 ; d. May 6, 1771. 

56 III. Gideon,'^ b. Aug. 26, 1758 ; d. Sept. 9, 1753. 

57 IV. Gideon,^ b. July 9, 1754. * 

58 V. Huldah,* b. April 9, 1758. 

59 VI. Samuel,^ b. Dec. 27, 1759. 

60 VII. Meranda,* b. April 17, 1761. 

61 VIII. Esther,^ b. May 2, 1762. 

62 IX. John,-^ b. March 24, 1764. 

63 X. Hannah,"^ b. Oct. 17, 1765; d. 1766. 

64 XL Damaris,* b. July 15, 1767. 

65 XII. Hannah,^ b. June 24, 1769. 

66 XIII. Abigail,-' b. March 26, 1771. 

67 XIV. Miles,* b. March 21, 1774; m. Lydia Gibbs, Jan. 22, 
1795, and had four sons and three daughters. The Rev. Samuel G. 
Orton," of Ripley, N. Y., being one of them. 

68 XV. Olive,* b. May 12, 1777; d. in 1778. 



662 niSTORT OF ANCIKNT WOODBURY. 

John^ (44) m. Eliza Carpenter, and d. May, 1838. His cli. 
were, INIary Ann and Betsey. Mary Ann m. Frederick Martin, Jnly 
9, 1839. 

Truman^ (45) m. Patty Maria Curtiss. Ch., 
I. James S., m. Emily Stanly, and now resides at Geneseo, Living- 
ston CO., N. Y.; is clerk of that county. II. Harriet Maria. III. 
Frederick C. IV. Henry B.; m. Margaret Huntley ; resides in 
New York city. V. Cornelius T. VI. Walter J. 



PRESTON FAMILY 



The name of Preston was of great antiquity in North Britain ; was 
assumed by the family from their territorial possessions in Mid-Lo- 
thian, in the time of Malcolm, King of the Scots. The first of this 
family upon record, is Leolphus De Preston, living in the time of 
"William the Lion, about T040, Avhose grandson, Sir William De Pres- 
ton, was one of the Scottish nobles, summoned to Berwick by Edward 
the First, in the competition for the crown of Scotland., between Bruce 
and Baliol, it having been submitted to Edward for decision. After 
the death of King Alexander III., in 1291, this Sir William was 
succeeded by his son Nicol De Preston, one of the Scottish barons, 
who swore fealty to King Edward I. He died in the beginning of 
the reign of David II., of Scotland, son of Robert Bruce, and was 
succeeded by his son, Sir Lawrence De Preston, who was succeeded 
by Richard De Preston, who was seated at Preston Richard in West- 
moreland, in the time of Henry IL Sir Richard De Preston, the 
iifth in descent from the above Richard, of Preston Richard, repre- 
sented the county of Westmoreland in Parliament, in seventeen Ed- 
ward III. His son, Sir Richard De Preston, had likewise the honor 
of being knight of the shire for Westmoreland, in the same reign, 
(twenty-seven Edward III.,) and in the same year, (1368,) obtain- 
ed a license to impark five hundred acres. His successor was Sir 
John De Preston, of Preston Richard and Preston Patrick ; was a 
member of Parliament for Westmoreland, in the thirty-sixth, thirty- 
ninth, and forty-sixth years of Edward III. He had issue, viz.: 

1. Richard • , who left a family of daughters only. 

2. John , who was a judge of the court of common pleas in 

the reign of Henry IV. and VI., and retired from the bench in conse- 
quence of his great age, in 1427. He left, 1. John , a clergy- 
man ; 2. Richard, his heir ; 3. a daughter. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



G63 



There was, about the year 1593, a William Robert Preston, who 
was a relative of Sir Edward Coke. 

George Preston,' of Valley Field, was created a baronet of Nova 
Scotia in 1637 ; had two sons, viz., 

2 I. George,- who had a son named William, a major in the army, 
who d. in 1 G37. 

3 II. William,' m. Anna, dau. of Sir James Saunders ; lived in 
the reign of Charles I. and II.; d. April 23, IGSo, leaving a widow 
who d. Feb. 9, 1G88. Left children, viz.: 

• 4 I. William,' his heir, whose male issue became extinct. 

5 II. Richard,^ had a son William, who m. a Miss Webster. He 
was the representative of the family and took the title. 
G III. Ellen. 2 

7 IV. Alice.-' 

8 V. John,-' had issue as follows : 

fu I. William,'' emigrated to America in 1 635. 

10 II. John,' who had a son William, who was the Right Rev. 
William Preston, D. D., Lord Bishop of Fernsborn in 1729, Fellow 
of Trinity College, Cambridge. Died without issue in 1729. 

William^ (10) came in 1635, from , Yorkshire co., England, 

to Massachusetts, with Mary, his wife, and six ch.; removed to and 
settled in New Haven, Conn.; signed the fundamental agreement of 
the -ith of Jan., 1G39. He possessed at his death, real estate in 
Yorkshire, Eng., which he inherited from his father. His six ch., b. 
in England, were, I. Edward.^ 11. Daniel.^ III. Eliasaph.^ IV. 
Sarah.^ V. Mary.^ VI. John.'* The four born in New Haven 
were, ■ i 

11 VIL Jehiel,^ b. 1640; removed to Stratford; had lands re- 
corded to him there, Sept. 21, 1GG8, and Dec. 2, 1673; had a son 
Joseph, b. July 10, 1666. 

Il VIIL Hackaliah,M settled at Woodbury, in 1681. 

.- tv.'ins, bap. 1643. 

13 IX. Eliasaph,^ ) settled in Stratford, and had by his 
wife Mary, one ch., named Mary Rowe,b. April 12, 1674; removed 
to Wallingford. 

14 X. Joseph, bap. in 1G4G. 

Hackaliah'' (12) m. Emm Fairchild, of Stratford, April 20, 
1676. He d. Nov. 20, 1692, and his widow d. Feb., 1733. 
Children, 
■^^ if I. Wilham,'' b. March 21, 1676-7. ':'. 

16 IL Hannah," bap. Aug., 1680; m. Josiah Gregory, of Dan- 
bury, 1701. • ' 



664 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

17 III. Lydia,« bap. Nov., 1G82. 

18 IV. Sarah," bap. Nov., 1G83 ; m. Joseph Wells, of Stratford. 

19 V. Jehiel," bap. Oct., 168G; m. Mary Huthwitt, Dec. 27, 
1714, and d. May 2, 1727. No issue. 

20 VI. Emm,'' bap. March, 1688 ; m. Jolm Sherman, P^sci.. July 
21, 1714, who d. Dec. 12, 1730. She d. Feb. 25, 1733. 

21 VIL Remember," bap. Oct., 1G91 ; d. Jan. 15, 1G98. 
';;^Hon. William" (15) m. Martha, dau. of John Judson, June, 

-""""^ 1705; d. Sept. 5, 1754. 

22 I. Samuel,^ b. Feb. 25, 1706 ; d. March 10, 170G. 

23 II. Elizabeth,^ b. Feb. 21, 1707 ; m. John Nichols, Feb. 2, 
1732. 

24 III. Martha,^ b. April 23, 1709 ; m. Nathan Curtiss, May, 
1732. 

25 IV. Sarah," b. Sept. 0, 1711 ; m. Matthew Minor, Oct. 9, 
1734. 

26 V. Hannah," b. Dec. 18, 1713 ; m. Matthew Mitchell. 

27 VI. Emm," b. Feb. 17, 1716; m. Capt. Timothy Hinman. ^ 
1 VII. Seth," b. Nov. 24, 1718. 

29 VIII. Mary," b. Aug. 6, 1721 ; m. Nathan Mitchell, Dec. 11, 
1739. 

30 IX. Esther,^ b. March 20, 1725 ; m. Gideon HoUister, Dec. 3, 
1750. 

^i X. Jehiel," b. Nov. 8, 1727. 

32 XI. Ruth," b. July 28, 1730 ; ra. Doct. Joseph Perry, April 
20, 1752. 

Seth" (28) m. Elizabeth, dau. of Lt. Joseph Judson. He d. 
April 26, 1777, of small-pox. His widow d. Aug. 16, 
1814. Ch., 
5,^ I. William,^ b. Feb. 24, 1749. 

34 II. Elizabeth,^ b. July 1, 1751 ; m. Josiah Beers, Jan. 1, 1778; 
d. Feb. 22, 1825. 

35 III. Mary," b. May 30, 1753 ; d. Dec. 26, 1781, unmarried. 

36 IV. Esther,^' b. Nov. 27, 1755; d. unmarried. 

JehieP (31) m. Betterus Mitchell, who d. Jan. 24, 1795, aged 
08. He d. Dec. 18, 1807. Ch., 

37 I. Jehiel," b. Jan. 16, 1754 ; d. young. 

^11. Nathan,** b. April 20, 1756; was judge of probate from 
May, 1795, to May, 1805. 

39 III. Martha,* b. Aug. 29, 1758 ; m. Nathan Curtiss. 
^5," IV. Jehiel,'' b. Feb. 15, 1761. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 665 

41 V. Sarah," b. June 2d, 17 Go ; d. young. 

42 VI. Esther,'^ b. April 17, 1766 ; m. Benjamin Stiles. 

43 VII. Ruth/ b. Aug. 14, 1709 ; m. Burke Marshall, June 18, 
1795. 

44 YIII. Sarah," bap. Jan. 8, 1775 ; m. Jesse Minor. 

William^' (33) m. Mary, , who d. Nov. 19, 1836, aged 

82. Ch., 

45 I. James,-' went west ; was drowned ; unmarried. 

46 II. Anne," b. Feb. 29, 1771 ; m. Doct. Nathaniel Perry. 

47 III. Elizabeth, b. Aug. 10, 1773 ; m. Nathan Sherman Judson, 
Feb. 28, 1801. 

48 IV. Polly ; m. Sheldon Martin. 

Nathan,^ Esq., (38) m. 1. Currence Prindle, Sept. 23, 1783. 
She d. June 24, 1797 ; 2. Sally, widow of Rev. Philo 
Perry, of Newtown,' Dec. 28, 1799. He d. Sept. 20, 1822, 
and his widow died July 26, 1842, aged 81. Ch., 

49 I. Polly," b. Nov, 13, 1783; d. March 18, 1814. 

50 II. Nancy," b. Jan. 16, 1785 ; d. April 8, 1819. 

51 III. Sylvia," b. Oct. 1, 1786; m. David Hitchcock, March 2, 
1814. She d. May, 1827. 

52 IV. Caroline," b. Feb. 27, 1788 ; m. Joseph Scovill, Oct. 10, 
1813. She d. Sept. 30, 1837, leaving a son, Joseph, who now resides 
in the city of New York, and is editor of " The Pick." 

53 V. Nathan,' b. Oct. 18, 1789; now living, unmarried. 

54 VI. Rev. William," b. Aug. 16, 1801. Residence, Columbus, 
Ohio ; is an Episcopal clergyman. He m. 1. Maria, dau. of WiUiam 
K. Lamson, of Woodbury ; 2. Caroline, dau. of James Scovill, Wa- 
terbury. Ch., by first marriage, William and Sarah ; by second 
marriage, Scovill. 

JehieP (40) m. Anna Terrlll. He d. Oct. 29, 1847, aged 87. 
His widow d. July 12, 1851, aged 87. Ch., 
l^, I. Nathaniel," b. Nov. 25, 1785. 

56 II Flora," b. July 17, 1786 ; m. John Strong, Esq. 

57 III. Julia," b. July 25, 1791 ; m. 1. Samuel Sherman ; 2. Dea. 
Judson Blackman. 

58 IV. James," b. July 31, 1796. 

NathanieP (iJi)) ra. Maria Hammond. He d. July 26, 1847. 
Children, 

59 I. Bennet H.,'" d. young. 

60 II. Bennet S.,'" m. C. Elizabeth, dau. of Dea. Chauncey Whit- 
tlesey, of Roxbury; has a son, Henry N. 

48 



666 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBtJRT. 

61 III. Maria H.," m. Robert C. Lawson ; has two ch. 

62 IV. Nathan IW unmarried. 

James" (58) m. Eliza, dau. of Lewis Beers, Dec. 11, 1820. 
Children, 

63 I. Elizabeth A.,'" b.Nov. 9, 1821 ; m. Charles P. Strong,May 
4, 1842. 

64 II. Martha Jane,'" b. Sept. 17, 1825 ; d. young. 



PERRY FAMILY. 

Persons of the name of Perry, were comparatively early in Con- 
necticut, as we find that Richard Perry resided at Fairfield in 1649 ; 
also Francis Perry, at the same place, in 16G3. 

Gideon Perry,' it is said, was a Scotchman by birth, and emigrated 
to this country from Wales. Ch., 

• I I. Joseph,- b. 1728, at Derby, Conn.; settled in Woodbury. 
3 II Gideon.^ 4 III. Yelbertson.- 5 IV. Betty.= 

Doct. Joseph- (2) m. Ruth, dau. of Hon. William Preston, 

April 20, 1752. She d. Dec. 2, 1768. He m. 2. 

Bradley, and d. April 29, 1793. His ch. were, 
1® I. Philo,'' b. Dec. 22, 1752; became a physician, and practiced 
in Stratford till he was ordained an Episcopal clergyman. 
?, IL Bennett,^^ b. Dec. 28, 1755. 

8 IIL Ruth An< b. Dec. 25, 1757 ; m. Doct. Curtiss, of Mon- 
roe, and had three sons and ten daughters, viz., Harmon, George, 

Henry, Ruth Ann, Betsey, m. Lewis ; Sylva, m. Bradley ; 

Abby, m. Atwell ; Sally, m. Beach ; Maria, m. Bald- 
win ; Julia, m. Shelton ; Eliza, m. Beardsley ; Delia, m. 

William Botsford, and Esther, unmarried. 
.^ IV. Nathanicl,=^ b. Feb. 8, 1761. 

10 V. Herman,^ b. Sept. 24, 1765; d. Jan. 27, 1770, 

11 VL Thomas Phillips,^ b. 1770 ; d. June, 1792. 

12 VII. Sylvia,^ d. unmarried. 

13 VIII. Betsey,^ m. Leman Birch, of Newtown. 

14 IX. Alathea,^ (only ch. by his second m.,) m. James Porter, 
who is dead. She resides in Bridgeport ; had four ch., Phillips 
Perry, Harriet A., James and Betsey. 

Rev. Philo3 (G) m. Sally Benjamin, of Stratford, Nov. 29, 
1781 ; settled in Newtown, where he d. Oct. 26, 1793. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 667 

Sally, his widow, m. Natliau Prestou, Esq., Dec, 1799. 
Children, 
II 1. Charles Benjamin,^ b. Sept. 25, 1782. 

16 II. Doct. Henry,'* b. Feb. 27, 1785. He Avas colonel in Mina's 
expedition in Mexico, and was killed by the Spaniards there, June 
19, 1817; unmarried. 

17 III. JuHa,^ b. Dec. 21,1788; m. John P. Marshall, Dec. 10, 
1812. For ch., see Marshall family. 

Doct. Bennct'' (7) m. Sarah, dau. of Daniel Beers, and set- 
tled in Newtown. He d. Nov. 2G, 1821. Ch., 

18 I. Joseph,'' b. Aug. 13, 1778, an Episcopal clergyman at Balls- 
ton, N. Y.; removed to New Haven, Conn., where he died. He m. 

, and had two children ; 1. Allred J., m. Emily C, dau. of Hez- 

ekiah Pierpont, of Brooklyn, N. Y., where they reside ; 2. Maria, m. 
Doct. McClellan, of Brooklyn, and resides there. 

19 11. Polly;' b. April 12. 1780 ; m. Asa Chapman, Esq., of New- 
town, afterwai'd judge of the supreme court, who d. at Newtown. 
She d. 1851, in Brooklyn, N. Y. Their ch. were, 1. Charles, an at- 
torney in Hartford, and late member of Congress. He m. a Miss. 
Tomlinson ; 2. Charlotte, m. A. A. Holley, of Geneva, N, Y., is d.; 
3. William, resides at Brooklyn, unm.; 4. Henry, m. Kebecca, dau. 
of Lemuel Hurlbut, of Winchester. Residence, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

20 III. Betsey,^ b. May 19, l78o ; m. Marcus Botsford, of New- 
town ; is dead. 

21 IV. Herman,'' b. Jan. IG, 1782 ; m. Orphia Shepherd, of New- 
town ; had one ch., Mariette, who m. 1. Doyd ; 2. Rev. Mr. 

Bailey,' of South Carolina. Herman d., and his Avidow m. Garry 
Bacon, of Woodbury. 

22 V. Nathaniel P.,'' b. May 25, 1788 ; m. Polly Toucey, of New- 
toAvn, who d. He m. 2. the widow of Doct. Raymond, of Kent ; 
practiced law there; d. in 1850. 

23 VI. Sally ,^ b. Sept. 3, 1790 ; m. Curtis Hinman, Esq., an at- 
torney, of Southbury. He d., leaving a dau., who m. Barnabas W. 
Root, of Plymouth, Conn. 

24 VII. Nancy,' b. April 28,1792; m. Elisha T. Mills, an attor- 
ney ; had two ch., William and Charles. She is dec'd. He resides 
in Ohio. 

25 VIII. Sylvia,^ b. Nov. 20, 1704 ; m. Benjamin F. Shelton, 
Esq., a lawyer in Newtown, who d. She now resides in New York ; 
had four ch., 1. Theodore, m. Harriet Emmons, and had six ch.; 2. 



668 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKT. 

"William, m. a, Miss Browning, of Columbus, Miss., had two daus.; 
3i Emily, m. Henry Butler, of New York, had two ch.; 4. Frances. 
Doct. NathanieP ( 9) m. Ann, dau. of William Preston. He 
d. June 13, 1820. Ch., 

26 I. William,'' m. Fanny Blackman ; resides in Florence, Ohio ; 
no issue. 

27 11. Nathaniel,'' m. Sarah, dau. of Aaron Hitchcock; is dec'd ; 
was an attorney, and resided in New Milford. Ch., Nathaniel H., 
George and Aaron. 

28 HI. Ruth Ann,* d. unmarried. 

Charles Benjamin^ (15) m. Frances Beers, Dec. 22, 1805. 
She was b. Oct. 12, 1788. Residence, Auburn, N. Y. 
Children, 

29 I. Philo Henry ,^ b. Jan. 9, 1807; m. Jane Vredenburgh Dill, 
June 3, 1833 ; resides at San Francisco, Cal. Ch., Robert Charles, 
b. July 2, 1834; Alice Dill, b. Oct. 26, 1843; Frances Eliza, d. 
Aug. 29, 1838 ; Mary Josephine, d. March 15, 1850. 

30 II. Julia Sophia,-' b. Aug. 14, 1808; m. Roderick C. Steele, of 
■\Voodbury, Conn., Sept. 21, 1829 ; resided at Auburn, N. Y.; d. Feb. 
13, 1832 ; had one ch., Frances Julia, b. May 24, 1831 ; d. Aug. 30, 
1831. 

31 III. Frances Jane,* b. July 8, 1810 ; m. Edward E. Marvin, 
April 5, 1830. Residence, Auburn. Ch., Ellen Augusta, b. Aug. 
6, 1838 ; Edward Charles, b. Aug. 5, 1840 ; Archibald Robertson, b. 
Sept. 26, 1848; Julia Frances, d. Dec. 26, 1834. 

32 IV. Charles Egbert,^ b. Feb. 18, 1812; m. Mariana Lang- 
don Roberts, July 10, 1837. He d. July 31, 1853. Ch., Charles 
Benjamin, b. Oct. 18, 1889 ; Emma Roberts, b. Aug. 3, 1847 ; Fran- 
ces, b. July 7, 1851 ; Mary, wdio d. April 4, 1845. 

33 "V. Delia Augusta, b. Sept. 5, 1814 ; m. Roderick C. Steele, 
June 10, 1833. He d. Jan. 1, 1846; had one child, Emma Sophia, 
b. Oct. 3, 1836. 

34 VI. Roderick Beers, b. Jan. 4, 1823. 



PORTER FAMILY, 



Nathaniel Porter, b. in 1692, brother of the great-grandfather of 

Rev. William S. Porter, of Farmington, was in Woodbury in 1735. 

He m. in 1713, Ruth "Woodi-uft", who d. the same year with her 



HISTORY OK ANCIENT WOODBURY. 669 

infant son John, and he m, in 1715, Johanna Smith. Ch., Ruth, b. 
1717; Abigail, b. 1719; Sarah, 1722 ; Nathaniel, 1722 ; Esther, 
172G; Thomas, 1730. 

Of the above, Nathaniel m. Deborah Hurd, June 13, 1745 ; m. 2. 
Abigail Joslyn, of Branford, April 16, 1746. Ch. by second w. was, 
Simeon, b. Nov. 20, 1747. He d. Sept., 1758, leaving, as appears 
by his will, a wife and a son, John. He lived in Bethlehem society, 
(Woodbury.) 

Thomas, brother of the above, m. Dec. 25, 1752, Elizabeth, dau. 
of John Hurd. She was born July 21, 1730, and d. Oct. 10, 1753. 
July 24, 1754, he m. Beulah, dau. of John and Elizabeth Minor. She 
was b. Aug. 27, 1734. They lived in Bethlehem society, and their 
children Avere, Justice, b. June 6, 1755 ; .Joanna, Oct. 29, 1756; 
Beulah, Dec. 30, 1758 ; Thomas, Nov. 30, 1761 ; Elijah, Feb. 6, 
1763. 

Sarah, sister of the above, m. April 2, 1754, Lieut. Adam Hin- 
man, son of Noah and Anna. He was b. June 29, 1718. His father 
was one of the first settlers of Southbury. 



PIERCE FAMILY. 

Dea. John Pierce, probably son of John, of Wethersfield, settled 
in the main street of Southbury society ; built the '' old plastered 
house," which stood on the east side of the street north of the White- 
oak school-house. He m. Ann, (the orphan,) sister of John Iluthwitt, 
and d. Nov. 19, 1731. Hisch. were, John, bap. Sept., 1683 ; Eliza- 
beth, bap. Aug., 1685. 

Sergt. John, son of the above, m. Comfort Jenners, March 21, 
1716-17, d. in 1758. Ch., L John, b. April 4, 1718. IL Elizabeth, 
b. Aug. 19, 1720, m. Ebenezer Hinman, April 20, 1743. III. Sam- 
uel, b. Jan. 5, 1723, d. March 17, 1788. IV. Joseph, b. April 26, 
1725. V. David, b. Dec. 20, 1727. VI. Ann, bap. March 15, 
1730, m. Ebenezer Squire, April 2, 1754. VII. Nathan, b. May 
19, 1732. VIIL Justus, b. May 29, 1734. IX. Abraham, b. March 
14, 1737. X. Elijah, b. Jan. 13, 1740. 

Dea. John, eldest son of Sergt. John, m. Hannah Twitchell, April 
13, 1749, who d. July 16, 1770. He d. July 26, 1788. His chil- 
dren were, 

1. John, b. March 5, 1750 ; m. Mary Edmonds, Jan. 28, 1773. 



670 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

2. Samuel, b. Feb. 26, 1752 ; m. Martha Edmonds, Jan. 9, 1777. 
He d. Aug. 30, 1799. Children. 

I. Edinond, b. May IG, 177S, d. April 10, 1S02. II. Mary, b. Feb. 6, 17S0. 

III. William, b. July 13, 17S5, m. Botsford, is dec'd, left two ch., David, 

of Roxbury, and Mary, wife of Samuel L. Bless, of Bethlehem. IV. John, b. 
Oct. 30, 17S9, m. Olive Piatt. V. Rev. George, b. Sept. 9, 1794, is now Presi- 
dent of the Western Reserve College, Hudson, Ohio. VI. Molly, m. See- 
ley, had a dau. Patty, who m. 1. Garry French, 2. Henry B. Stiles, of South- 
bury. 

3. Titus, b. March 21, 1755 ; m. 1. Mary Norton, June 21, 1770 ;' 
2. Abiah Piatt, Feb. 3, 1780. Children, 

I. Andrew, bap. Dec. 1, 1771. II. Hannah, b. Oct. 24, 17S0. III. Amiel 
Piatt, b. April 19, 1783. IV. Abigail Betsey, b. July 25, 17SS. V. Phebe, b. 
Aug. 4, 1790. VI. Titus, b. July 5, 1792, m. Ann, dau. of Leverett Judd, Esq., 
of Bethlem. VII. Amos, b. July 6, 1796. 

4. Hannah, bap. Feb. 6, 1757. 

5. Amos, b. Aug. 0, 1763. 

Joseph, son of Sergt. John, m. Mary Johnson, Feb. 22, 1750. 
Ch. as follows, 

1. Mary, bap. Jan. 20, 1751, m. Benjamin Hicock, Feb. 10, 1774. 

2. Sarah, bap. Jan. 21, 1753, m. David Mitchell, April 27, 1775. 

3. Joel, bap. Sept. 29, 1755, m. Avis, dau. of Lieut. "WilHam 
French, had ch., names not known. 

Jeremiah, the father of Lt. William French, settled at Stratford, m. 

Edwards, removed to Dover, N. Y., had 4 sons and 4 daus., viz., William, 
Jeremiah, Gree, Gershom, Dosia, Aner, Avis and Hannah. William m. Ann, 
dau. of Thomas Bennet, and had, 1. Mercy, ni. Oliver Barrit, and both d. at 
Williamstown, Mass. ; 2. Avis, m. Joel Pierce; 3. Sylvania, m. Gen, E. Hin- 
man of Southbury ; 4. Hannah, m. Asahci Bacon of Woodbury; 5. Ann, d. 
young ; 6. Bronson, m. Mary Ann Burritt, d. 1S52 ; 7. Bennet, m. two wives, 
had issue by the first; 8. Benjamin, d. while a member of Williams College; 
9. Col. William, m. 1. Tomlinson ; m. 2. Miss Woodhouse, from Wethers- 
field, has no issue, is living in Ohio, aged about SO years. 

Of the above, Jeremiah m. Vinegar; Cree m. at Dover; Gershom tn. 

Eisea ; Dosia m. Stoddard Squire, and went to Little Falls, N. Y. ; Aner 

ixi. Bryant, an Episcopal clergyman ; Hannah m. Marsh, and settled in 

Goshen. 

4. Olive, bap. Feb. 26, 1758, m. David Stiles, Dec. 12, 1784. 

5. Benjamin, m. Lucy Beers of Newtown, and had, SterUng, Ed- 
win and Chloe. 

6. Aaron, d. April 5, 1777, of small-pox. 

7. Joseph, bap. Aug. 15, 1762, m. Sarah Hicock, Feb. 27, 1786, 
and had Lovina, b. Sept. 2, 1786 ; Sally, b. June 6, 1788 ; Joseph, 
b. April 8, 1790 ; Noble, b. May 11, 1792 ; PoUy, b. March 20, 
1794 ; Joshua, b. July 22, 1798. 

8. Ruth, b. Aug. 17, 1767, m. Newton Tuttle, Sept. 10, 1786. x 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 671 

9. Hannah, bap. Sept. 1, 1769. 

David, son of Sergt. John, m. Eunice Strong, July 18, 1751. He 
d. Jan. G, 1786. Ch., I. Eunice, b. June 1, 1752, m. Phineas Barnes, 
April 8, 1776. II. Comfort, b. Oct. 5, 1753, m. John Edmonds, 
Dec. 7, 1775. III. Currence, b. March 22, 1755. IV. Mercy, bap. 
Nov. 18, 1756. V. Betty, bap. July 23, 1758, d. young. VI. Pa- 
tience, b. Jan. 28, 1762, m. Samuel Botsford, in 1784. VII. Mary, 
bap. April 15, 1770, d. in 1778. 
/ Nathan, son of Sergt. John, m. Mabel Wheeler, Dec, 1763. 

Children, 

1. Rebecca, bap. Sept. 1, 1764, m. Benjamin Shelton. 

2. Nathan, bap. March 23, 1766, m. Rachel St. John, in 1796, 
who d. in 1816. He d. in 1820. Children, 

I. Stilly, b. 1797, m. Alviu Hine of Middlebuiy. II. Anna, d, aged 21. III. 
Justus, b. ISOl, m. Olive Malloiy, April 21, 1831, had Reuben and Anna. IV. 
Polly, b. 1803, m. Thomas Root. V. Olive, b. 1S05, m. Abel Holbrook. VI. 
Nathan, b. May 9, 1S09, m. Sarah E. Bloss of Bethlem, Nov. 6, 1S34. Ch., 
1. Mary D., b. Dec. 9, 1S35, d. Oct. 12, 1846 ; 2. Susan E., b. Nov. 1, 1838 ; 3. 
George E., b. April 22, 1840 ; 4. Lucy L., b. April 20, 1842; 5. Nathan F., b. 
Nov. 20, 1847, d. Nov. 21, 1848; G. Mary D., b. Nov. 14, 1S51. VII. Ely, b. 
1S09, m. Augusta Hurlbut, ch., Rachel and Lucy. VIII. Ellen, b. 1812, rn. 
Anson Bray. IX. Louisa, b. 1317. 

^ 3. Simeon, m. Thankful Hunt. Ch., 

I. Philo, removed to Michigan. II. Cyrus, ui. Jane Minor, removed to Ohio. 

III. Parnella, m. Andrews, who is a missionary at the Sandwich Islands. 

IV. Nathaniel, m. Minerva Sanford, and resides in Ohio. V. Fanny, m. 

Sturtevant. 

4. Reuben, bap. Oct. 27, 1771 ; d. 1853, unm. 

5. Asa, bap. Feb. 7, 1773 ; d. unm. 

6. Truman, bap. Nov. 27, 1774 ; d. 1853, unm. 

7. Elisha, bap. Oct. 20, 1776, m. Rhoda Hinman, April 28, 1799, 
and had, Russel, Betsey and Jane. 

8. Cyrus, bap. April 11, 1782, graduated at Yale College, and d. 
Nov. 14, 1802. 

Justus, son of Sergt. John, m. Hannah Johnson, July 13, 1758. 
Ch.j 1. Justus Johnson, b. May 9, 1759 ; 2. Andrew; 3. Hannah, b. 
Sept. 20, 1772, m. Benjamin Mitchell, March 1, 1801 ; 4. Mary, b. 
Sept. 10, 1775; 5. David, b. Oct. 29, 1778; 6. Justus, b. April 11, 
1782; 7. Mary Ann, b. June 8, 1783 ; 8. Shadrach,b. July 2, 1786; 
9. Abigail, b. Sept. 14, 1788. 

Abraham, son of Sergt. John, had ch., Calvin, Philo, Noble, bap. 
Sept. 3, 1769, d. 1775 ; Annis, bap. June 15, 1771 ; Sally, Nancy, 
Abraham N., bap. Oct. 2, 1778 ; Edwin, bap. July 3, 1785. 



672 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

Elijah, son of Sergt. John, m. Esther Downs, Feb. 8, 1770. Ch., 
Currence,b. Feb. 16, 1775, m. Bennet French, May 18, 1703 ; Bet- 
sey, m. Israel Bradley, and had two eh., Noble and Esther. 



PRENTICE FAMILY, 



Valentine Prentise, or Prentice, came to New England, in 1631, 
with his wife Alice, and his son John, having buried one child at sea. 
He settled in Roxbury, Mass., where he soon died, and his relict 
married, April 3, 1634, John "Watson. 

John Prentise, the son of Valentine and Alice, became an inhabit- 
ant of New London, in 1652, and px'obably brought his wife, Hester, 
with him from Roxbury. Their children were, John, b. Aug. 6, 
1652 ; Joseph, b. April 2, 1655, d. 1676 ; Jonathan, b. July 15, 1657 ; 
Esther, b. July 20, 1660 ; Peter, b. July 31, 1663, d. 1670 ; Stephen, 
b. Dec. 26, 1666; Mercy, b. Dec, 1668, d. 1689 ; Hannah, b. June, 
1672 ; Thomas and Elizabeth, twins, b. Nov. 6, 1675, and Valentine, 
date not noted. 

Valentine Prentise, last mentioned, removed to Woodbury, about 
the year 1700, as nearly as can be ascertained. He was there cer- 
tainly as early as 1706, as he is that year described as being of Wood- 
bury, in the distribution of his father John's estate, and gives a quit- 
claim deed to the executor, whom he calls "my loving brother, Capt. 
John Prentice.'" He married Abigail Walker, dau. of Dea. Zecha- 
riah Walker, and had ch., John, bap. Oct., 1710', d. April 4, 1716 > 
Esther, b. May 16, 1712, d. young; Joseph, b. Jan. 20, 1715; 
Esther, b. May 2, 1717 ; John, b. Nov. 1, 1719 ; Thomas, b. May 9, 
1722, d. same year; Thomas, b. June 23, 1723, d. Nov. 1, 1744; 
Christopher, b. April 13, 1726; Abigail, bap. Nov. 17, 1728, m. 
Thomas Warner, 1749 ; Patience, b. July 7, 1731. 

John Prentice, son of Valentine, d. 1751, ch., by his wife Eliza- 
beth, were, Thomas, b. Jan. 11, 1746 ; Ichabod, bap. March 30, 1748 ; 
John, bap. Jan. 20, 1751. 

Joseph Prentice, had the following ch., Theophila, b. Oct. 1, 1744; 
Valentine, bap. March 16, 1746; Ahiel,bap. Nov. 13, 1748; Ozias, 
bap. Aug. 1, 1756, d. 1792; Samuel Grant, bap. Sept. 10, 1758. 

Christopher Prentice, son of Valentine, m. Betsey, di;iu. of Roger 

1 Miss Caulkins* History of New London, p. 328. 



HISTORT OF ANCIENT -WOODBURY. 673 

Terrill, Jr., May 18, 1748, Betsey, d. 1805, and Christopher in 1819, 
Their ch. -vvere, 

1. Mary, b. Oct. 26, 1748. 

2. Amaziah, b. April 7, 1750, and by his wife Mercy, had, 

1. Colonel, b. July 20, 17S1 ; 2. Sliner, b. Feb. 8, 17S3; 3. Walker, b. Tec, 
14, 17S4; 4. Olive, m. Joseph Koot, April 22, 1S02; 5. Susan. 

3. Sabria, bap. April 5, 1752. 

4. John, b. June 6, 1754, m. and had ch., 

Sally, d. Jan. 20, 1794, aged 7 years ; Betsey, d. Feb. IS, 1794, aged II years; 
DrusiUa, d. April 22, 1794, aged 14 years; John, had also, the Rev. Charles 
Prentice, who m. ]. Clarissa Kasson, June, 1S04. She d. in 1S05, he m 
2. Clarinda Parmlee, Nov., ISOS. Ch. of Rev. Charles, were, 1. Charles T., b. 
March 31, 1S05, ni. Harriet Ensign, April, 1S35; 2. Clarinda, b. Oct. 2, ISIO 
m. Sidney Ensign, Jan., 1S33 ; 3. Eliza Ann, b. Nov. 20, 1S12, m. L. S 
Adams, Jan., 1S35; 4. Theodore P., b. June 25, 1815, m. Sarah Hoskins 
Sept., ISU, and d. Oct., IS-IG ; 5. JMartha C, b. April 20, 1S17, d. Dec. G 
1S34; G. Henry H., b. Aug. 27, 1S19, m. Frances D. King, Oct., 1S44 ; 7. Ed 
win, b. Dec. 17, 1S21, m. Clarissa Stoddard, June, 1S51 ; «. Mary K., b. Oct 
20, 1S24, m Charles B. Sheldon, May, 1S47. 

John, also had, Rev. Thomas H., now of western N. Y. ; Virgil, who went 
west; Lucy, who m. C. B. Munson ; Ahna and Dotlier, both d. 1S29. 

5. Zachariah, b. Jan. 15, 1757, d. by a fall, when plastering the 
Episcopal Church in Woodbury. 

6. Josiah, b. Nov. 8, 1758, d. Sept. 20, 1760. 

7. Josiah, b. Oct. 4, 1761, had a wife, Sarah, and son, Curtiss, 
■who became a physician, also two daughters. 

8. Abigail, b. March 26, 1703. 

9. Patience, bap. Dec. 2, 1705. 

10. Sherman, b. June 26, 1767, m. Susan Richards, Jan. 18, 1786. 
He d. July 15, 1829, and his widow, March 19, 1837. Their chil- 
dren were, 

1. David, b. Sept. 7, 17S7, m. Cordelia Willis, and had, Susan, Jane and 
Emeline. He now resides at Geneva, N. Y., and is professor of mathematics 
in the college of that place. 2. Francis D., b. Oct. 5, 17S9, m. Caroline Hib- 
bard, no children. 3. Lydia, b. Dec. 27, 1791, d. March 11, 1793. 4. Lydia, 
b. April 28, 1794, d. May 21, 1845. 5. Sally, b. Feb. 19, 179S, m. Harlow 
Judson, 1825. 0. Amy, b. Jan. 5, ISOO, d. same month. 7. Daniel S. and 
Diuner, (twins,) b. July 23, 1802; Dinner d. the same year ; Daniel S. m. Alec- 
ta Osborn, in 1827, and had Jane and Mary. «. Edwin E., b. July 2j, 1S06. 

11. Gideon, bap. July 2, 1769. 

12. Sybil, bap. Juno, 1771. 

49 



674 BISTORT OF ANCIENT WOODBUBT. 

PRIME FAMILY. 

John Prime, probably from Milford, settled in Woodbury, and was 
as is supposed, the ancestor of the family in the latter place. 

Elizabeth, dau. of John Prime, and his wife, Ann, d. Oct. 3, 1704, 
The Deborah Prime that m. Adino Strong, Dec. 20, 1733, was prob- 
ably his daughter. 

Joseph Prime, probably son of John, m. Sarah Root, Jan. 8, 1728 ; 
he d. 1757 ; children, 1. Desire, b. Oct. 4, 1729, m. Azariah Root, 
1750. 2. Sarah, b. June 6, 1731, ra. June 27, 1751, Ichabod Tuttle. 
3. Betty, bap. Dec. 30, 1733. 4. Joseph, b. Oct. 13, 1736, m. Han- 
nah King, Oct. 30, 1765, had Sarah, bap. Dec. 13, 1767. 5. Benja- 
min, b. Aug, 19, 1739, graduated at Yale College, in 1761, and be- 
came a clergyman. His father bequeathed to him £160, to defray 
the expense attending his education. 



PERCY FAMILY. 



John Percy had John and Joseph, bap. June 30, 1754. 

Joseph Percy m. Love Reynolds, Aug. 14, 1774, and had, 1. John, 
b. Oct. 31, 1774, m.. Polly Pond, Nov. 25, 1799. 2. Benjamin, b. 
July 7, 1776. 3. Ruth Amy, b. Nov. 29, 1778. 4. Sally, b. Dec. 
24, 1780. 5. Truman, b. Sept. 13, 1782. 6. Rebecca, b. March 
16, 1794. 7. Eunice, b. Feb. 21, 1796. 8. Lovina, b. March 23, 
1797. Dotha Ann, b. Oct. 25, 1801. He d. March 28, 1830. Hia 
wife d. Nov. 22, 1829. 

Nathan Percy and wife, Sarah, had Mitchell, bap. Dec. 14, 1777. 
John, b. July 23, 1779. Nathan, b. Oct. 31, 1791. 



ROOT FAMILY. 



The name of Root appears early at Hartford and Farmington. 
Thomas Root, of Hartford, was in the land division, 1639. John, 
made free at Farmington, in 1663.. John, Sen., of Farmington, died 
about 1685. Children, Joseph, Caleb, Mary, (wife of Isaac Bron- 
6on,) and Stephen. 

John Root, probably son of John above, came to Woodbury, about 



HI3T0RT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 675 

1685; his wife, Dorcas, d. May 15, 1720; he d. May 25, 1723; 
children, as follows : 

1. John, bap. April, 1685. 2. Susanna, same date, m. Joseph 
Minor, July 12, 1710. 3. Mary, same date, m. Robert Warner. 4. 
Sarah, same date, m. Joseph Prime, Jan. 8, 1728. 5. Josiah, bap. 
March, 1687-8. 6. Bethia, bap. Dec, 1091, d. July 23, 1700. 7. 
John, b. June 9, 1693. 8. Joseph, bap. June, 1698. 9. Bethia, b. Feb. 
7. 1703. 

John, Jr., third son of John, m. 1. Ruth Hicock, Sept. 4, 1717 ; she 
d. April 23, 1741 ; m. 2. Elizabeth ; he d. Aug. 3, 1757. Ch., 

I. Dorcas, b. April 15, 1718. II. Sarah, b. June 25, 1722. III. 
Benajah, b. May, 1725. IV. Roger. V. Adonijah, b. Dec. 30, 
1730, m. Ruth Lake, Sept. 25, 1754, and had, 1. Anna, b. May 29, 
1755. 2. John, b. Oct. 9, 1757. 3. Ruth, b. July 24, 1759. 4. 
Adonijah, b. July 14, 1761. 5. Abia, b. Dec. 26, 1764. 6. Eunice, 
b. Dec. 27, 1765. 7. Naomi, b. June 29, 1768, m. Enos Collins, 
Feb. 11, 1789. 8. David, b. Jan. 11, 1773. 

Josiah, second son of John, m. Elizabeth Huthwitt, July 3, 1717; 
he d. 1727. Children, 

1. Gideon, b. Feb. 15, 1718, d.May 5, 1718. 

2. Dav!d, b. March 31, 1719, m. Deborah Royce, Oct. 3, 1739, 
and had, 

1. Joanna, bap. July 12, 1740, m. Samuel Button, 1759. II. Josiah, b. 
March 12, 1742. III. Ruth, b. May 29, 1747. IV. David, bap. March 29, 
1751. V. Deborah, b. 17.'54, m. Isaac Armstrong, Dec. 5, 1776. 

3. Gideon, b. March 28, 1721. 

4. Mary, b. June 14, 1723. 

5. Jesse, b. Oct. 2, 1725, m. Phebe , and had, 

I. Mary, bap. March 15, 1747. II. Olive, bap. May 15, 174S. III. Solo- 
mon, bap. Jan. 21, 1750, d. at Crown Point, Aug. 29, 1776. IV. Mary, b. 
Aug. 25, 1752. V. Phebe, b. May 19, 1754. VI. Isaac, b. June 2, 1756, and 
had, 1. Curtiss, bap. Nov. 3, 1782. 2. Solomon, bap. same date. 3. Susanna, 
same date. 4. Joseph H., bap. June 1, 17S3. 5. Mehetable, bap. Jan. 5, 
1785. VII. Jesse, b. Sept. 17, 175S, and had, 1. Betsey, bap. Sept. 2, 1784, 
m. Abel Stoddard, 2. Matthew, bap. Sept. 2, 1784, went west. 3. Eunice. 
4. Seth S. 5. Phebe, bap. 1790. 6. Rhoda, bap. Sept. 4, 1794. 7. Adoni- 
ram, bap. July 8, 1798. 9. Rev. Judson A. VIII. Joanna, b. Sept. 22, 1762. 
Joseph, fourth son of John, m. Susanna , and had the follow- 
ing children : 

1. Gideon, b. April, 1721. 

2. Olive, b. March 4, 1726, m. Asahel Mitchell. 

3. Thomas, bap. June 23, 1728, m. Emma Minor, Dec. 29, 1757. 
He d. June 22, 1799. Children, 



676 HISTORY OT ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

I. Jerusha, b. April IG, 1759, m. Lee TcrriU. II. Joseph, b. May 12, 17GI, 
m. Abigail Hard, and had 1. Rosetta, m. Isaac Sherman. 2. Thomas, m. 1. 
Wealthy Allen, m. 2. Polly Pierce; children, Joseph II., Wealthy Ann, Thom- 
as B., Susan C, Homer A. 3. Andrew. 4. Sally, m. Reuben H. Hotchkiss. 
m. Ruth, b. April 20, 17G4. IV. Esther, b. Nov. 24, 17GG. V. Sarah Ann, 
b. Aug. 24, 1770. VI. Mabel, b. July 24, 1772. VII. Mary, b. July 1, 1774. 
VIII. Preston, b. Jan. 17, 177G, d. young. 

4. Susanna, bap. Sept. 30, 1729. 

5. Mabel, b. April 18, 1733. 

6. Jerusha, b. June 20, 1735, ra. Minor. 

7. Eunice, b. April 2, 1737, m. Seth Minor, 1757. 

8. Buluh, b. Aug. 7, 1739, m. Minor. 

9. Joseph, b. Aug. 27, 1741, d. same month. 

10. Joseph, bap. Oct. 24, 1742. 

11. Ruth, bap. April 22, 1744. 

12. Justus, bap. Oct. 20, 1745, d. Oct. 20, 1753. 

The connection of the following with the preceding is not deter- 
mined. 

Thomas Root m. Sarah Ilicock, and d. June 3, 1 727. Children, 
Amos, b. July, 1724. John, bap. Jan. 30, 1726. John m. Mabel 
Root, Aug. 22, 1754, and had, I. Betty, bap. Oct. 12, 1755. II. Bu- 
lah, bap. Feb. 5, 1758. III. Justus, bap. April 27, 17G0, m. Mercy 
Tiff, Dec. 4, 1782. IV. David, bap. April 10, 1763. V. Ruth, bap. 
March 9, 17GG. VI. John, bap. Sept. 11, 17G8, d. young. VII. 
John, bap. April 15, 1770. VIII. Mabel, bap. Oct. 20, 1773. IX. 
Elizabeth, bap. Oct. 29, 1775. X. David, bap. March 1, 1778. 
XI. Olive, bap. June 4, 1780. XII. Thomas, bap. March 9, 1783, 
m. Orry Beers, and had 1. Emeline, m. Thaddeus Crane. 2. Jar- 
vase, went west. 

Amos, brother of John and son of Thomas, m. Mercy Martin, Sept. 
10, 1747, and d. March 7, 1798. Children, 

I. Susanna, bap. Sept. 10, 1749, m. Samuel Carr, 1773. II. Pa- 
tience, bap. April 14, 1751. III. Joseph, bap. March 17, 1754. IV. 
Colonel, bap. April 25, 1756. V. Amos, bap. Jan. 29, 1758, and 
had 1. Laura. 2. Electa. 3. Amos, all bap. Sept. 8, 1793. 4. 
Olive, bap. July, 1796. VI. Mary, bap. Feb. 25, 1759. VII. Jonas, 
bap. Nov. 23, 1760. 

Azariah Root and wife. Desire, had Ruth, b. June 5, 1751. Betty, 
b. Feb. 16, 1753. 

Abijah Root and his wife, Ruth Emm, had Jerusha, b. Aug. 4, 
1785. Elizabeth, b. May 30, 1788. Timothy, b. Oct. 4, 1790. 
Lee, b. Sept. 13, 1792. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 677 

SMITH FAMILY. 

The name of Smith is the most numerous of any in New England. 
It had furnished two hundred and fourteen graduates in New England 
and New Jersey, previous to 18'25, one-fourth of whom have been 
settled clergymen. 

Richard Smith, (probably of Lyme, Conn.,) settled in Judea soci- 
ety about 1750 ; m. Annis, dau. of Nathan Hurd. He removed to 
Roxbury society after the birth of his first child, where he d. Jan. 20, 
1807, aged 76. His widow d. April 18, 1808, aged 75. Ch., 

I. Daniel, bap. May 18, 1755. His descendants are found in Ver- 
mont, New York and Canada. One of his sons (Phineas) now re- 
sides in Woodbury ; has ch. 

II. Phineas, Esq., b. June 3, 1759; m. Deborah Ann, dau. of 
Joshua Jiidson, of Woodbury. He d. Nov. 7, 1839, and his widow 
d. May 30, 1850. Ch., 1. Hon. Truman, ra. 1. a Miss Cook, of Litch- 
field, 2. a Miss Dickinson ; 2. Phineas, Esq., a lawyer in Vennont, 
is dec'd; 3. Shelden D., d. Nov. 19, 1849, aged 53,unm.; 4. Nathan- 
iel, m. Miss Benton, of North Guilford, resides in New Haven ; 5. 
Catherine, m. Henry N. Painter, of Roxbury ; 0. Nathan R., m. a 
dau. of Dea. Judson Blackman, has ch., resides in Roxbury. 

IIL Hon. Nathaniel, b. Jan. G, 1762, settled in Woodbury; ra. 
Ruth, dau. of Rev. Noah Benedict. She was b. Jan. 20, 1767. He 
d. March 9, 1822, in the 61st year of his age, and his relict (Mrs. 
Ruth,) d. June 30, 1845, in the 78th year of her age. They had 
one child, Hon. Nathaniel B., b. Dec. 7, 1795, m. Mary Ann W. 
Goodrich, Feb. 22, 1819, who was b. May 29, 1799. She was dau. 
of Rev. Mr. Goodrich, of Berlin. Their ch. are, 1. Mary E., b. July 
2, 1820, m. John J. Monell, an attorney, who resides at Newburgh, 
N. Y.; 2. Caroline E., d. Oct. 25, 1835, aged 5 ; 3. Nathaniel, b. 
1831. 

IV. Elizabeth, b. 1764, m. Capt. David Hammond, and d. Feb. 
22, 1800, aged 30. 

V. Hon. Nathan, b. 1767, d. while a member of the U. S. Senate, 
at Washington, Dec. 6, 1835, in the 65th year of his a"-e. Ch., 1. 
Eliza ; 2. Rebecca, m. William H. Scovill, of Waterbury ; 3. Chas. ; 
4. Sarah ; 5. Caroline ; 6. John Henry Hobert. 

VL Richard, b. in 17G9 ; d. Sept. 29, 1805, unmarried. 

Vn. Annis, m. Bennet Bronson, of Waterbury, and d. in 1818. 

The following resided in Southbury. 



678 HISTORY OP ANCIENT W00t>BUBT. 

John Smith had ch., Rachel, bap. June 11, 1732; Samuel, bap. 
Sept. 24, 1734; Martha, bap. Sept. 2, 1737. 

Ebenezer Smith had Bethua, bap. Nov. 4, 1753; Ebenezer, bap. 
May 2, 1758 ; Ebenezer, bap. July 29, 1759 ; Samuel, bap. April 19> 
1761 ; Mabel, bap. Nov. 18, 1764; Susannah, bap. May 16, 1774. 

Jared Smith. Ch., Thomas, bap. Nov. 1, 1767; Truman, bap. 
March 12, 1769 ; Thaddeus, bap. Oct. 17, 1773. 

James Smith had Sarah, bap. Dec. 16, 1770. 

Daniel Smith, and wife Anne, had ch., Anne, b. Nov. 12, 1788; 
Erastus,b. June 4, 1791 ; Thankful, b. Dec. 21, 1794. 

Richard Smith m. Lovina . Ch., Abraham Lewis, b. June 

25, 1802 ; Ralph Dunninpj, b. Oct. 24, 1804, resides at Guilford, 
Conn. ; John Edward, b. Sept. 14, 1816, resides in Waterbury. 

Rev. Noah Smith, of South Britain society, had ch., Sarah Matilda, 
b. Aug. 14, 1823 ; Martha Miranda, b. April 29, 1825 ; Edward Par- 
melee, b. June 27, 1827 ; Mary Shipman, b. May 9, 1830. 

Samuel Smith m. Abigail . Ch., Samuel, b. March 18, 1766; 

Isaac, b. Feb. 12, 1771 ; Isaac, b. Jan. 4, 1788 ; Minerva, b. Sept. 
22, 1790. 

Samuel Smith m. Sarah Lewis. Ch., Betsey, b. June 3, 1785, m. 
Cyrus Tuttle ; Harriet, b. Sept. 20, 1786, m. Benjamin D. Booth ; 
Sally, b. April 15, 1791, m. Iluthwitt Tuttle ; Laura, b. Jan. 14, 
1794, m. Lewis Hinman ; Charlotte, b. Dec. 29, 1796, m. Benjamin 
Tuttle ; Lewis ; Samuel, who resides in South Britain, has a family; 
George, m. Marietta Stiles, resides in South Britain. 

The following lived in the other societies of "Ancient Woodbury." 

Thomas Smith, and wife Patience, had I. Bethel, bap. March 2, 

1755, m. Deliverance , and had, Sybil, b. Oct. 7, 1778 ; Thomas, 

b. Sept. 2, 1784 ; Betsey, b. Aug. 4, 1787 ; Harry, b. Jan. 8, 1792. 
II. Anna, bap. May 18, 1755. III. Amos, bap. Aug. 1, 1756. IV. 
Andrew, bap. May 21, 1758. V. Reuben, bap. July 15, 1759. VL 
Simeon, bap. March 1, 1761. VIL Betty, bap. Aug. 26, 1764. 
VIIL Sybil, bap. Jan. 26, 1766. 

James Smith m. Damaris . Ch., Mary, Skinner, James, 

Stoddard, Annis and Abigail, all bap. June 12, 1771 ; Ashbel, bap. 
June 4, 1774 ; Damaris, bap. March 5, 1775. 

John Smith had ch.. Lent, bap. April 3, 1748 ; Elizabeth, bap. 
March 25, 1750 ; Mary, bap. July, 1751. 

Elihu Smith, and wife Auer, had ch., Chloe, b. Nov. 18, 1765 ; 




^•^kjiljllll^ 



<r^^^ 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 679 

EHhu, b. Sept. 24, 1768 ; Esther, bap. May 12, 1771 ; Susanna, bap. 
June 26, 1774. 

Jonathan Smith, m. Martha Porter, Feb. 17, 1748. Ch., Elisha, 
bap. July 7, 1754; Eunice, bap. May 9, 1756 ; Eunice, bap. March 
4, 1759.' 



SHERMAN FAMILY. 

Arms. Sherman, (London and Devonshii-e; descended from the 
Shermans of Yoxley, co. Suffolk,) or, a lion ramp. sa. betw. three oak 
leaves vert ; on the shoulder an annulet for diflf. Crest — A sea-lion 
sejant, per pale or and ar. guttee de poix, finned of the first ; on the 
shoulder a crescent for diff. Motto — Conquer death by virtue. 

An engraving of this coat appears on the opposite page. 

In 1634, Hon. Samuel Sherman, Rev. John, his brother, and Capt. 
John, his first cousin, came to this country from Dedham, Essex co., 
England. Samuel ra. Sarah Mitchell, who came with him from En- 
gland, and settled at Stratford, Conn. The other two finally located 
at Watertown, Mass. 

Rev. John Sherman was b. Dec. 26, 1613, at Dedham, Eng.; grad- 
uated at Immanuel College, Cambridge ; left college a Puritan, and 
came over to America in 1634, as above stated. He preached his 
first sermon at Watertown, Mass., under a.tree, soon after his arrival 
in this country. In a few weeks he went to New Haven, Conn., and 
preached in several places. He received a call to settle at Milford, 
but declined from modesty, and perhaps from other causes. He 
finally settled at Watertown, Mass., on the death of Mr. Phillips. By 
his first wife he had six ch. He m. Miss Mary Launce, for his 
second wife, and " had no less than twenty children."^ Thirteen of 
these d. without issue, before their father. Five of the others were 
sons, viz., Bezaleel, Daniel, Samuel, John, b. March 17, 1659, and 
James ; and eight were daughters, viz., Abigail, b. 3d, 12th mo., 1647 ; 
Mercy Allen ; Mary, b. March 5, 1656 ; Grace, b. March 10, 1658 ; 



1 1 should have been glad to have carried out the later branches of the Smith fam- 
ily, but was unable to induce those bearing the name, to give me the requisite infor- 
mation. 

2 Mather's Magnalia, pp. 465, 466, 467. 



680 HISTORY OP ANCIENT •VVOODBURY. 

Elizabeth; Abiah ; Hester, d. Aug. 25, 1688, and Barren. Rev. 
John Sherman's will is dated Aug, G, 1685, and in it are named these 
thirteen children ; Bezaleel and Abigail, who m. Samuel Willard^ 
having d. before their father, but left eh. He d. Aug. 8, 1685, aged 
71. John, Abiah and Esther d. without ch., after their father. 
Mercy m. Samuel Barnard, of "Watertown, Mass. James became a 
minister at Sudbury, and John Sherman, Esq., of Brimfield, was his 
son. Widow Mary Sherman, w. of Rev. John, d. March 9, 1709-10. 
Capt. John Sherman, cousin of Rev. John, and of about the same 
age, also settled in Watertown, Mass. He m. Martha Palmer and 
had ch., Martha, b. 21st of 12th mo., 1040, m. Francis Bowman, 2Gth 
of 7th mo., 1661; Sarah, b. 17th of 1 1th mo., 1647, d. June 17, 
16G7 ; Joseph, b. 14th of 3d mo., 1650 ; Grace, b. 20th of 10th mo., 
1655, and John, who was killed in the Narraganset fight, and left no 
issue. Capt. John d. Jan. 25, 1690. His widow Martha, d. Feb. 
7, 1700. 

Joseph, son of Capt. John, m. Elizabeth Winship, Nov. 18, 1673, 
and had ch., John, b. Jan. 11, 1674 ; Edward, b. Sept. 2, 1677 ; Jo- 
seph, b. Feb. 8, 1679 ; Samuel, b. Nov. 28, 1681 ; Samuel, b. Nov. 
28, 1682; Jonathan, b. Feb. 24, 1683-4; Ephraim, b. March 16, 
1685; Ephraim, b. Sept. 20, 1686; Elizabeth, b. July 15, 1687 ; 
William, b. June 28, 1692, (father of Roger, the signer of the dec- 
laration;) Sarah, b. June 2, 1694; Nathaniel, b. Sept. 19,1696. He 
d. Jan. 20, 1730-31. 

John, son of Joseph, m. Mary BuUen. He d. Oct. 31, 1756. His 
wife d. May 5, 1761. Ch., Mary, d. unm.; Joseph, Ephraim, John, 
Grace, Elizabeth and Samuel. 

Edward, son of Joseph, m. Sarah Parkhurst, Oct. 16, 1700, and 
had ch., Sarah, b. May 29, 1701, m. Andrew Wilson, June 7, 1722 ; 
Abigail, b. June 10, 1704; Joseph, b. Sept. 10, 1706; Edward, b. 
March 9, 1708-9 ; Jonathan, b. Feb. 2, 1711-12. 

William, son of Joseph, m. 1. Rebecca Cutler, of Charlestown, 
Mass. Ch., William, Avho d. aged about sixteen months ; 2. m. Mchita- 
ble Wellington, of Watertown, Mass., dau, of Benjamin, who was son 
of Roger Wellington, from England, Sept. 18, 1715. Cli., AVilliam, 
of New Milford, b. March 20, 1716-17, m. Sarah Terrill, lived in 
New Milford and d. without issue ; Mary, m. John Brattle, of Dcd- 
ham, and had five ch.; Roger, signer of the declaration ; Elizabeth, 
m. James Buck, of New Milford, and had eight ch ; Rev. Nathaniel, 
minister at Bedford, Mass., and afterward, May, 1768, settled at Mt. 
Carmel ; Rev. Jotiah, minister at Woburn, Mass., Goshen and Wood- 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 681 

bridge, Conn., father of Hon. Roger Minot Sherman, and Rebecca, 
who m. Joseph Hartwell, of jSIew Milford. 

Rev. Josiah, mentioned above, graduated at Nassau Hall, in 1754, 
received the honorary degree of M. A. at Harvard, 1758, and at 
Yale, 1765. After having been settled at Woburn, Mass., about 
fifteen years, he was installed at Milfoi-d, Aug. 23, 1775, dismissed 
June 21, 1781, settled next at Goshen, and remained there till 1788. 
He died at Woodbridge, Nov. 24, 1789. Hem. Martha Minot, dau. 
of Hon. James Minot, of Concord, Mass., Jan. 24, 1757. She was b. 
Feb. 1, 1738. Her fatlier, a very distinguished man, b. Oct. 17, 
1694, vi^as the son of James Minot, Esq., a graduate of Harvard, in 
1675, b. Sept. 14, 1653, who was the son of Capt. John Minot, of 
Dorchester, Mass., b. April 2, 1626, who was the son of Elder George 
Minot, who was b. Aug. 4, 1594. All of the name of IMinot in this 
country are supposed to have descended from the latter. He was the 
son of Thomas Minot, Escj., of SafFron-Walden, Essex, England. He 
was among the first pilgrim emigrants to Mass., and the first settlers 
of Dorchester. " His death," say the records, " was niSach lamented 
by the town, whose weal he sought and liberties defended." 

Rev. Josiah studied divinity with Rev. Dr. Bellamy, of Bethlem, 
and Rev. John Graham, of Southbury. He was a \ery acceptable 
preacher. His elocution was distinct, though fiuent and rapid. His 
voice was excellent — his mind discriminating. His eloquence was 
often pathetic, sometimes very powerful, and always such as to com- 
mand the respect and attention of his audience. His wife died in 
1820, at Durham, N. Y. Their children were, 1. Hon. Roger Mi- 
not, LL. D., b. May 22, 1773, d. Dec. 30, 1844, ni. Elizabeth, dau. 
of Dr. William Gould, of New Haven, and sister of Judge James 
Gould, of Litchfield. She was b. 1784, and d. 1848. He was one 
of the most bi-illiant and successful lawyers that Connecticut has ever 
produced. As a man, a jurist, and a Christian, he was preeminent. 
2. Martha, b. Dec. 8, 1758, who m. Rev. Justus Mitchell, had four 
children, and died at White Plains, N. Y., Oct 24, 1829 ; 3. Eliza- 
beth, b. March 26, 1761, m. John Mitchell, Esq., of Woodbury, and 
d. about 1816. Their only son, a physician, settled in Gi'een county^ 
N. Y. 4. Mary, b. Feb. 3, 1763 ; 5. Susanna, b. April 7, 1765, m. 
Baldwin, and 6. Josiah, of Albany, N. Y. 

By the foregoing account of Capt. John Sherman's descendants, it 

appears that Rev. Josiah, and conseciuently his son, Hon. Roger M., 

were descendants of Capt. John, of Watertown, and not of Rev. John, 

of the same place. This is as they themselves understood the mat' 

50 



682 HISTOllY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

ter. The aged Roger Sherman, of New Haven, son of the " signer," 
also gave the author the same information, and he is not hkely to be 
mistaken. The records of Watertown also attest the same fact, al- 
though Lambert, Allen, Trumbull and Mather, make Rev, Josiah the 
great-grandson of Rev. John, of Watertown. 

Thus it will be seen that Roger Minot's father was the fourth in 
descent from Capt. John. 

Nathaniel, son of Joseph, m. Mary Livermore, of "Watei'town, May 
31, 1726. Children, Mary, b. Dec. 9, 1726 ; Betsey, b. June 14, 
1728; Martha, b. Feb. 16, 1729-30. 

Roger, son of William, and " Signer of the Declaration," m. 1. a 
dau. of Dea. Joseph Hartwell, of Stoughton. Children, John, Wil- 
liam, Isaac and Chloe. His wife died Oct. 19, 1760, aged 34; m. 
2. May 12, 1763, a dau. of Benjamin Prescott, Jr., son of Rev. Ben- 
jamin Prescott, formerly minister at Salem. Children, Rebecca, 
Elizabeth, Roger, of New Haven, Oliver, Mehetable, Martha and 
Sarah. Oliver never maiTied. All the others married and had 
issue. Three of these children were living July 25, 1850. Roger, 
of New Haven, Mehetable, widow of Jeremiah Evarts, and Sarah, 
the wife of Hon. Samuel Hoar, of Concord, Mass. 

Hon. Samuel Sherman,' brother of Rev. John, of Watertown, 
came from Dedham, England, when about 18 or 19 years of age. 
He afterward removed to Wetherstield, Conn., thence to Stamford, 
and thence to Stratford, where lie died. An account of his life has 
already appeared in these pages. He m. Sarah Mitchell, sister of 
Rev. Jonathan Mitchell, of Cambridge, Mass. Nearly all of the 
name who have resided in " Ancient Woodbury," Avere descended 
from him. His children were, 

fu I. Samuel,- b. June 19, 1641, remained at Stratford. 

3 11. Theophilus,2 b. Oct. 28, 1643, remained at Stratford. 

4. in. Matthew,- b. Oct. 24, 1645, remained at Stratford, m. Han- 
nah , d. in 1698. 

fe IV. Edmond,- b. Dec. 4, 1647. 
_ 2* V. John,= b. Feb. 8, 1650-1, came early to WSodbury. 

7 VI. Sarah,= b. Feb. 8, 1653-4. 

8 VII. Nathaniel,^ b. March 21, 1656-7, remained at Stratford, 
d. in 1712, leaving wife, Abigail. 

^ VIII. Benjamin,- b. March 29, 1662. 
10 IX. Daniel,- b. April 15, 1665. 

Samuel- (2) m. Mary Titterton, dau. of Daniel, June 19, 
1665. Children, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 683 

111. Maiy,^ b. May 7, lOGG. 

II II. Daniel,^ b. March 23, 1G68-9. 

13 III. Susanna,'' b. July 22, 1670. 

14 IV. Sarab,^' bap. May, 1673. 

15 V. Grace,-' b. July 8, 1670. 

16 VI. Elizabeth,^ b. Jan. 1, 1678-9. 

"^ EdmoncP (5) d. in 1G83. Children by his wife Susannah, as 
follows : 

17 I. Bezaleel," b. April 11, 1G75-6, d. in Stratford, 1717. Chil- 
dren mentioned in his will, Ebenezer, Edmond and Susannali. 

18 II. Saralv bap. Aug., 1678. 

19 III. Samuel,^ b. Jan. 8, 1678-9. 

20 IV. Edmond,^ b. March 20, lG80,m. Jane Cornwall, March 6, 
1706. 

21. V. Matthew,-' b. Jan. 8, 1683, had sons, Lemuel and David. 

Dea. John" (6) m. Elizabeth , d. Dec. 13, 1730. Shed. 

Oct. 1, 1744. He was a leading man both at Stratford and 
Woodbury, was town clerk in the latter place. Children, 

22 I. Ichabod,^ d. in old age, unm. 

23 II. Hannah,? bap. July, 1680, m. Chittenden. 

^ III. Samuel,^ bap. Aug., 1082. ^-— — 

25 IV. EUzabeth,'' ])ap. Oct., 1684, m. Roger Terrill, July 23, 
1713. 
"■^ 47 V. John,-' hap. June. 1687. 

27 VI. Sarah,^ bap. Jan., 1689-90, m. Benjamin Hinman, Dec. 
18, 1718. 

28 VII. Mary,-' bap. March, 1691-2, m. Rev. Anthony Stoddard, 
Jan. 15, 1715-10. 

29 VIII. Susanna, bap. Nov., 1693, m. Daniel Noble, June 4, 
1722. 

Benjamin" (9) remained at Stratford. Children, 

30 I. Job,'' Avho had John, Joel, Nathan and Ephraim. The last 
named had sons, Amos and Peter. Amos was father of Homer B. 
Sherman, of Roxbury. 

31 II. Nathaniel.'' 

32 III. Enos.' 

33 IV. Benjamin.^ 
II V. Samuel.^ 

35 VI. Timothy.=^ 

36 VII. James.' 



684 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

DanieP (12) rn. Rebecca Wheeler, of Stratford, Dec. 29, 
1694. Children, 
II I. Samuel.' 

38 II. Benonia." 

39 III. Ebenezer.^ 

Dea. SamueP (24) m. Mary Knowles, Dec. 22, 1709, d. Feb. 
25, 1757. Children, 

40 I. Kezia,^ b. Nov. 10, 1710, d. March 1, 1738. 
■^"41 II. Hannah,'' b. Dec. 25, 1712, m. Jonathan Atwood. 

58 III. Reuben,*) , . , ^ ^ m ^n^A 

43 IV. RlW r^^"''^^-^'P'-'^^'^^^^' IT,. Peter Walker, 1740. 

44 V. David,* b. Aug. 1, 1718, d. 1719. 
Z VI. David," b. March 15, 1721. 

*4 VII. Samuel,^ b. June 26, 1722. 

47 VIII. John,' b. July 9, 1727. 

John^ (26) m. Emm, dau. of Hachaliah Preston, July 22, 
1714, d. 1727. Children, 

48 I. Jerusha,' b. Sept. 15, 1716, m. Joseph Judson, Nov. 26, 
1741. 

49 II. Damaris,' b. Feb. 14, 1719, m. Nathan Judson. July 10, 
1745. 

f? III. Daniel* b. Aug. 14, 1721. 

r. TTr .ir 1 A ) tl. Oct. 19, 1744. 

t\ v^\?^^"^''' h^vins, bap. Jan. 8, 1724. 

52 V. Mary,' ^ - j ^j^^^^ 29, 1724. 

53 VI. Mary,' b. July 7, 1726., 
SamueP (34) had children, 

54 I. Lemu^.* 
If II. Elijah,* settled in Woodbury. 

56 III. Isaac* 
Samuel* (37) had sons, 

57 I. Justin.-' /■'*■ »-*■>" '^' ' 
ft II. Jotham,* of Newtown, Conn. 

Reuben* (42) m. Martha , who d. March 9, 1750. He 

d. May 3, 1792. Children, 

59 I. Elizabeth,' bap. Nov. 28, 1742, m. John Curtiss. 

60 II. Kezia,^ bap. March 3, 1745, m. Joseph Keeler. 

61 III. Esther,' bap. Feb. 1, 1747, m. Benjamin Rusco. 

62 ly. I>aniel,^ bap^May 9, 17T3,> ^ ^^^^^^^ 

63 \. Sarah,' bap. Oct. 8, 17/o, j ^ 
David* (45) m. Hannah , d. Nov. 10, 1799. Children, 

« I. Matthew,^ b. 1753. 



IIISTORT OF ANCIENT -WOODBURY. bOO 

65 II. Elizabeth,^ b. March 2, 1755, m. Simeon Cole, removed to 
Canada. 

G6 III. Solomon/ b. Nov. 15, 1756, d. young. 

67 IV. Susanna,* b. July 21, 1758, d. Dec. 23, 1776. 

68 V. Lucy,5 b. May 1, 1760, d. May, 1779. 
S VI. Solomon,* b. Jan. 13, 1763. 

i?4 VII. Aaron,* b. Sept. 12, 1764. 

71 VIII. Eldad,*) , . 1 A 07 i7rr 

72 IX. Bildad,* I '^^^"^' ^'- ^"S- 27, 1766. 

Eldad died March 12, 1813 ; his wife died April 4, 1811, no issue. 
Bildad m. and had John, Bradley, Judson W., who resides at Angeli- 
ca, N. Y., Lucy, Nancy and Emily. 

73 X. Gideon,* bap. April 23, 1769, m. Susanna Dorman. Chil- 
dren, 1. Erasmus,^ b. 1802, d. 1827 ; 2. Lucy,« b. 1803 ; 8. George,*' 
b. 1805, d. 183G, unm. ; 4. Edna,*^ b. 1807, d. 1838, unm. ; 5. Mary 
Jane,*' b. 1811, d. 1819. 

SamueP (46) m. Sarah who d. April 16, 1803. Ch., 

74 I. .Mary,* b. Aug. 11, 1751. » 

75 II. John,* b. Jan. 4, 1753, m. Abigail ; children, Sarah, 

b. April 11, 1774 ; Ichabod, b. April 28, 1776. 

76 III. Ichabod,* b. April 15, 1755, d. April 27, 1775. 

77 IV. Esther,* b. Feb. 6, 1763. 

' Judge Daniel^ (50) d. July 2, 1799. His wife, Mindwell, d. 
May 18, 1798. Children, 

78 I. Hannah,* b. June 4, 1745. 

79 II. Emm,* b. May 2, 1747, d. in 1749. 

80 III. Sarah,* b. Sept. 17, 1749, d. in 1798, unm. 

81 IV. Emm,*b. March 23, 1753, m. Warner. 

82 V. Daniel,* b. April 20, 1756, d. Feb. 13, 1809. Children, 
Clarissa, Louna, John, Polly, Peter and Lamson. 

•* 83 VI. Taylor,* had Charles, Daniel and Betsey. Hon. Charles 
lived and died in Ohio ; laad children. '^ 

Elijah^ (55) m. 1. Nanny Northrop, May 22, 1778, who died 
April 2, 1818. He m. 2. Betsey Turney, in 1819, and d. 
Jan. 5, 1844, aged 90. Children, 

84 I. John N.,* b. Dec. 28, 1779. 

85 II. Betsey,* b. Sept. 22, 1781, d. Oct. 8, 1798. 
g HI. Elijah,* b. April 23, 1783. 

,^ IV. Isaac,* b. May 28, 1787. 
88 V. Anna,* b. Dec. 24, 1789, m. Joel Pierce, May 9, 1814, d. 



686 HISTORY OF ANCIENT ■WOODBURY. 

March 13, 1846. She had ch., one of whom was Mariette, the wife 
of G. "VV. Bishop, now of Sharon, Conn. 

89 VI. Samuel,-^ b. Oct. 23, 1792, m. JuHa, dau. of Jehiel Pres- 
ton, d. Sept. 11, 1844, no issue. 

90 VII. George,^ b. July 23, 1794; d. Oct. 22, 1798. 

91 VIII. Rebecca,-^ b. Oct. 1, 1796, m. Chester Foot. 

92 IX. Amy,^ b. Oct. 29, 1798 ; d. Jan. 13, 1813. 

93 X. Sally,^ b. March 27, 1801, m. Daniel Abbot. 

94 XL Rev. Charles,^ b. Oct. 22, 1803, m. Jerusha Rogers, Nov. 
19, 1828, d. at Troy, N. Y., March 10, 1844. He had one ch., Hen- 
rietta J. 

Jotham,^ (58) ch., 

95 I. Beers,® settled in Newtown, Conn. 

96 II. Rufus," settled in Brookfield, Conn. 

97 III. Samuel," settled in Brookfield, Conn, 
i'^ IV. Lewis,'' settled in Newtown, Conn. 

Matthew^ (64) d. March 25, 1813. His wife Elizabeth d, 
the day previous. Children, 
99 I. Judson,'' had Hiram," Albert" and Edward." 

100 II. Leman, Esq.,'' b. Dec. 17, 1786, m. Nancy, dau. of Jesse 
Minor, Esq. He d. Oct 21, 1831, leaving his wife and 2 ch., Sarah 
and Fanny ; Sai'ah m. Meloy, and resides in Waterbury. 

101 III. Susanna," bap. March 30, 1789 ; d. young. 

102 IV. Lucy," bap. March 30, 1789 ; d. young. 

103 V. Harvey," bap. Aug. 29, 1790 ; d. March 30, 1813, unm. 

104 VI. Diodema," bap. Nov. 14, 1792, m. Nathan Bowers. 
Solomon' (69) m. 1. Cressey, who d. in 1802 ; m. 2. 

Ford. Children, 

105 I. Eunice," b. May 19, 1789, m. Samuel Bristol, resides in 
Wakeman, Ohio. 

106 II. Cyrus," b. Jan. 9, 1792, m. Mercy Peck. Ch., 1. Jennette, 

d. unm ; 2. Ruth Ann, m. Porter of "Waterbury ; 3. Julia, m. 

in 1853, Nelson Bristol of "Wakeman, Ohio. 

107 IIL Hannah," b. IMarch 10, 1793; d. July 3, 1819. 

108 IV. Sarah," b. March 26, 1795, m. "Whittlesey of Ohio. 

109 V. David," b. March 3, 1796, m. Julia Johnson of Plymouth, 
resides in Penn. 

110 VI. Ruth," b. Jan. 19, 1798, m. N. Ifine of Bethlem, resides 
in Ohio. 

111 VII. Reuben," b. March 5, 1799, d. in Virginia, unm. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 687 

112 VIII. Polly," b. April 16, 1804, m. Gleason, went west. 

113 IX. Eliza,*^ b. Feb. 25, 180G. 

114 X. William," b. July 31, 1807. Eesides in Bedford, Pa., lias 
children. 

Aaron^ (70) m. Anna Curtiss, Feb. 19, 1795. He d. Oct. 16, 
1822, and his wid. d. Feb. 18, 1847. Children, 

115 I. Betsey,*^ b. JMarch 28, 1790, m. Marshfield P. Marther, 
Nov. G, 1821. 

116 II. Susan," b. May 15, 1798, m. Thomas Bull, Esq., Feb. 19, 
1824. 

117 III. Ann,«b. Sept. 20, 1800; d. Oct. IG, 1822. 

118 IV'. Fanny, "^ b. Jan. 3, 1803, in. John Summers, Feb. 23 
1829 ; d. Aug. 8, 1851, leaving ch., Cornelia and Elvira. 

119 y. Augusta," b. Sept. 11, 1805, m. Nathan B. Fairchild. 
May 6, 1832. 

120 VI. Julia,« b. July 28, 1807 ; d. Oct. 29, 1826. 

121 VII. Monroe Curtiss, b. April 28, 1810, m. 1. Cornelia Hurd 
of Indiana ; m. 2. Ruth E., dau. of Dea. Reuben H. Hotchkiss ; has 
children. 

122 VIII. Caroline," b. Feb. 3, 1813, m. Shelton Smith. 

123 IX. Bennet Aaron,"^ b. Sept. 8, 1817, m. Emily M., dau. of 
the late John Strong, Esq., June 7, 1852. 

Capt. John N.,^ (85) m. Mary, sister of Hon. Seth P. Beers. 
He d. Aug. 1, 1815 ; his wid. d. Oct. 1, 1839. Ch., 

124 I. George P.," b. Nov. 11, 1811, m. Harriet A. Brown of 
Bethlem. Shed. Aug. 13, 1850, aged 39. He has 2 ch. living, 
Harriet and Henry. 

125 II. John N.," m. Margaret L., dau. of Josiah Hotchkiss, July 
11, 1838 ; had one ch. who is deceased. He d. June 1, 1840. 

126 III. Rev. Henry Beers,® is an Episcopal clergyman, and re- 
sides at Bellville, N. J. 

Elijah^ (86) m. 1. Oct. 14, 1805, Fanny, dau. of Lieut. John 
Strong. She d. Aug. 19, 1848 ; he m. 2. Polly Beard Camp, 
Jan. 1, 1850. His ch. are, 

127 I. Catherine A.," b. May 24, 1807, m. William C. Cogswell, 
Sept. 5, 1838, and has 2 ch., Mary A. and F. Isabella. 

128 11. Margaret S.,'' b. April 28, 181^5, m. John McKenney, May 
24, 1837. He Avas b. in Manchester, Conn., Sept. 8, 1812, and d- 
in Woodbury, Feb. 5, 1845. Ch., Amelia W. and Henry S. 

Isaac' (87) m. Rosetta Root, Oct. 28, 1807. She d. May 29, 
1850. Children, 



688 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBCRT. 

129 I. Betsey M.," b, June 2, 1810, m. Ira Thomas, and has, Hoi-- 
tensia M.,'' Horatio S.,'' Serina R.' and Clementine S.'' 

130 11. Joseph R.," b. June 5, 1812, m. Lucretia Tolles, April 
14, 1839, resides in New York. 

131 III. Julia," b. April 30, 1814, m. George E. Hall of Beth- 
lem, now resides west ; has ch., J. Sherman, Charles Henry and 
Mary Jane. 

132 IV. Anna C.,'' b. Nov. 8, 1816, m. William Abernethy, and 
had one ch., Henry W. She d. Jan. 7, 1840. 

133 V. Rebecca," b. Sept. 22, 1819, m. Thomas W. Gillette, Sept. 
2, 1840, resides in New Haven. 

Lewis,*' (98) of Newtown, had, 

134 I. Justin.^ removed to "Wakemaii, Ohio ; was among the first 
settlers of that town. 

135 II. Philo,'' removed early to Wakeman. 

136 III. Sylvester," b. April, 1790. Settled in Bridgewater soc. 
New Milford ; ra. Mercy, dau. of Andrew Peck, and had, I. Lewis 
G., b. April 14, 1813, removed to Woodbury, m. Jennet, dau. of 
Lauren Judson. Ch., Margaret A., b. April 4, 1837 ; Sylvester, b. 
Oct. 30, 1839; Emily, d. young; George, d. young; Julia, b. Jan. 
18, 1853. II. Flora, b. April 5, 1813, m. Dayton Trowbridge, re- 
sides in Bridgewater. III. George M., b. April, 1822, m. Julia 
Glover, of Bridgewater, resides in N. Y. IV. Emily, m. David 
Wooster, of Bridgewater. 

137 IV. Anna,'' m. Isaac Brisco. 

138 V. Sabra," m. Daniel Booth. 

139 VL Esther,'' m. Ebenezer Terrill. 

140 VII. Marcia/ ra. Sherman BeerrJ. 

Daniel Sherman, of Roxbury society, m. Mary . He was 

brother of Ebenezer Sherman of Stratford, who d. in 1763. They 
were probably descendants of Hon. Samuel, but the connection is not 
found. Ch. of Daniel, were, Abigail, b. March, 1747 ; Ann, b. Nov., 
1749 ; Ebenezer, b. Nov. 5, 1752 ; Philo, b. July 29, 1760 ; Mary, 
b. April 27, 1763. 



STEELE FAMILY. 

John Steel or Steele,' emigrated to this country from Essex, Eng. 
He I'emoved from Cambridge, Mass., to Hartford, among the early 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 689 

settlers. His house was in Main Street, a few feet north of the 
Atheneum. He was one of the eight persons appointed by the Gen. 
Court of Massachusetts, " to govern the people at Connecticutt, for 
the space of a year next coming," March 3, 1635-6. This govern- 
ment was by sufferance continued for about three years. He was 
also " Secretary" of the colony during these three years. He was a 
member of the upper.house of the Gen. Court, in Feb., April, June, 
July, 1636, and in May and Nov., 1637 ; deputy in March and Dec, 
1637; Jan., April and Sept., 1639; Feb., April and June, 1640; 
Jan., Sept. and Nov., 1641 ; April and Aug., 1642 ; March, April, 
Sept. and Feb., 1643; April, Sept., Nov., Dec. and Feb., 1644; 
April, July, Sept. and Oct., 1645; April, 1646; May and March, 
1647 ; Sept. and Oct., 1648, and many sessions afterward. He was 
a member of the Court that declared war against the Pequots, and 
was the town register of Hartford, in 1639, which office he held till 
his removal to Farmington. He was a prominent and useful man in 
the colony for many years, till his death in 1665. He m. 1. Rachel 
, who d. 1653, and 2. Mercy Seymour, Nov. 25, 1655. Ch., 

3 I. John." 

3 II. Samuel,- m. Mary Boosy of Wethersfield. 
John^ (2) m. 1645, d. 1658. Ch., 

t I. John,^ b. Nov. 5, 1647; d. Aug. 26, 1738. 

5 11. Benoni,^ d. childless. 

t III. Samuel,^ b. March 15, 1652. 

John^ (4) m. Ruth, dau. of Dea. Thomas Judd. Ch., 

7o I. John,* bap. March 7, 1687. 

8 11. Rachel,* d. Ju.ne, 1773, at a great age. She resided on the 
family estate at the north end of the street in Farmington, Conn. 

9 III. Sarah,* lived with her sister, and d. at an advanced age. 

SamueP (6) lived in Hartford, m. Mercy Bradford, Sept. 16, 
1680, who d. in 1720. He d. 1710, leaving 5 sons, among 
whom was, 
i° I. Thomas,* b. 1681, and d. about 1757, in West Hartford. 
Lieut. John* (7) m. Mary, dau. of Samuel Newel, Dec. 17, 1716, 
who d. March, 1779. Lived in Farmington till all his children but 
Luke were born, then moved to Bethlehem society, "Woodbury, and be- 
came grantee of one right in the second lot, fifth tier in the north 
purchase of Woodbury, Aug. 5, 1736. He d. April 2, 1751. Ch., 
\\ L Samuel,-' b. Nov. 4, 1717. 
12 IL Elizabeth,^ b. Oct. 23, 1719, m. Daniel Averit, March 25, 
1747, who d. Dec, 1793. 
51 



690 HISTORT OF ANCIENT WOODBUKT. 

13 III. Marj,^ b. Sept. 20, 1722, m. Samuel Slater, Sept. 24, 
1747. Ch., Jolin and Mary. 

^ IV. John,^' b. Nov. 15, 1724. 
II V. Elisha,' b. Nov. 23, 1726. 
\l VI. Solomon,^ b. Nov. 18, 1728. 
J2 VII. Daniel," b. March 8, 1730-1. 
^ VIII. Ezekiel,5 b. Dec. 15, 1732. 
19 IX. Eldad,'^ b. Oct. 1, 1736; d. Nov. 22, 1760, without issue. 
5, X. Luke,^ b. June, 1739. 

Thomas^ (10) m. Susanna Webster, May 10, 1709. He d. 
about 1757. He had 6 sons, among whom was, 
H SamueV b. 1712, and d. 1776. 

SamueP (11) m. 1. Mary ; m. 2. Honour . He d. 

June 16, 1801. His first 3 ch. were born at Southington, 
the others at Bethlem. Ch., 

22 I. John," b. May 19, 1753 ; d. same day. 

23 II. John,'' b. June 24, 1757. 

24 III. Honor," (said to be a son,) b. July 14, 1759. 

25 IV. Honour," b. Oct. 24, 1763; m. Adam Kasson, and went 
to Vermont. 

§? V. John, 2d." 

27 VI. Sarah," m. Capt. Jonathan Smith, Jan. 5, 1794. 

28 VII. Mary," m. Clark. 

John^ (14) m. Agnes , who d. July 3, 1798. He d. March 

11, 1811, aged 85. Ch. 

29 I. Abigail,6 b. 1756. 

30 II. John, 3d," b. Nov. 3, 1761; d. Oct. 2, 1795, aged 34; m. 

Ruth , and had ch., Nancy, who m. Uriah Brown ; Althea, m. 

Curtiss, and Charles, d. aged 17. 

31 III. David," b. March 27, 1766. 
tl IV. Jonathan," b. Sept. 13, 1769. 

Elisha^ (15) m. Susanna Strong, March 10, 1763, who d. Jan. 
1, 1813, aged 71. He d. Oct. 16, 1811, aged 85 years. 
Children, 

33 I. Samuel," b. Jan. 23, 1764. 

34 II. William." 

35 III. Joseph," m. Polly . 

36 IV. Elisha, m. Anna Brown, Feb. 18, 1792. 

37 V. Olive," m. llawley. 

38 VI. Polly," m. McKean. 

39 VII. Anna," m Sprague. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 691 

40 VIIL Betsey,*' m. Asaliel Humphreys, May 4, 1810. 

41 IX. Lucy,^ m. George D. Kasson, May 18, 1Y96, and bad a 
cli., Susan Margaret. 

Solomon^ (16) m. Mary Guernsey. He d. at Pawlet, Vt., in 
1786,andslied. 1S16. Ch., 

42 I. Eldad,« b. Feb. 22, 1763 ; d. in Ohio, 1839. Ch., Daniel, 
David, and two daughters. 

^6^ n. Solomon Gold,« b. March 6, 1768. 

44 in. Bethel,'' d. in Steuben co., N. Y., 1836 ; left four sons 
and two daughters. 

45 IV, Minerva,*' m. Daniel Riggs ; live in Ohio. 

46 V. Job" m. and had ch., Elisha, Solomon, and one dau. 

DanieP (17) m. Anna Guernsey, who d. Sept. 23, 1831, aged 
93. Hed. Nov. 22, 1791, aged 61. Ch., 

47 I. Anna," m. Samuel Bellamy, d. Nov. 16, 1799, aged 38. 

48 II. Olive," d. July 26, 1774. 

49 III. Charlotte," d. July 24, 1774. 

50 IV. Olive," m. Leverett Judd, and has ch., Anna and 

Daniel Steele. 

EzekieP (18) m. Rosamond Dudley, 1755, and d. Nov. 9, 

1760. She m. 2. Farnum, Dec, 1762. Child of 

Ezekie?, 

51 I. Ezekiel," d. without issue. 

Luke* (20) m. Esther and d. about 1789. Ch., 

52 I. Henry," m. Phebe Camp, Jan., 1797. 

53 II. Daniel." 

54 III. Lorane." 

SamueP (21) m. Elizabeth Merry, 1739 ; had a large family, 
and d. Dec. 27, 1776. Their tenth ch. was 
^ X. Allyn," b. July 21, 1757. 

John, 2d," (26) m. Rebecca Stoddard, Oct. 27, 1779, and d. 
April 2, 1804. She was b. Aug. 14, 1748. Ch., 

56 I. Shelden,' d. March 5, 1793. 

57 n. Rene,'^ m. William Kasson, Nov. 22, 1801. Lives, a wid., 

in Gettysburg, N. Y. 

58 m. Wealthy,'^ m. Nathan Jackson. 

59 IV. Altha.' 

Jonathan" (32) m. Fanny "Warner, Nov. 14, 1792. Ch., 

60 L Harriet,'' b. June 17, 1795. 

61 IL David,'' b. Feb. 27, 1798. 

62 ni. Sarah,"' b. Nov. 1, 1803. 



692 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

63 IV. John H.,' b. July 3, 1805. 

64 V. Ebenczer Warner,'' b. May 24, 1807 ; m. Laura Cai-pen- 
ter. 

65 VI. Lucius,^ b. April 12, 1811. 

66 VII. Nancy E.,'' b. April 19, 1817 ; m. Ransom Ferguson, Oct., 
1839. 

Solomon GokP (43) m. Fanny Guernsey, March 10, 1799, 
who was b. March 25, 1778, and d. April 25, 1802. He d. 
in 1844. Ch., 

67 I. Lucy,'' b. Jan. 11, 1800; m. James Donney. 

Allen® (55) m. Joanna Cadwell, Jan. 12, 1778, who was b. 
Jan. 20, 1757, and d. May 3, 1835. He d. June 17, 1802. 
Children, 

68 L Allen,^ b. Sept. 11, 1779 ; d. Oct. 9, 1789. 

* 69 II. Joanna,'' b. March 26, 1781 ; m. Ozias Griswold, March 
12, 1801, who d. Oct. 12, 1815. She d. Feb. 17, 1844. Ch., 1. Sally, 
b. April 9, 1802, m. Solomon Dunham, May 10, 1827 ; 2. Chester, b. 
Jan. 5, 1805, m. Ermina Palmer, May 10, 1827 ; 3. Allen Steele, b. 
Oct. 13, 1808, m. Mary Jane Steele, Nov. 18, 1830; 4. Thomas 
Franklin, b. March 6, 1813 ; 5. Lucy Joanna, b. March 18, 1815, d. 
March 10, 1816. 

™3 in. SamueV b. Nov. 11, 1782. 
71 IV. Lucy,'' b. Dec. 13, 1785 ; d. Jan. 23, 1790. 
-^ V. Timothy C," b. Dec. 20, 1787. 

73 VL Lucy,'' b. Dec. 8, 1793 ; m. James Mix, Dec. 8, 1814. He 
wash. July 10, 1793. Ch., 1. Lucy Joanna, b. Feb. 22, 1816, m. Or- 
rin D. Andrew, Sept. 8, 1835. She d. July 24, 1839 ; 2. Mariette, 
b. Sept. 9, 1817, m. Aaron C. Andrew, Sept. 6, 1836, and d. Feb. 9, 
1843 ; 3. Elisha, b. Nov. 17, 1818, m. Amelia Edmonds, July 10, 
1843 ; 4. Fanny, b. Dec. 13, 1821, and d. Aug. 31, 1826 ; 5. James 
Cadwell, b. Dec. 19, 1826, m. Miranda Johnson, Nov. 21, 1847 ; 6. 
William Butler, b. Jan. 21, 1829, d. Oct. 3, 1830 ; 7. William, b. Jan. 
11, 1831, d. March 4, 1834 ; 8. Francis AVilliam, b. Feb. 17, 1834; 
9. Cornelia Elizabeth, b. Feb. 25, 1836 ; 10. Edward Henry, b. Dec 
11, 1838. 

Doct. SamueF (70) moved to Woodbury; m. 1. Sophia Cad- 
well, May 10, 1804, who was b. Dec. 7, 1785, and d. Feb. 
7, 1811 ; 2. Laura Colton, Nov. 6, 1811, who was b. Dec. 
22, 1786. He d. Dec. 10, 1835. Ch., 
^^3 L Roderick Cadwell,'' b. Feb. 14, 1805. 
75 n. Laura Sophia,^ b. March 4, 1813 ; m. April 22, 1841, 



niSTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



693 



William E. Woodruff, who was b. April 30, 1815, and has ch., Roder- 
ick Samuel, b. Sept. 11, 1843, and Catherine Maz-ia, b. Jan. 17, 
1848. 

76 III. Esther Maria,'' b. Oct. 9, 1815 ; d. June 5, 1824. 

77 IV. Mary Joanna,'' b. Nov. 7, 1820 ; m. William Cothren, 
attorney at law, Sept. 3, 1849. He was b. Nov. 28, 1819, at Farm- 
ing ton. Me. 

Timothy Cadwell" (72) ra. Hannah Sedgwick, Jan. 1, 1809. 
He d. Dec. 28, 1844. Ch., 

80 I. Henry,'' b. Oct. 2G, 1809 ; m. Harriet Sweet, Dec, 1832. 
Ch., Mary Elizabeth. 

81 II. Dea. Thomas,' b. Sept. 18, 1812 ; m. Mary Hitter, Aug. 29, 
1837. Ch., Mary Louesa, b. Oct. 24, 1840; Thomas Sedgwick, b. 
June 11, 1845. 

82 III. Charles Andrew," b. Oct. 19, 1814; m. Jane Parmely, 
Sept. 19, 1840. Ch., Lucy Joanna, and Frances Louesa. 

83 IV. George Timothy," b. Nov. 30, 1822 ; m. Mary Jane Clark, 
Nov. 25, 1845. Ch., Julia. 

Roderick CadwelP m. 1. Julia Sophia Perry, Sept. 21, 1829, 
who d. Feb. 15, 1832 ; m. 2. Delia Augusta Perry, June 
10, 1833. He d. Jan. 1, 1846, at Auburn, N. Y. Ch., 

84 L Frances Perry,'' b. May 24, 1831; d. Aug. 30, 1831. 

85 IL Emma Sophia," b. Oct. 3, 1836. 



STILES FAMILY 




Sa. a f esse or, fretty of the field, betw. three fleurs-de-lis of the sec- 
ond. Crest — A wolf's head erased sa. collared or, the neck below 
the collar, fretty of the last. 

From a collection of facts in relation to the subject, to be found in 
the " Itinerary" of the late President Stiles, of Yale College, it ap- 



694 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

pears that four persons', brothers, of the name of Stiles, came to this 
country at the same time, from Milbroke, Bedfordshire, England, 
about the year 1634, and settled at Windsor, Conn., in 1635. John 
remained at Windsor, and Francis removed to Stratford with the first 
settlers, about 1639. The latter was a carpenter by trade, and had 
engaged to build a park at the upper end of Windsor, for a gentleman 
in England, and employed some thirty men to complete the under- 
taking ; but from some misfortune, failed, was unable to accomplish 
it, and removed to Sti*atford. Gov. Wolcott informed President 
Stiles, that this Francis was the steward of Sir Richard Saltonstall, 
and President Stiles remai'ks, that he supposes Francis had charge 
of Sir Richard's thirty servants in building the park, before men- 
tioned. 

Henry, brother of the two preceding, according to the " Itinerary," 
was " accidentally killed by the discharge of a gun in a military train- 
ing, waiting upon Gov. Winthrop, when he was embarking for En- 
gland, to get the charter. Died unmarried, Oct. 3, 1G51." 

Many years ago, there were in the hands of Jonathan Stiles, of 
Windsor, two indentures of apprenticeship on parchment, both dated 
March 6, 1684, in the tenth year of Chai-les I., in one of which, 
" Samuel Inkley, of Carlbec, in the county Lincoln, husbandman, 
doth put himself apprentice to Henry Stiles, citizen and carpenter, 
of London, and now (by the provj of God) outward bound in the 
good ship called the Christian, of London, for the plantations in New 
England, to learn the s'^ art of carpenter," &c. Term of apprentice- 
ship, six years from the 20th of March next. In the other indenture, 
Thomas Stiles, of Milbroke, in the county of Bedford, in like manner 
apprentices himself to said Henry Stiles. 

There was also in the hands of Jonathan Stiles, at Windsor, above- 
mentioned, a letter containing the baptisms of the family, as follows : 

Marie, bap. March 12, 1591. 

Henry Stiles, bap. Nov. 27, 1593. 

John Stiles, bap. Dec. 25, 1595. 

Christopher Stiles, bap. March 28, 1600. 

Francis Stiles, bap. Aug. 1, 1602. K 

Jane Stiles, bap. Jan. 13, 1604. 

Elizabeth Stiles, bap. Dec. 28, 1607. 

Thomas Stiles, bap. Feb. 7, 1600, and xii. 

This letter was sent from " Old England to New England," and is 
signed by " Your loving brother, Thomas Stiles," and is dated " xv 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT -WOODBURT. 695 

Ffeb. 1634." The Henry Stiles, in this list, was admitted a citizen 
of London before he came to this country. 

President Stiles, in a letter to Sir Francis H. E. Stiles, Baronet, 
of London, written in 1764, observes, " that his great-grandfather, 
John Stiles, was married about 1660," and adds, " in the first century 
from his marriage, there have been among his offspring, 397 births, 
107 deaths, 88 marriages, and 209 living at the end of the century. 
The offspring occurred one-third in the first seventy-five years, and 
two-thirds in the last twenty-five years. Of thirty-two births, twenty 
live to marry — not above one-quarter die in infancy. I judge there 
have sprung from the four brothers, (meaning Henry, John, Francis 
and Thomas, who came from England in 1634,) nearly 4,000 souls 
in 130 years since their accession to America." 

1 L Henry,! d. Oct. 3, 1G51. 

I IL John,» d. at Windsor, June 4, 1662. 

I III. Francis.* 

4 IV. Thomas.' 

John^ (2) and Francis' (3) brought wives with them from 
England. All the Windsor Stiles's are descended from this John, as 
Henry d. a bachelor, and his other two brothers moved away. His 
will is dated May 30, 1662. His children were, 

1^3 I. John.- 

fs IL Henry,^ b. 1629. 

^ HI. Isaac.^ 

8 IV. Sarah, m. 1. Stewart ; 2. John Sacket ; no issue. 

Francis' (3) settled in Sti-atford. Children, 

3^5 I. Ephraim.^ 

10 II. Samuel,- m. Elizabeth Sherwood, and d. childless. 

11 HI. Benjamin." 

12 IV. Thomas,^ m. Elizabeth Clark, no issue ; gave his estate to 
Francis, No. 40, son of Benjamin'^ (11.) 

13 V. Ilaimah,^ m. Edward Hinman. 

13^ VI. A daughter, who m. Washburn, of Derby.- 

John- (5) m. Dorcas Burt, of Springfield. Her mother be- 
fore coming over was sick, died as was supposed, and was laid in her 
coffin for burial. She, however, soon after revived, recovered her 
health, came to New England, and became mother of nineteen chil- 
dren. Their children were, 

\l L John,^ b. Dec. 10, 1665, grandfather of Dr. Ezra Stiles, died 
about 1753, aged 88. [ 

II IL Ephraim.^ 



696 HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 

16 III. Thomas,^ m. Bethiah Hanmer, d. without issue, about 
1740, aged C7. 

17 IV. Sarah,^ m. Ephraim Bancroft, and had eight children. He 
d. 1727, aged ^6. She m. 2. Thomas Phillips. 

18 V. Hannah,^ b. May 23, 1664-5, but 8f months before her 
brother John. She m. Samuel bhss, of Springfield, and had four 
children ; d. about 1705, aged 35. » 

Henry^ (6) d. Aug. 22, 1724, aged 95. 
59 I. Henry,'' d. about 1735, aged about 70. 
f, II. Samuel,^ m. Martha Elsworth. 

21 III. Josephj^* d. unm. Aug. 28, 1756, aged circa 80. 

22 IV. Benjamin,^' d. unm. May, 1757, aged circa 72. 

23 V. John,^ m. Elizabeth Taylor, had one son, who died in 1756, 
aged 25. He died about 1735, aged 46. 

24 VI. Elizabeth,^' m. Densly, d. Sept. 13, 1750, aged 90. 

25 VII. MindwelV d. aged about 12. 

26 VIII. Margaret,^ d. about 1690. 

27 IX. Mary,^ m. Isaac Eggleston, d. veiy aged. 

28 X. Jonathan,^ li\'*ed to be aged. 

Isaac" (7) lived at Stratford. The family given at the close 
of the regular series are probably his descendants. His 
children were, 

29 I. Isaac.^ 

30 II. John.3 

31 III. Joseph.^ 

32 IV. Jonathan,^ called great Jonathan, went to New Jersey. 

33 V. Hannah,=^ m. Tibbals, of Derby. 

34 VI. Sarah,^ m. Perry, of Derby. 

35 VII. Deborah,^ m. and lived at Guilford. 

Ephraim^ (9) m. Bathsheba Tomlinson, of Derby, and left 
three daughters, Elizabeth, Sarah and Phebc. Elizabeth ra. Ephraim 
Curtiss, of Stratford, had issue. Sarah m. Thomas Wells, of Strat- 
ford ; issue, Ephraim, Bathsheba, Comfort, Sarah, Thomas, Gideon, 
Daniel, Gurdon and Hezekiah. Phebe m. David Judson, of Strat- 
ford. 

Benjamin^ (11) m. Elizabeth Rogers, of Milford, who died 
June 3, 1719. He lived in "Woodbury. Children, 

36 I. Sarah,-' bap. May, 1683, m. Thomas Wheeler, of Woodbury, 
Aug. 20, 1701. 

37 II. Thomas,'' bap. Nov., 1685. 

38 III. Euth,^ m. John Wheeler, of Woodbury, Nov. 14, 1704. 



HISTOKT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY, 697 

39 IV. Abigail,^ bap. April, 1689, m. Samuel Munn. 

tt V. Lt. Francis.^' 

John' (14) m. Ruth Bancroft. This John wfis an infant 
when his father came to this country. He m. 2. Widow 
Sarah Rumrill. The latter d. about 1742, without issue. 
Children, 

41 I. Ruth,'' m. Nathaniel Taylor, and had ten children, died Dec. 

II, 1760, aged 70 or 77. 

i; 11. John," b. Dec. 17, 1692, m. Mary Osborn. 

fo in. Isaac/ b. July 30, 1697, m. 1. Kezia Taylor; 2. Esther 
Hooker. 

44 IV. Margaret,^ b. Feb. 1>3, 1G94-5, m. Joseph Peck, d. 1726 
or 1727. 

83 V. Ebenezer,"' m. 1. Ann Drake; ra. 2. Sai-ah Pinney. 

46 VI. Noah," b. Jan. 31, 1703, ra. Abigail Gaines, of Enfield, 
Jan., 1735, and had Noah, b. March 8, 1730, whom. Martha Osborn, 
Nov. 1, 1761. 

47 VII. Abel," m. Alathea Robinson. 

48 VIII. Hannah," ra. Isaac Hay den, Aug., 1751. 

49 IX. Ruth," b. 1G91, m. Stephen Smith, of Goshen. 

50 X. Benjamin," b.lG41. 
.51 XL Ezra," b. 1644. 

52 XII. Moses," b. 1646. 

53 XIII. Jerusha." 

54 XIV. David." 

Ephraira^ (15) settled in Springfield, Mass., m. Abigail Neal, 
of that place, d. about 1755, aged 75. Children, 

55 I. Isaac," lived at Westfield, m. Mary Brooks. 

56 II. Ephraim," lived at \Yestfield, ra. 1. • Fowler ; ra. 2. 

Jemima Meacham. 

57 III. Rachel." 

58 IV. Hannah," m. Phillip Jones. 

59 V. Abigail." 

Henry'^ (19) had children, 

60 I. Thomas," d. num. aged 70. 

61 II. Henry," d. unin. 

62 III. Jonah," m. Widow Rachel Scott, of Windsor; children, I. 
Lucy,'^ ra. Gurdon Manvel, in 1752. II. Gideon,^ ra. Taylor. 

III. Eliakira.' IV. Jonah.= V. Shubael.^ VI. Alice.-' The four 
last named were killed by the Indians, in 1756. VII. Rachel,^ m. 
■ Owen, about 1759. 

52 



698 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

63 IV. Amos,'' m. Lydia Cooley, of Springfield, about 1725 ; 

children, I. Ilenry,^ m. Wells. 11. Lydia."* III. Margaret.* 

IV". Zuba.'"' V. Kachel,* m. and had three children. 

64 V. Rachel," m. 1. John Bancroft ; m. 2. Thomas Parsons. 

65 VI. Sarah," m. John Osborn, of Windsor, in 1730. 

SamueP (20) m. Martha Elsworth, d. Dec. 18, 1712, aged 
30. Children, 

66 I. Martha," d. unm. 

67 II. Samuel," m. Mary Phelps ; children, I. Matha,^ b. 1732, 
m. Elijah Parker, of Bolton, had five children. II. Max'y,^ b. 1734. 
III. Hannah,'* b. 1735, m. Ashbel Stiles, of North Haven, Feb., 
1759. IV. SamueV b. 1737, d. Dec, 1757, aged 20. V. Elizabeth,^ 
b. 1741. VI. Mary,^ b. 1743, d. young. VII. Margaret,* b. 1744. 
VIII. Benjamin,* b. April 26, 1745. IX. Abigail,* b. Oct. 15, 1749. 

68 III. Elizabeth,* m. Daniel Spencer, of Suffield. 

Lieut. Francis^ (40) m. Mary Johnson, of Stratford, Sept. 
21, 1709, settled in Southbury society. A portion of his 
house is still standing, and is used as a barn, by one of his 
descendants, David J. Stiles. When it was occupied by 
Lt. Francis, it stood just in the rear of the present dwelling 
of the above David J. He died in 1748. Children, 
68.V I. Francis," b. July 23, 1710. 

69 n. Sarah," b. Oct. 21, 1711, m. Dea. Benjamin Hicock, Feb. 
28, 1734. 

70 III. Mabel," b. May 9, 1714, m. Andrew Ilinman, Feb. 28, 
1734. 

71 IV. Eunice," b. Aug. 18, 1717, m. David Curtiss, Sen. 
II V. Benjamin," b. Feb. 11, 1720. 

73 VL David,^ b. April 8, 1725, d. March 31, 1727. 

74 VII. Mary,^ b. Jan. 7, 1728, m. Col. Benjamin Hinman. 

John* (42) m. Mary Osborn. Cliildren, 

75 1. John,* b. 1715. 

76 II. Israel,* b. 1718, m. Martha Rockwell, in 1748 ; children, 
L Ann," d. young. IL Israel," b. 1752. IIL Azel." IV. John.« 
V. Samuel." VI. Martha." 

77 ni. Martha,* b. 1717, m. Joseph Osborn. 

78 IV. Benoni,* d. 1760, no issue. 

79 V. Anna,* m. Moses Bissell, had six children. 

80 VI. Elizabeth, unm. 

Rev. Isaac" (43) m. 1. Kezia Taylor j m. 2. Esther Hooker, 
Children, 

81 I. Ezra,* D. D,,LL. D., President of Yale College. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUUY. 699 

82 n. Isaac* 

83 ni. Ashbel.^ 

84 IV. Kezia.^ 

85 V. Esther.* 

Ebenezer' (45) had 

86 I. Sarah,* m. Davis. 

87 II. Ann/ ra. 1. Hezekiah Herrick ; m. 2. Phillip Smith. 

88 III. Ruth,* m. Amos Richardson. 

89 IV. Hannah,* m. House. 

90 V. Stephen,* d. unm. ? 

Benjamin, Esq.,'' (72) m. Ruth Judson, of Stratford, his cous- 
in ; was the first lawyer that settled in Woodbui-y. Ch., 

91 I. Francis,* b. 1748, settled in Salisbury, had sons, Benjamin,® 
Thomas,'^ and Ransom,'' The last named resides in Argyle, N. Y. 
He also had a daughtei-, Sally, who m. Newman Holley, Esq., of 
Salisbury, where she now resides. Thomas, also, resides in Salis- 
bury, has children. 

92 II. Phebe,* b. Jan. 18, 1749, d. young, 
i III. David,* b. Sept. 10, 1751. 

fu\ IV. Ephraim,* b. Jan. 15, 175o. 

fifs V. Benjamin, Esq.,* b. Aug. 25, 1756. 

i'fi VI. Abel,* b. March 26, 1758. 

97 VII. Judson,* went to Salisburj^, d. unm. 

98 VIII. Phebe,* b. July 22, 1764, d. unm. 

99 IX. Nathan,' b. March 12, 1767, lived in Derby, that part now 
the town of Seymour. He m. Phebe Dayton, and d. in Schenectady, 
about 1806, on his return from the western states ; children, L Na- 
than Judson, m. Ann Maria Birch, of Salisbury. 11. Phebe. HI. 
Minerva, m. James Roath, of Norwich. IV, Hannah Narrissa, is 
deceased. 

David* (93) m. OHve Pierce, Dec. 12, 1784. Children, 

100 I. David J.,'^m. Ann French; children, I. Mary A.,'^ d. aged 
22. II. Bennet F.^ III. Ann F.'' IV. Augusta M.^ V. Adelaide,'^ 
d. 1853. 

102 III. Patty," d. young. 

103 IV. Annaj^'m. Smith Downs. 

104 V. Benjamin,** resided in 1851, at Yorkville, S. C, unm. 
Ephraim* (94) m. May 7, 1780, Sarah, dau. of Joseph Trow- 
bridge, of Southbury. She d. Aug. 3, 1816 ; he d. Feb. 7, 
1821. Children, 

105 I. Phebe," b. Nov. 9, 1782, m. Mr. Bellamy, of Vermont, who 
afterward resided in the state of New York. 



700 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 

104 11. Ruth," b. Feb. 18, 1786, m. Benjamin B. Osbom. 

105 III. Sally,« b. July 29, 1789, m. Benjamin B. Osborn, is 
deceased. 

106 IV. Erastus,'' b. Oct. 24, 1791, ra. Sally Osborn, lives in 
Clyde, N. Y., had children, Nathan, Augusta, and a daughter, who is 
deceased. 

Benjamin,* Esq., (95) m. Esther, daughter of Jehiel Preston. 
Children, 

106 I. Harriet," m. Harry Brown, of Southbury. 

107 II. Jennet," m. Charles Ransom Curtiss, and had I. Hai'riet, 
m. Jasper Osborn. II, Mary. III. Benjamin S., m. Martha J. 
Strong. IV. Charles. V. "Walter, m. Mary Hinman. VI. Hor- 
ace. VII. Theron. 

107^ III. Benjamin, d. young. 

108 IV. Francis B.," d. Feb. 12, 1804. 

109 V. Benjamin P.,« d. 1838, aged 41, unm. 

110 VI. Henry B.," m. Patty Seeley ; children, Jennette M., 
Ellen E. and Alice. 

111 VII. Marietta," m. George Smith. 

AbeP (9G) m. Lucinda Mitchell, Jan. 6, 1790, d. Sept. 2, 
1839. Children, 

112 I. Roderick," b. Dec. 4, 1790, d. young. 

113 II. Roderick," b. April 5, 1794, m. Cleora S. Curtiss, who d. 
Nov. 27, 1852. They had one child, Elizabeth A.' 

114 III. Rufus," b. Jan. 14, 1796, m. Sarah Curtiss, 1822. 

115 IV. Eliza M.," b. May 27, 1798, m. Charles Hinman. 

116 V. Jonathan," b. Oct. 10, 1800, ra. Nancy Baldwin. Ch., 
Ransom' and Frank Walter.' 

117 VI. Nathan," b. Oct. 15, 1807; d. 1812. 

118 VII. Francis A.," b. Nov. 4, 1809, m. 1. Elvira H. Gidney, 
Feb. 10, 1840. She d. Feb. 11, 1845 ; m. 2. Frances M. Shelton, 
March, 1846. Ch., Gidney A.,' b. Aug. 28, 184?; Eliza Maria,'b. 
Aug. 13, 1851. 

Isaac Stiles, perhaps son of Isaac^ (7,) lived in Southbury socie- 
ty, m. Sarah . Ch., I. William. II. Isaac. III. John. IV. David, 

bap. July 12, 1741. V. Sarah, m. Lt. Silas Hicock, April 9, 1741. 
VI. Abigail, m. David Munn, Aug. 1, 1751. VII. Mabel, m. Gid- 
eon Hotchkiss, Feb. 22, 1763. VIII. Samuel, removed to " Whites- 
town country." 

Isaac, Jr., had ch. by his w. Elizabeth, as follows, I. Eunice, bap. 
July 14, 1751, d. without issue. 11. Annis, bap. July 1, 1753, m- 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 701 

Nathaniel Bristol, Nov. 10, 1777. III. Gideon, bap. May 15, 1757. 
IV. Nathan, lived and d. in Oxford. Ch., Simeon, b. Sept. 11, 1783 ; 
Leman, b. Jan. 26, 1786; Eleanor, b. Feb. 14, 1789; Henry, b. 
Sept. 30, 1792; Cynthia, b. May 5, 179G; Garwood, b. Feb. 5, 
1799. V. Ti-uman, m. Levina Leavenworth, Sept., 1793, and had 
Sherman, Robert, Erastus, Hancey, d. unm ; Harriet, m. Abraham 
Basset, and Ann who is m. VI. Lewis, went to Minisink, N. Y., 
hadch. VII. Simeon, d. April 1, 1777, aged 11. 

John, son of Isaac, Sen., m. Betty Olds, Aug. 13, 1760. Ch., 
Hannah, bap. Nov. 22, 1761 ; Daniel Olds, bap. July 22, 1764 ; Asa, 
bap. March 1, 1767; John, bap. May 20, 1770 ; Aaron, bap. July 
4 1773 ; Andrew, bap. May 22, 1776 ; Philo, bap. July 23, 1780. 



STRONG FAMILY. 



(Elder) John Strong was a native of Taunton, England. It is 
said, that his father Richard died while young, but that his grand- 
father Uved to be very aged. 1. Elder John, with his sister Eleanor, 
sailed from Plymbuth, England, March 20, 1630, in the ship Mary 
and John, arrived at Nantucket, May 30, and settled at Dorchester, 
Mass. His sister m. Walter Deane. In 1035, he is spoken of as 
residing at Hingham. He wa* a proprietor and inhabitant of Taun- 
ton, Dec. 4, 1638, and was made that year a freeman of the Plym- 
outh colony. He was at Taunton in 1643. From thence he went 
to Windsor, Conn., and thence to Northampton, Mass., between 1661 
and 1663; was the first ruling elder in the church of the latter place. 

He m. 1. , who is supposed to have died on the passage to this 

country, or soon after her ari'ival here. He m. 2. Abigail Ford at 
Dorchester, who d. July 6, 1688. He died April 11, 1609. Issue 
as follows, 

2 I. John,2 m. Mary Clark of Windsor, Nov. 26, 1656, d. at 
Windsor, Feb. 20, 1098. 

3 II. ,^ d. 1630, two months after John's arrival. 

,u III. Thomas," lived in Northampton. 

5 IV. Jedediah," bap. April 14, 1039, removed in old age to 
Lebanon, or Coventry, Conn. 

6 V. Josiah,- d. young and unm. 

7 VI. Return.^ He lived at Windsor, d. April 9, 1726. 

8 VIL Ebenezer,^ lived in Northampton, d. Feb. 11, 1729. 



♦ 702 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

9 Vin. Abigail," m. 1. Rev. Nathaniel Chauncey, of Windsor ; 
m. 2. Dea. Medad Pomeroy, d. April 15, 1704. 

10 IX. Elizabeth,^ b. Feb. 24, 1648, m. Joseph Tarsons, of North- 
ampton, d. May 12, 1736. 

11 X. Experience,^ bap. Aug. 4, 1650, m. Zerubabel Filer, of 
Windsor. 

12 XL Samuel," bap. Aug. 5, 1652, lived at Northampton ; d, Oct. 
29, 1732. 

13 XII. Joseph," bap. same date. 

14 XIII. Mary," b.Oct. 26, 1 654, m. John Clark, of Northampton ; 
d. Dec. 8, 1738. 

15 XIV. Sarah," m. 1. Joseph Barnard; m. 2. Cap t. Jonathan 
Wells, of Deerfield. 

16 XV. Hannah,"' b. May 30, 1759, m. William Clark, and went 
to Lebanon. 

17 XVI. IIester,=* b. June 7, 1761, m. Thomas Bissell, Jr., of 
Windsor. 

18 XVII. Thankful," b. July 25, 1663,m. it is said a Baldwin, of 
Milford, Conn. 

19 XVIIL Jerijah,2 b. Dec. 12, 1665 ; d. April 24, 1754. 

Thomas" (4) m. 1. Mary, dau. of Rev. Ephraim Hewet, of 
Windsor, Dec. 5, 1660; she d. Feb. 20, 1670 ; he m. 2. 
Rachel Holton, dau. of Dea. William, of Northampton, Oct. 
10, 1671. Thomas d. Oct. 3, 1689, and his widow Rachel, 
m. Nathan Bradley, of East Guilford, 1698. Thomas' ch. 
were, 

20 I. Thomas,^ b. Nov. 16, 1661, removed to Durham, Conn. 

21 IL Mariah,^ b. Aug. 31, 1663, m. Samuel Judd, of Northampton. 

22 III. John,^ b. March 9, 1665 ; d. num. as is supposed. 

23 IV. Hewet,'' b. Dec. 2, 1666; d. unm. Sept. 29, 1689. 

24 V. Asahel,'' b. Nov. 14, 1668. . Settled in Farmington, Conn. 

25 VI. Joseph,^ b. Dec. 2, 1672, removed to Coventry, Conn. 

26 VII. Benjamin,^ b. 1674; lived to old age in East Guilford, 
unm. 

i VIIL Adino,^ b. Jan. 12, 1676; removed to Woodbury, Conn., 
about 1700, and had 8 ch. by his wife Eunice, who was b. Aug. 25, 
1670. He d. Dec. 31, 1749, and his relict, Eunice, d. Dec. 24, 1763. 

28 IX. Waitstill,^ b. 1677 or '8 ; d. in Northampton, Nov. 13, 1762. 

29 X. Rachel,^' b. July 15, 1679, m. Miles Dudley of Guilford. 

30 XL Selah,^' b. Dec. 22, 1680; lived at Setauket, L. L 

31 Xn. Benajah,3 b. Sept. 24, 1682 ; Uved at Fau-field, Conn. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT ■WOODBURY. 703 

32 XIII. Ephraim,^ b. Jan. 4, 1685 ; removed to Milfoi'd, Conn. 

fi XIV. Elnathan,^ b. Aug. 20, 1686; removed to Woodbury, 
Conn., m. Patience Jenners, April 17, 1712. He d. May 22, 1727. 
His widow m. Jonathan Law, of Killingworth, Conn. 

34 XV. Ruth,-^ b. Feb. 4, 1688, m. William Dudley, of N. Guilford. 

35 XVI. Submit,^ b. Feb. 23, 1690, (posthumous.) 

Adino^ (27) had, 
fo I. Adino," b. April 17, 1708, m. Deborah Prime, Dec. 20, 
1733; he d. 1787. 

f^ II. Benjamin," b. June 10, 1710, m. Rachel . 

i HI. Preserved,'' b. Sept. 8, 1712, m. Esther, dau. of Rev. An- 
thony Stoddard, July 26, 1749 ; he d. Nov. 3, 1777 ; his widow d. Sept. 
13, 1800. 

39 IV. Hannah," b. Jan. 23, 1715, m. Henry Castle, Sept. 18, 
1736. 

tl V. Return," b. Aug. 1, 1717, m. Elizabeth Andrus, Jan. 8, 1740. 
He d. April 5, 1794, and his relict d. March, 1797. 

41 VI. Ann," b. ; d. 1721. 

'■;i VII. Timothy," b. Feb. 14, 1720, m. 1. Widow Anne Rogers ; 
m. 2. Olive Atwood ; m. 3. Lucy Leet. He d. 1801. 

43 VIIL Charles," b. June 29, 1722; d. Feb. 16, 1725. 

Elnathan^ (33) had, 

44 L Rachel," b. June 20, 1713. 

45 11. Patience," b. Jan. 4, 1716; d. May. 2 6, same year. 

46 III. Nathan," bap. April, 1717; settled at Coventry, Conn., 
was many years a clergyman there, was father of the Rev. Drs. 
Nathan of Hartford and Joseph of Norwich. 

47 IV. Submit," b. May 14, 1719. 

^l V. Samuel," b. Oct. 15, 1721; d. 1809; his wife Eunice d. 
Aug., 1792, aged 67. 

49 VL Elnathan," b. March 18^ 1724 ; d. May 22, 1727. 

50 VIL Patience," b. April 30, 1727. 

Adino" (36) had, 
l\ I. Selah,-^ b. Sept., 1734, m. Esther Weed, Nov. 26, 1760. He 
d. 1807. 

52 IL Hannah,'^ b. Dec, 1737, m. David Tuttle, 1770. 
13 III. Benajah,^ bap. March 23, 1740, m. Jane Cochran, Feb. 3, 
1761. 

54 IV. Ann,^ bap. April 24, 1743, m. Joseph Sanford, Dec. 23, 
1786. 

55 V. Sarah,^ b. Dec. 24, 1744. 



704 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

56 VI. Mabel/ b. Jan. 8, 1748; d. March 16, 1752. 
II VII. Adino,^ b. April 5, 1750, m. Anna Scott, May 17, 1779. 
Benjamin' (37) had, 

58 I. Benjamin, bap. Feb. 20, 1732. 

Preserved* (38) had, 

59 I. Solomon,* b. April 13, 1751; d. Dec. 4, 1831, unm.* 

S II. John,* b. Nov. 10, 1752, m. Sarah Walker, May 29, 1783. 
He d. April 19, 1843 ; his wife d. March 31, 1818. 

,U III. -Uriel,-' b. Sept. 10, 1754, m. Phebe Minor. He d. 1819 ; 
his relict d. Dec. 30, 1825. 

^4 IV. Anthony,^ b. Dec. 9, 1757, m. Phebe Curtiss. He d. Jan. 
28, 1829. Phebe d. March 25, 1836. 

63 V. Esther,* b. April 16, 17G1, m. John Trowbridge, who d. 
May 5, 1826. She d. Sept. 13, 1807. 
Return^ (40) had, 

,V, I. Thomas,* b. Nov. 5, 1740, in. Sarah Curtiss, Dec. 16, 1767. 

65 II. Martha,* b. Aug. 14, 1742, m. Noah Candc, Jan. 28, 1767. 

^0 III. David,* b. May 1, 1744. 

67 IV. Henry,* b. April 18, 1746. 

68 V. Axsah,* b. Aug. 23, 1748 ; d. 1749. 

69 VI. Axsah,* b. Sept. 19, 1750 ; d. 1752. 

,™6 VII. Benjamin,* b. March 4, 1753, m. 1. Mary or Martha 

Beecher, (record indistinct,) Jan. 1, 1777 ; m. 2. Martha , who 

d. in 1834. He d. Jan. 2, 1843. 

71 VIII. Elizabeth,* b. March 20, 1756, m. John FifFe, Feb. 1, 
1786. 

Timothy^ (42) had, 

72 I. Lucy,* b. July 6, 1752 ; m. Ebenezer Bird, Nov. 28, 1771. 
ifs II. Daniel,5 b. March 19, 1754; m. 1. Esther ; 2. Me- 

hetable Sanford. He d. in 1830. 

74 III. Eunice,* b. Aug. 1, 1756. 

75 IV. Avis,*b. Sept. 14, 1759 ; d. March, 1760. 

76 V. Avis,* b. Nov. 12, 1761 ; m. Youngs. 

77 Yl. Timothy,* b. Jan. 16, 1764 ; went to Vermont ; had a 
family, and d. there. 

78 VII. Abner,* b. June 28, 1766 ; d. young. 

Dea. SamueP (48) had, 

79 I. Elnalhan,* b. March 17, 1748 ; m. Elisabeth Jackson, Feb. 
3, 1792 ; d. 1819, and gave his estate to his wife and Niram Bots- 
ford's son. 

80 11. Elijah,* bap. May 1, 1752 ; d. same month. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT YTOOUBURY. 705 

81 III. Mary/ b. Feb. 17, 1754 ; in. Sylvester Wooster, Jan. 4, 
1770. 

82 IV. Patience/ bap. Aug. 6, 1758 ; tt. young. 

83 V. Eunice/ bap. Aug. 6, 1758 ; m. Silas Hinman. 

84 VI. Patience/ bap. Dec. 26, 1762 ; m. Niram Botsford, Nov. 
3, 1793. 

Selali^ (51) had, 

85 I. Olive/ bap. Sept. 11, 1763; m. Wait Curtiss, June 18, 
1789. 

86 II. Phebe/ bap. March 30, 1766; m. John Scott, Sept. 20, 
1798. 

87 III. Nathan,"^ bap. Feb. 9, 1768; m. Phebe Wakeley in 1790. 

88 IV. Noah/ bap. Jan. 28, 1770 ; m. Sarah Lum, Aug. 21, 1795. 

89 V. Mabel,*^ m, Solomon Johnson. 

Benajah^ (53) had, 

90 I. Truman/ bap. Jan, 31, 1762. 

91 II. Benajah/ bap. Oct. 9, 1763. 

92 III. Almorena/ bap. Feb. 19, 1769. 

93 IV. Amos,® bap. April 1, 1770 ; d. same year. 

94 V. Amos/ bap. March 9, 1771. 

Adino^ (57) had, 

95 I. Nehemiah/ b. Feb. 27, 1780. 

96 11. Annis/ b. Aug. 19, 1782. 

97 III. Betsey/ b. July 7, 1784. 

98 IV. Truman/ b. May 20, 1786. 

99 V. Nancy/ bap. Oct. 7, 1788. 

100 VI. Agnes/ b. Aug. 19, 1790. . 

101 VII. Shelden/ b. March 23, 1794 ; d. 1796. 

102 VIII. Harriet/ b. Oct. 21, 1796. 

103 IX. Cynthia/ b. March 7, 1799. 

104 X. Shelden/ bap. Oct. 24, 1802. 
Lt.John5 (QO) had, 

105 I. Fanny/ b. Nov. 11, 1784; m. Elijah Sherman, Oct. 14, 
1805. 

Ill II. John," b. Dec. 31, 1786; m. Flora Preston. He d. Nov. 
1, 1834. 

Urial/ (61) had, 
\fi I. Stoddard," bap. May 5, 1795 ; m. Jennette Mallory. 
Jsl 11. Asahel/ bap. June 22, 1794; m. Betsey Mallory. He d. 
1831. Betsey d. 1825. 

1^4 ni. Cyrus/ bap. Nov. 13, 1796 ; m. 1. Mary Burrill ; she d. 
53 



706 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

April 27, 1820; m. 2. Susan Curtiss. He now resides in Wakeman, 
Ohio. 

110 IV. Esther,'' bap. Jan. 5, 1800; m. Leverett Hill; has ch.; 
is a widow, and resides in Wakeman, Ohio. 

111 V. Solomon,^ bap. May 13, 1802; m. Eliza Summers, April 
14, 1836 ; no ch. 

112 VI. Eunice," bap. March 17, 1805 ; m. Abel Benedict, June 
6, 182G, and has Henry S., b. Oct. 7, 1828 ; Charles P., b. Jan. 27, 
1831 ; Sophia E., b. Aug. 7, 1835 ; Edward H., b. Jan. 20, 1840 ; 
Julia E., b. Sept. 27, 1844. 

113 VII. Isaac,«bap. March 22, 1807; unm. 

\l*s VIII. Seth,« bap. Sept. 24, 1809 ; m. Harriet Lambert, Mar. 
28, 1832. 

Anthony^ (62) had, 
115 I. Phebe,'^ bap. Nov., 1792; d. young. 
}^ II. Anthony C," b. Sept. 7, 1792; m. Julia Lambert, 1820. 

117 III. Nathaniel," b. 1794; d. at the age of 17. 
Thomas'^ (64) had, 

118 L Axa," bap. Dec. 4, 1768. 

119 IL Asa," bap. Sept. 2, 1770. 

120 IIL Sylva," bap. July, 1780. 
David^ (66) had, 

121 L Keturn," bap. Oct. 29, 1769. 

122 IL David," bap. Oct. 13, 1771. 

123 IIL Cynthia," bap. Jan. 21, 1776. 

124 IV. Lecta,« bap. Dec. 14, 1777. 

125 V. Leverett," bap. Oct., 1780. 

126 VL Wyllys," bap. Oct. 1, 1783. 
Benjamin^ (69) had, 

127 I. Susanna," b. Dec. 20, 1777 ; d. unm. 

128 IL Polly," b. July 27, 1779. 

129 IIL Patty," b. July 3, 1781 ; d. unm. 

130 IV. Lucy," b. March 27, 1783 ; m. Japhet Curtiss. 

131 V. Sally," b. Jan. 12, 1785 ; d. 1821. 

132 VL Anah," b. Nov. 4, 1786; m. Mallory. 

133 VII. Abigail,* b. Oct. 11, 1788 ; m. Dea. Marcus D. Mallory, 
Nov. 25, 1813. 

134 VIIL Asa," b. June 4, 1790; d. 1818. 

135 IX. Ira," b. Aug. 28, 1792 ; m. Susan De Forest, June 26, 
1826. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 707 

136 X. Eli,« b. March 5, 1794 ; m. Mary Buckingham, Oct. 11, 
1820 ; no ch. 

137 XL Julia,'' b. March 11, 1796; m. Cyrus Curtiss. 

138 XIL Uri," b. Sept. 14, 1798; m. Betsey J. Lake. 
DanieP (73) had, 

139 I. Lucy,s m. Levi Jackson. 

140 IL Abner,« m. AbbyToUes. 

141 IIL Major,« cl. Oct. 24, 1841, unm. 

142 IV. Daniel,® m. Olive Jackson. 

143 V. Lines,® d. unm. 

144 VI. Chauncey," m. Mary Ann Kasson. 
Hon. John® (106) had, 

145 L Julia," b. Feb., 1812 ; ra. Daniel Curtiss, Jan. 27, 1835. 

It IL Charles P.,^ b. April 16, 1814; m. Elisabeth A. Preston, 
May 4, 1842. 

147 IIL Horace W.,U1. April 17, 1841, aged 24. 

148 IV. EmilyM.,'b. Oct. 1,1819; m.Bennet A. Sherman, 1852. 

149 V. John E.,'' b. ; m. Sarah Olcott, 1852. 

150 VL William.^ 

151 VIL Walter,'' b. Aug., 1833; d. April 14, 1834. 
Stoddard® (107) had, 

152 I. Bennet U.," b. April 21, 1819 ; m. Mary H. Green, May 
19, 1847. 

153 II, Martha J,,' b. Nov. 13, 1821 ; m, Benjamin S. Curtiss. 
Asahel® (108) had, 

154 I. Sophia, b. April 27, 1819 ; m. Rev, A. Isham, now of Rox- 
bury ; has a son and two daughters. 

Cyrus® (109) had, 

155 L Mary A,," b. 1824, 

156 IL Susan J.,'' b, 1825, 

157 IIL Frederick C," b, 1828. 

158 IV. Thomas J.,^ b. 18.30. 

159 V. Frances S.,' b. 1832, 

160 VL Harriet C.,^ b, 1833. 

161 VIL John 0.,^b. 1835. 

162 VIII. Martha E.," b. 1838, 

163 IX, Henry C,'' b. 1840. 

164 X. Cornelia A.,^ b. 1841. 

165 XI. Benjamin T.,^ b. 1848. 
Seth® (114) had, 

166 I, Mary,^ b. May 27, 1834. 



708 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

167 II. Margaret,^ b. Feb. 1, 1843. 

168 III. Harriet S.^ b. March 18, 1845. 
Anthony C." (11 G) had, 

15? I. Nathaniel L.,* b. March, 1821 ; m. Mary R. Minor, 1846. 
}]« II. Henry P.," b. July 1, 1822 ; m. Sarah A. Bacon, 1847. 

171 III. Willis A.,^ b. 1827. 

172 IV. Frederick T.,' b. 1833. 
Charles P.^ (146) had, 

173 I. Charles E.,« b. April 3, 1843. 

174 II. James F.,'}). Feb. 3, 1846. 
NathanieF (169) had, 

175 I. Nathaniel M.,^ b. 1849. 
Henry P.'' (170) had, 

176 I. Sarah M.,«b. 1850. 

The following, for want of record, are disconnected from the 
preceding: Wv'^ A.*-*-' V" O-v "Hi. 

Ebenczer Strong, probably son of Adino, before his removal to 

Woodbury, m. 1. Elizabeth , Avho d. Dec. 1, 1728 ; 2. Mary 

Smith, July 1, 1730. She d. April 29, 1775. Mr. Strong d. in 
1785, aged 81. His ch. were, 1. Elizabeth, bap. Nov. 17, 1728 ; 2. 
Eunice, b. Aug. 14, 1731, m. David Pierce, July, 1751 ; 3. Dorcas, 
bap. Oct. 14, 1733, m. Amos Brownson, Dec. 11, 1757 ; 4. Charles, 
bap. July 6,' 1735 ; 5. Josiah, b. Jan. 5, 1738 ; 6. Molle, b. Oct. 14, 
1740, d. Dec. 10, 1808, unm.; 7. Ebenezer, b. June 8, 1743 ; 8. 
Mercy, bap. Sept. 15, 1745. 

Ebenezer, Jun.,m. Patience Hinman,and had Ephpaim, b. Dec. 20, 
1772; Rebecca, b, Oct. 7, 1774, m. Nathaniel Bacon, Jan. 10, 1796. 

Charles, son of Ebenezer, m. Betty Plinman, Jan. 9, 1760, who d. 
Aug. 18, 1777, aged 48. Ch., 1. Benjamin, b. Nov. 2, 1760 ; 2. Lu- 
cretia, b. April 22, 1762, m. OHver Chatfield, Aug. 8, 1782 ; 3. Anna, 
b. Oct. 17, 1763, m. Simeon Mitchell, Dec. 25, 1791 ; 4. Betty, b. 
Oct. 1, 1764 ; 5. Andrew, b. Jan. 10, 1768. 

Josiah Strong d. Feb. 25, 1817, and his widow, Mary, d. May 26, 
1826. Ch., David and Mercy. The last m. Frederick Perry. 

Dea. Samuel Strong,' of Bethlem, d. 1795. He had ch. by his 
wife Susanna, as follows: 1. Joel, bap. June 29, 1740, d. 1760; 2. 
Susanna, b. March 20, 1746, m. Benjamin Hawley ; 3. Abby, bap. 
May 22, 1748 ; 4. Abia, d. Sept. 22, 1751. 



1. The records being imperfect, it is found impossible to determine definitely, which 
of the Dea. Samuels should be placed in the regular series. It is believed, however^ 
that the one given after No. 78, has his appropriate place. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT ■WOODBURY. 709 

SKEEL FAMILY. 

John Skeel, with his wife, Hannah, came with one of the early- 
companies to Woodbury, from Stratford. He d. Oct. 5, 1721 ; chil- 
dren, as follows : 

John, ba]). Nov., 1678, d. 3^oung ; Hannah, bap. Nov. 10, 1678, m. 
Benjamin Hicock, Nov. 3, 1697 ; John, bap. Nov., 1679 ; Thomas, 
bap. April 23, 1681-2; Elizabeth, bap. April 20, 1683; Abigail, 
bap. May 9, 1686 ; Ephraim, bap. July, 1689. 

John, Jr., d. May 25, 1727. He had by his wife, Sarah, the fol- 
lowing children : 1. Thomas, b. Dec. 27, 1711 ; 2. Meriam, b. Sept. 
1, 1713, m. Bushnell Bostwick, Jan. 26, 1737 ; 3. John, bap. Nov., 
1715, and had Benjamin, bap. Jan. 15, 1744; David, bap. March 16, 
1746; John, bap. Dec. 20, 1747; Amos, bap. April 29, 1750; 4. 
Ephraim, b. June 30, 1717, m. Mary Marks, Feb. 5, 1742, and had 
Hannah, b. Oct. 21, 1747 ; Grace, bap. Feb. 26, 1749 ; Ephraim, 
bap. April 12, 1752 ; Silas, bap. Sept. 23, 1753 ; Mary, bap. June 
29, 1755 ; Lois, bap. Feb. 12, 1758 ; Silas, bap. Jan. 20, 1761 ; Sa- 
rah, bap. May 13, 1764; 5. Abigail, bap. May 10, 3 719 ; 6. Jona- 
than, b. March 10, 1721 ; 7. Samuel, b. Feb. 23, 1723, and had by 
his wife Lydia, Beldeu, b. April 15, 1751 ; Truman, bap. Feb. 11, 
1753, m. Chloe Hill, in 1779 ; Samuel, bap. June 8, 1755 ; Anna, b. 
Jan. 30, 1757 ; Simeon, (posthumous,) bap. Feb. 3, 1759 ; 8. Sarah, 
bap. Feb. 14, 1725; 9. Hannah, b. Aug. 3, 1727. 

John, son of the third John, m. Mabel Booth, Dec. 13, 1758 ; 
children, Brian, bap. March 1, 1761 ; Gideon, bap. April 10, 1763; 
EHad, bap. April 19, 1767; Mabel, bap. Aug. 6, 1769, d. May 9, 
1781 ; Betty, bap. Sept. 15, 1771, m. J. Downs, 1806. 



SQUIRE FAMILY, 



Sergeant Thomas Squire was an early settler at Woodbury. He 
d. April 9, 1712; children, 1. Thomas; 2. Samuel; 3. Ebenezer J 
4. John ; 5. Hannah ; 6. Martha ; 7. Sarah ; 8. Elizabeth, all bap. 
Aug., 1697 ; 9. Joseph, b. Dec. 25, 1698. 

Thomas, Jr., m. 1 . Mary ; m. 2. Hannah . His children 

were, Solomon, b. May 20, 1705 ; David, b. Dec, 1708 ; Thomas, b. 
May 9, 1710; Elizabeth, b. Oct. 12, 1712, m. Aaron Mallory, Aug. 
1, 1739; Mary, b. Jan. 9, 1715, m. Luke Castle ; Hannah, b. Dec. 



710 HISTORY OF ANCIENT ■WOODBURT. 

1, 1717, d. 1735 ; Sarah, b. Feb. 3, 1720, m. Peter Hurd; John, b. 
Sept. 16, 1722 ; Benjamin, bap. March 23, 1729. 

Solomon, son of Thomas, Jr., d. June 26, 1745, had by Martha, his 
wife, children, Olive, bap. Sept. 22, 1728; James, b. June 25, 1730, 
m. Ruth Baldwin, Jan. 2, 1755 ; Patience, bap. April 15, 1733, m. 
Zenas Ward, Feb. 1, 1761; Solomon, bap. Oct. 26, 1735; Ruth, 
bap. Aug, 27, 1738 ; Martha, bap. Aug. 26, 1744. 

David, son of Thomas, Jr., d. June 28, 1748 ; his children by his 
wife Margaret, were, 1. Jerusha, b. Jan., 1733, m. Daniel Wheeler, 
July 17, 1754 ; 2. Deliverance, b. Oct., 1734, m. Mary Robins, Sept. 
8, 1765; 3. David, b. Sept. 17, 1736, m. Rebecca Squire, Feb. 4, 
1762, and had Joseph, b. Aug. 1, 1763 ; David, b. April 24, 1765 ; 
Eli, b. Nov. 19, 1767, m. Mary Bronson, 1787 ; Henry, b. Oct. 24, 
1768 ; 4. Gideon, b. March 19, 1739, m. and had children, among 
which was Abiather, who lived to an advanced age, leaving children, 
some of whom are now living in Roxbury; 5. Margaret, b. 1740, m. 
Samuel Hicock, in 1760 ; 6. Lydia, b. June 7, 1743. 

Thomas, son of Thomas, Jr., m. Rebecca Castle, July 9, 1735 ; 
children, 1. Stephen, bap. May 23, 1735, m. Ruth Robins, Aug. 21, 
1760 ; 2. Hannah, bap. March 26, 1738, m. Ebenezer Booth, in 1782 ; 
3. Rebecca, bap. Jan. 6, 1742, m. David Squire, Feb. 4, 1762 ; 4. 
William, bap. Jan. 4, 1745 ; 5. Mabel, bap. June 28, 1747. 

Benjamin, son of Thomas, Jr., had by wife Abigail, 1. Dea. Amos, 
b. April 15, 1752, d. Dec. 9, 1849, no issue; 2. Isaac, b. April 18 
1756, m. Content Ward, 1777 ; 3. Mary, b. April 9, 1758 ; 4. Ben- 
jamin, b. May 1, 1760, m. Patience Wai-d, and removed to Ohio ; 5. 
Silas, bap. April, 1762. 

Samuel, second son of Sergeant Thomas, d. May 26, 1727. His 
children were, 1. Elizabeth, bap. June, 1715 ; 2. Joseph, bap. Sept., 
1716; 3. Martha, b. July 2, 1718 ; 4. Grace, b. July 30, 1721 ; 5. 
Lois, b. Oct., 1723. 

Ebenezer, third son of Sergeant Thomas, m. 1. Anna Huthwitt, 

July 8, 1714, who d. Nov. 3, 1721. He m. 2. Patience ; she 

d. May 3, 1729 ; m. 3. Ellen . His children were, 1. Judith, b. 

April 19, 1716, m. Peter Minor, Oct. 1, 1734; 2. Esther, b. June, 
1719 ; 3. Patience, b. Nov. 7, 1721 ; 4. Daniel, b. April, 1725, m. 
Sarah Tomlin, Nov. 9, 1752, and had Anna, b. June 8, 1753 ; Sarah, 
b. March 27, 1755, m. David Coe, 1776 ; Currence, b. May 3, 1758, 
m. Nathaniel Tuttle, July 22, 1779 ; Daniel, bap. Dec, 1761 ; Hes- 
ter, bap. July, 1765; Olive, bap. Dec. 27, 1767; Simeon Pluthwitt, 
bap. Jan. 14, 1770, d. young ; Asa, bap. Dec. 22, 1770 ; Aaron, bap. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 711 

June 5, 1772 ; Simeon Huthwitt, bap. Nov. 23, 1777 ; 5. Samuel, b. 
Dec., 1727 ; G. Ebenezer, b. Oct., 1730, m. Ann Pierce, April 22, 
1754, and had Mary, b. Feb. 20, 1755 ; Ann, b. March 5, 1757 ; 
Lois, b. July 20, 1759 ; Ebenezer, bap. April 18, 1762 ; Mercy, bap. 
July 3, 17G-1 ; 7. Andrew, bap. Aug. 27, 1732, m. Huldah Bronson, 
March 22, 1755, and had Eleanor, bap. Dec. 11, 1757 ; Timothy, 
bap. Nov. 18, 1759. 

'/ John, fourth son of Sergeant Thomas, m. Elizabeth Wukelee, Sept. 
23, 1729 ; children, 1. Ann, bap. May 9, 1731 ; 2. Nathan, b. Feb. 
16, 1732; 3. Reuben, b. May 1, 1734, and by wife, Joanna, had 
Stoddard, b. Nov. 8, 1758 ; Truman, bap. Jan. 24, 1764 ; Eunice 
Ann, bap. May G, 1770, m. Phineas Kingsley, Feb. 9, 1794 ; 4. Sam- 
uel, b. Dec. 9, 1736, and by his wife, Jemima, had Clark, b. Dec. 11, 
1759 ; Rhoda, b. Aug. 2, 17G2 ; Ehza Ann, b. Sept. 12, 1766 ; 
Molly, b. April 19, 1768; 5. Ichabod, b. Oct. 27, 1743. 

Joseph, fifth son of Sergeant Thomas, had by wife, Mary, 1. Jo- 
seph, bap. May 5, 1728 ; 2. Gurdon, b. Oct. 5, 1733 ; 3. Mary, b. 
May 9, 1737. 

Abijah Squire m. Charity Lattin, Jan. 4, 1795 ; children, Hiram 
Russel, b.Feb. 13, 1795 ; Ruth Ann, b. Nov. 8, 1796. 

Bethuel Squire, and wife, Jemima, had Olive, b. Sept. 19, 1770. 



SKILTON FAMILY. 

Henry Skilton- son of John Skilton,' and Mary (Bennet,) was b. 
in the parish of St. Michael's, Coventry, England, Nov. 19, 1718. 
He removed with his parents to Rumsey, Hampshire county, when 
eight years of age, with a younger brother and sister, where another 
sister was born. His mother died, and his father left for a place in 
the British navy. Henry left home March 31, 1734, sailed Api-il 1, 
1735, in a gun ship, and landed at Boston, Mass., the same year, 
boarded for some time in Roxbury, and is next heard of in Preston, 
Conn. He m, July 9, 1741, Tabitha, eldest child of Joseph Avery 
and Tabitha (Gardner,) of Norwich, Conn., the latter being origin- 
ally from South Kingston, R. I. He removed to Southington, about 
1749, became a physician, and practiced his profession in that town. 
From thence he went to Woodbury, about 1760, continued in the 
practice of his profession, and in old age removed to Watertown, 



712 HISTORY OF ANCIENT ■WOODBURY. 

Conn., where he died June 7, 1802, aged 82. His wife died in the 
same place, Oct. 25, 1797. Children, as follows : 

3 I. Luc}f b. Aprils, 1742, d. April 17, 1758. 

4 II. Elizabeth,^ b. Feb. 11, 1743-4, d. Sept. 1, 1749. 

5 III. Mary,3 b. Feb. 12, 1746, m. Ehsha Atwood, d. June, 1830. 
fo IV. Avery ,=' b. April 30, 1748. 

7 V. James, b. June 1, 1750, d. Nov., 1755. 

8 VI. Tabitha,b. Sept. 15, 1752, d. July, 1753. 

9 VII. Tabitha, b. Dec. 12, 1754, d. Dec, 1755. 

10 VIII. Sarah, b. April 11, 1757. 

Avery^ (6) m. Parthena Judd, March 26, 1771, who was b. 
Aug. 6, 1754, and d. in Watertown, March 30, 1839. He 
d. Aug. 27, 1832. Children, 

11 I. Melicent,* b. Oct. 5, 1772, m. Anthony Gurnsey, who d. 
Dec. 30, 1848. She d. June 1, 1839. 

}? II. James," b. April 10, 1777. 

13 III. Lucy," b. July 21, 1780, m. Jesse Hine, lives in Bethlem. 

Jl IV. Henry," b. July 17, 1783. 

15 V. Mary," b. May 22, 1786,d.unm. Dec. 25, 1822. 

16 VI. Parthenia," b. Oct. 2, 1788, m. Cyrus Avery, d. in Lyons, 
N.Y.,Sept. 12, 1830. 

17 VII. Tabitha," b.May 2, 1797, unm. 

James" (12) m. Chloe Steel, June 30, 1799. She was b. in 
Bethlem. He d. April 9, 1848. Children, 

18 I. Elijah Steel,^ b. May 17, 1800, m. 1. Elizabeth Wilson, 
April 1, 1827, who d. Oct. 3, 1830 ; m. 2. Mrs. Sarah Remington, 
March 25, 1838. He had five children boi-n between 1828 and 
1836 ; residence, Ravenna, Ohio. 

19 IL Doct. Avery Judd,^ b. Feb. 1, 1802, m. March 2, 1828, 
Mary A. Candee ; had nine children born between 1829 and 1849; 
resides at Troy, N. Y. 

20 IIL Julius J. Gardner,^ b. June 24, 1804. 

21 IV. Henry Bennet,^ b. Aug. 29, 1806, m. Julia Clark, Nov. 
19, 1832, who d. June 14, 1836 ; he m. 2. EmUy Clark ; children by 
first marriage, two ; children by second marriage, six, born between 
1840 and 1851. 

22 V. John Chester,^ b. April 30, 1809, m. Ann Heaton and had 
three children born between 1835 and 1843. 

23 VI. Hannah Maria,^ b. Feb. 4, 1812, m. March 22, 1840, 
Gould S. Clark, of Middlebury, and had three children. 

24 Vn. Samuel W. Southmayd,^ b. June 20, 1814, m. Mary 



niSTORT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 71 3 

White, Nov., 1846, and had three cliildren ; resides at Litchfield, 
South Farms. 

25 VIII. Melicent Parthenia,^ b. Dec. 24, 1816, m. Dec. 27, 

1842, to Rev. Ebenezer 0. Beers, wlio d. Feb. 10, 1847 ; m. 2. 

Bouker ; cliildren, three ; resides in Pennsylvania. 

26 IX. George Frederick,'^ 1>. Fel). 11, 1820, ra. Wealthy M. 
Mann, May 4, 1841. She d. Dec. 3, 1848; m. 2. Abigail Wilcox, 

Iiad 2 ch. Resides at Watertown. / 

27 X. Mary Angusta,^ b. Nov. 14, 1822, m. Dec. 20, 1847 ; Mer- 
rit Clark, Jr., and has one ch., resides at Prospect. 

Henry^ (14) m. Martha Baldwin, Sept. 27, 1807. She d. 
March 10, 1810; m. 2. Maria Marshall, Oct. 20, 1812; d. 
Aug. 5, 1847. Resides at So. Farms. Children, 

28 I. Martha B.,- b. Aug. 9, 1813, m. June 7, 1841. 

29 II. Mary M.,'^ b. Dec. 6,' 1814, ni. Ilubbell B. Cone, Nov. 17, 
1836; lives in western N. Y. 

30 III. Henry Marshall,^ b. Oct. 20, 181G, m. at the south, and 
d. in Arkansas, Aug. 5, 184G, aged 29. 

31 IV. Timothy Judd,^b. Oct. 31, 1819; unm. 

32 V. Parthenia,-' b. Nov. 29, 1821 ; d. Dec. 29, 1830. 

33 VI. Philomela Y.,^ b. Jan. 1, 1827, ra. and resides in Portland, 
Conn. 

34 Vll. Rapliael N.,-" I). April 28, 1829 ; unm. 

35 VIIT. Otis A., b. Sept. 6, 1834. 



STODDARD F A ]M I L Y . 

Anthony Stoddard' emigrated from the west of England, and 
came to Boston about 1 G30. He m. first, Mary, daughter of lion. 
Samuel Downing of Salem, and sister of Sir George, afterward 
Lord George Downing, by whom he had three sons, one of whom 
was 2. Solomon,- b. Oct. 4, 1G43. He m. 2. Barbara, wid. of Capt. 
Joseph Weld of Roxbury, by whom he had two ch. ; he m. 3. Chris- 
tian , by whom he had ten ch. He d. March IG, 168G-7. 

Solomon,- (2) graduated at Harvard, 1G62, settled as minister in 
Northampton, Sept. 11, 1G72, m. Mrs. Esther Mather, originally 
Esther Warham of Windsor, Conn., and wid. of Rev. Eleazer Ma- 
ther, his predecessor at Northampton. He d. Feb. 11, 1729, aged 
86, and his relict d. Feb. 10, 1736, aged 92. He had 7 sons and 5 
54 



714 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

daus. 3. Anthony,^ one of his sons, was b. Aug. 9, 1678. Graduated 
at Harvai'd, 1697, settled as minister in Woodbury, Conn.. He m. 
1. March, 1701, Prudence Wells, who d. May, 1714; m. 2. Jan. 31, 
1715, Mary Sherman, who d. Jan. 12, 1720. He d. Sept. 6, 1760. 
Children, 

4 I. Mary,^ b. June 19, 1702. 

5 11. Solomon," b. Oct. 12, 1703; d. May 23, 1727, "with the 
Great Fever." ■»,#.'' jjj- * -' ^ ' t 

f4 III. Eliakim,' b. April 3, 1705; d. 1?=&0. He m. Joanna 
Curtiss, in 1729. > 

I IV. Elisha,* b. Nov. 24, 1706, m. Rebekah Sherman, and d. 
1766. 

8 V. Israel," b. Aug. 7, 1708 ; d. May 30, 1727. 

9 VI. John," b. March 2, 1710. 

10 VII. Prudence," b. Oct. 12, 1711. 

•1 Vin. Gideon," b. May 27, 1714, m. Olive Curtiss, 1734. 
12 IX. Esther,* b. Oct. 11, 1716, m. Preserved Strong. 
Jl X. Abijah," b. Feb. 28, 1718, m. Eunice Curtiss, April 4, 1739.' 
14 XI. Elizabeth," b. Nov. 15, 1719, m. Daniel Munn. 

Eliakim" (6) had, ^ 
l^ I. John,'^ b. Jan. 26, 1730, m. April 15, 1751, Mary Atwood, 
who d. Jan. 16, 1802. He d. Jan. 2, 1795. 

16 II. Israel,^ b. Jan. 28, 1732 ; d. Aug. 8, 1794. He m. Eliza- 
abeth Reade, July 4, 1759, by whom he had Phebe, b. Nov. 25, 1760 ; 
Asa, father of Col. Henry Stoddard, Dayton, Ohio, b. Sept. 4, 1762 ; 
James, b. May 14, 1765 ; Elizabeth, b. June 14, 1769. 

17 III. Anthony,'' b. Oct. 21, 1734, m. Phebe Reade, by whom he 
had Major Amos, who went to England for the entailed property, 
returned and d. near Cincinnati, Oliio. He also had Simeon and 
Anthony. 

18 IV. Joanna,^ b. July 16, 1738, m. Reuben Squire. 

19 V. Prudence,* b. Sept. 24, 1740, m. John Marchant. 

20 VI. Eliakim,'' b. July 25, 1742 ; d. young. 

21 VII. Seth,5 |3^ j)qq 2, 1744, m. Hannah Noyes, and had Calvin. 
Joanna, Shelden, William, Noyes, Hannah, Minerva and IMiranda, 
who m. Jabez D. Hammond. 

22 VIII. Abigail,'* b. Aug. 21, 1747, m. Israel Woodward, of 
Watertown, Conn. 

28 IX. Eliakim,* b. Dec. 11, 1749 ; d. in Canada. 

Elisha" (7) had, 
24 I. Solomon,* b. Dec. 29, 1728, ra. Mary Gurnsey, and had, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 715 

Daniel, b. Dec. 9, 1753 ; Naonie, b. Aug. 31, 1755 ; Cjrenius, b. 
Aug. 11, 1757; Philo,b. Sept. 29, 1759.' 

25 II. Mary ,5 b. March 29, 1733. 

26 III. Elisha,^ b. Nov. 4, 1735, m. Mary Ann Hunt, May 29, 
17G0, by whom he had, Smieon, b. Dec. 12, 17G1 ; Thomas, b. June 
21, 1763, kUled in the Revolution ; EHsha, b. April 22, 1765 ; Elihu, 
b. April 26, 1767; Esther, b. March 6, 1769; Samuel, b. 1761; 
Abel, b. 1773 ; Ann, b. 1775 ; Olive, b. 1777. The ch. of Elihu 
were, Sally, Polly, Martin, David T., Nancy, Eliza and George. 

27 IV. David,^ b. Jan. 29, 1738. His ch. were Thaddeus, b. 
Nov. 6, 1757 ; Beeda, b. Dec. 31, 1758. 

28 V. Damaris,' b. June 21, 1741. 

29 VI. Jotham,^ b. July 24, 1743. 

30 VII. Daniel,^ b. April 11, 1746. 

31 VIII. Kebekah,^ b. Aug. 14, 1748. 

Gideon^ (11) had, 

32 I. Simeon,'' b. March 1, 1735. 

33 II. Maybel,-' b. Sept. 25, 1737. 

34 III. Gideon,"- b. March 24, 1740. 

i IV. Nathan,^ b. Aug. 8, 1742, m. Eunice Sanford, of Litchfield. 

36 V. Elisha,^ b. Nov. 11, 1744. * 

37 VI. Hannah,^ b. April 5, 1747. ' 

38 VII. Olive,^ K . T T 1 o i-<n 

39 VIII. Jerusha,^^''""'^'-'^"^^-^'^'"^^- 

40 IX. Olive,^ b. March 29, 1752. 

41 X. Prudence,'' b. Sept. 15, 1754. 

42 XI. Anthony,* b. April 16, 1758. 

Abijah^ (13) had, 

43 I. Elizabeth,' b. Sept. 21, 1740, m. Abijah Mitchell. 

44 II. Ann,' b. Feb. 21, 1742, ra. Daniel Warner. 

45 III. Esther,5 b. Dec. 11, 1743. 

46 IV. Eunice,-' b. March 21, 1746. 

|{ V. Eli,' b. June 17, 1748, m. Abiga'il Hurlbut. 

48 VI. Ichabod,' b. Dec. 30, 1750, m. Mary Mitchell. 

49 VII. Eunice,'b. April 5, 1753. 

50 VIII. Eunice,^ b. Feb. 23, 1755, m. Joseph Walker. 

51 IX. Esther,=^b. May 22, 1757, m. John Mitchell. 

52 X. Burr,' b. March 29, 1759. 

53 XL Mary ,5 b. Aug. 17, 1760. 

John' (15) had, 
?| L Samson,^ b. Oct. 25, 1752; d. Oct. 31, 1802, m. 1. Susan- 



716 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

nah Nettleton, by whom he had three ch. ; m. 2. Amy Goodwin, by 
whom he had live ch. He resided at Watertown, Conn. 

55 11. Abiram,'' b. Oct. 25, 1756 ; d. Oct. 25, 1776, in the Revo- 
lutionary Army. 

56 III. Wells," b. July 1, 1759; d. 1840, m. Sarah Hicock, no 
issue. 

57 IV. Phebe,'' b. Feb. 19, 1760 ; d. Sept. 25, 1827. She m. 
Josiah Hicock, and had one ch., Samuel. 

^ V. John,« b. in Watertown, July 1, 1763 ; d. Feb. 24, 1821. 
He m. Sarah Woodward, removed to Coventiy, N. Y., 1802. 

59 VI. Submit," b. March 17, 1766; d. Sept. 7, 1775. 

60 VII. Joanna," b. Feb. 19, 1767 ; d. June 5, 1847. She m. 
Eri Parker. Resides in Vienna, N. Y. 

61 VIII. Mary," b. June 11, 1771 ; d. 1845, m. Randall Judd, of 
Woodbury; m. 2. Nathaniel Curtiss. 

62 IX. Sarah," b. May 13, 1773, m. Andrew Williams. Resi- 
dence, Cherry Valley, N. Y. 

^ X. Israel," b. Feb. 15, 1776, m. Polly Wilson, who was b. 
Sept. 27, 1799. Residence, Camden, N. Y. 

f„\ XL Eliakim," b. Aug. 10, 1779, m. April 26, 1801, Lois Mat- 
t'aews, b. April 23, 1781 ; d. Dec. 12, 1842. He m. 2. Nancy Adsit, 
July 13, 1843. He was a minister of the Methodist church, and re- 
sided in Camden, N. Y. 

Lt. Nathan^ (35) had, 

65 I. Clarissa," m. Timothy Terrill. 

I'fg II. Nathan," m. Ruth Judson. 

67 III. Sarah," m. Jabez Benham, removed to Vt. 

68 IV. Phebe," m. Judge Hinman, of Vt. 

69 V. Olive," m. 1. Simeon Wheeler; m. 2. Truman Judson. 

70 VI. Hannah," m. Timothy Wheeler. 

71 VII. Eunice," m. 1. Sprague ; m. 2. Col. Elkins, of Vt. 

Eli^ (47) had, 

72 L Elizabeth," b. 1772 ; d. 1846 ; m. Abner Prindle, and had 
Daniel, Isaac, Francis, Abigail and Betsey. 

73 II. Philena," b. 1774; m. Abner Deming. Ch., Mary, Henry, 
George, Horace and Abner. 

74 III. Sarah," b. 1776 ; m. Roswell Warner. Ch., Ruth, Mary, 
David, Sherman and Frederick. 

75 IV. Abigail," b. 1778 ; m. Reuben Hubbard, and had Sophia, 
Marcus, Aaron and Sarah. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 717 

I'S V. Abijah," b. Dec. 4, 1782; m. 1804, Esther Mallory, b. 
June 29, 1786. Residence, Waterbury. 

77 VI. Anthony," b. 1784 ; m. Betsey Lucas, and had, Cyrus. 

78 VII. Sherman,« b. 1786. 

;^ VIII. Herman," b. iSept. 28, 1790; d. Feb. 25, 1853; m. 
Ruth Ann Hughs, b. March 1, 1791. 
Samson" (54) had, 
80 I. Prudence,'' b. Aug. 11, 1775; m. James Atwood, Aug. 24, 
1798. 

il; 11. Abiram," b. Jan. 27,1777 ; graduated at Yale; ra. Eunice 
Clark, and settled in i)ractice of medicine in Derby, Conn. 

82 HI. Susannah,^ b. March 26, 1779 ; m. Wheeler Atwood. 

83 IV. Doct. William," b. Sept. 29, 1781 ; d. in Mobile, Alabama. 
He m. a Miss Stone, and had Juliaett and HeUen. Juliaett m. Doct. 
Tanner, of New York. 

,3^ V. Goodwin,'^ b. May 8, 1783 ; m. Ann Warner; was presi- 
ding elder in Oneida Conference. Removed to Dixboro', Mich. 

85 VI. Harvey,' b. April 14, 1785; d. in Burton, Ohio, 1839. 
Ch., Charles, Sarah, William, Emeline, Nancy and Solomon. 

86 VH. Ann,^ b. Aug. 17, 1788; m. William Tolls; resides in 
Burton, Ohio. Ch., Fanny, Abigail, Nehemiah, Williain and Good- 
win. 

87 VIII. Samuel,' b. Aug. G, 1791 ; d. Aug. 4, 1828 ; m. Phebe 
Minor, who d. Sej)t. 5. 1836. His ch. were, Lucy, John, Mary and 
Asa. 

John" (58) had, 
,f, L Curtis,'' b. July 14, 1786 ;'d. Oct. 13, 1838 ; m. Hepsey Mar- 
tin, b. Nov. 23, 1786 ; d. Sept. 11, 1834. He removed to Little St. 
Josejih's, Ohio. 

89 II. Merit,^ b. Jan. 1, 1789 ; d. Oct. 12, 1820 ; m. Laura Par- 
ker, and had, Linus P., Sarah M. and Roxy. 

90 IIL Polly,'' b. Sept. 22, 1792 ; m. 1. Sylvester Stevens ; had 
one ch., Sylvester, b. July 4, 1812 ; m. 2. Daniel Benedict, and had 
one son, John Stoddard, b. Sept. 1, 1821. 

91 IV. John,'' b. July 15, 1794; m. Sept., 1817, Merab Parker, 
b. Sept. 3, 1796. Residence, Coventry, N. Y. 

92 V. Sarah,'' b. Jan. 26, 1796 ; m. William Abort Martin, and 
had, Hepsey, b. Feb., 1818, m. Henry Manwaring ; Sarah, b. 1820, 
d. 1834. 

93 VL Rev. Ehjah Woodward,^ b. May 28, 1799 ; d. Jan. 21, 
1838. He m., April 27, 1825, Alathea Coye, and removed to Little 



718 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

St. Joseph, Ohio, in 1836. Ch., Wolcott Dwight, b, July 13, 1828 ; 
Edward Dorcey, b. April 27, 1830 ; Sidney Deshon, b. Jan. 23, 1832 ' 
Ellen Coye, b. Nov. 20, 1836. 

94 VII. Abigail,^ b. Sept. 1, 1802 ; d. Aug. 7, 1830 ; m. Miles 
Doolittle. Ch., Abel, b. July 7, 1825 ; Sarah Abigail, b. May 27, 
1828; Mary Matilda, b. May 17, 1830. 

95 VIII. WeUs,' b. April 10, 1806 ; m. Eunice Benedict, and in 
1833, removed to Huron, Ohio. Ch., Mary, b. May 7, 1827 ; Elia- 
kim,b. Feb. 1, 1829; Andrew, b. Feb. 22, 1831 ; Sarah A., b. Mar. 
10, 1833 ; Emily, b. Oct. 17, 1835 ; Eunice, b. Sept. 4, 1837 ; Wells, 
b. Feb. 3, 1889; John, b. May 25, 1843 ; Myra, b. Feb. 14, 1848. 

96 IX. Doct. Abiram,' b. March 12, 1809; d. Sept. 1, 1889; m. 
Dec. 14, 1884, Lavinia Smith, b. Sept. 2, 1802. Ch., William Abi- 
ram. 

Israel" (68) had, 

97 I. Cyrus," b. April 2, 1820 ; m. Charlotte S. Spring, by whom 
he had, Josiah, b. Aug. 10, 1844; Isaac Atwood, b. Oct. 24, 1846. 

98 II. Samuel Ilicock," b. April 29, 1822 ; graduated at Hamil- 
ton College, 1844. 

99 III. Huldah B.,' b. Dec. 4, 1828 ; m. Erastus Judson. 
100 IV. Joanna P.," b. May 1, 1825 ; m. Lansing McConnell. 

102 V. Martha P.,' b. June 18, 1827 ; m. Lewis Baker. 

103 VL Wells A.,^ b. May 10, 1829. 

104 VIL IsraeV b. June 1, 1831. 

105 VIIL Lucintha.^ 106 IX. Mary.'' 107 X. John.^ 
Eliakim" (04) had, 

108 L Philomela,^ b. Dec. 13, 1802; m. Feb. 21,1828, John AV. 
Searles, and had Lois^ Francis and John. 

109 n. Cynthia,'^ b. Sept. 14, 1804 ; m. Sept. 15, 1827, Lorenzo 
Driggs. Ch., Stoddard, Flora, Lorenza, John and Cynthia. 

110 HI. Flora,'' b. Dec. 28, 1806; d. Feb. 21, 1840; m. Feb. 1, 
1883, Hiram Whedon, and had one ch., Albert Stoddard. 

111 IV. Polly,'' b. May 26, 1809 ; m. May 28, 1828, Elisha Morse. 
Ch., Mindwell, Eliakim and Cynthia. 

112 V. Joanna P.,' b. June 6, 1811; m. Thomas D. Penlield, 
Sept. 6, 1837, and had, Samuel D. 

113 VL IsraeV t>. July 1, 1813 ; m. Oct. 5, 1836, Maria P. Peck, 
and had, Lois M., b. Aug. 19, 1887 ; Joanna D., b. July 21, 1846. 

114 VIL Mindwell," b. April 21, 1816; d. in 1831. 

115 VIIL Eliakim J.,^ b. Jan. 31, 1819. Lawyer, Utica, N. Y. 

116 IX. George,^ b. Sept. 6, 1823. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 719 

Nathan"' (66) had, 

117 I. Rachel." 

118 II. Rodman,' resides in Detroit, Michigan. 

119 III. Nathan," resides in Richland, N. Y. 

120 IV. Catherine," d., aged about 20. 

121 V. Elizabeth," d. young. 

122 VI. Rev. Judson B., resides at Sherman, Conn. 

123 VII. William." Residence, Canada West. 

124 VIII. Joshua."^ Residence, Worcester, Mass. 

125 IX. Elizabeth," m. Simms ; resides in Mexico, N. Y. 
Abijah« (76) had, 

126 I. Almina Ann," b. March 24, 180G. 

127 II. Jennette," b. April 25, 1808. 

128 III. Esther,^ b. Dec. IG, 1809. 

129 IV. Mary Ann," b. Sept. 27, 1811. 

130 V. Abijah Curtis,^ b. April 2, 1813. 

131 VI. Horace William,'' b. Nov. 4, 1815. 

132 VII. Hannah Mariah," b. Aug. 27, 1818. 

133 VIII. David Eli," b. March 30, 1821. 

134 IX. Abijah Curtis, b. July 17, 1823. 

135 X. Jane E., b. May 26, 1826. 

136 XL Ruth Ann, b. March 12, 1828. ' * 
Herman'' (79) had, 

137 I. Elizabeth Ann," b. June 19. 1814; m. William Curtiss, 
March 20, 1839 ; m. 2. Treat. 

138 II. William,^ b. Jan. 10, 1816; d. 1818. 

139 III. Laura Sabrina," b. July 1,1817 ; ra. Oct. 8, 1837, Phin- 
eas A. Judson. 

140 IV. Sherman Bennet,'' b. Aug. 11, 1821 ; m. Mary Ann Har- 
ger, 1843. 

141 V. Herman Wheeler," b. July 6, 1823 ; m. 1845, Eliza Ann 
Roberts. 

142 VI. Mary Maria," b. April 6, 1825; m. Fred. P. Gorham, 
of New Haven. 

143 VIL Samuel Hughs," b. Dec. 19, 1827 ; d. 1829. 

144 VIIL Sarah Abigail," b. July 15, 1829; m. 1846, Daniel 
C. Frost. 

145 IX. Charlotte Amanda," b. March 4, 1837. 
Abiram^ (81) had, 

146 L Theresa,^ b. Jan. 6,1806; d. 1814. 

147 II Jonathan," b. Oct. 9, 1807 ; graduated at Yale, 1831. A 
lawyer, New Haven, Conn, 



720 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

148 in. Susan 11.,*" b. Aug. 1, 1809 ; m. Doct. Johnson, of Derby, 
Conn. 

149 IV. Thomas,* b. March 11, 1813 ; graduated at Yale, 1836 ; 
m. April 9, 1839, Esther Ann Gilbert, b. July 31, 1819. Ch., 
Frances Eunice, b. Jan. 13, 1840; Sarah G., b. April 6, 1842; 
Ezekiel, b. Nov. 14, 1844. 

150 V. Joseph," b.Nov. 12, 1815 ; m. Dec. 10, 1838, Sophia Bud- 
dington. Ch., William, b. Sept. 27, 1839 ; Henry, b. March 22, 
1843 ; Sophia T., b. March 9, 1845 ; Goodwin, b. April 2, 1847. 

151 V. William,'' b. Jan. G, 1818. Lawyer, New Haven, Conn. 

152 VI. Theresa," b. June 2, 1825. 
Goodwin^ (84) had, 

153 I. Samson,* b. Feb. 7, 1806. Physician in Michigan. 

154 II. Amy," b. April 21, 1808. 

155 III. Moses,* b. Feb. 14, 1810. 

156 IV. Aaron," b. April 0, 1812 ; d. May 0, 1814. 

157 V. Laura Ann," b. 1814; d. young. 

158 VI. Abigail," b. Sept. 2, 1815. 

159 VIL William," b. April 11, 1819. 
100 VIIL Goodwin," b. April 8, 1821. 

161 IX. Anna," b. May 25, 1824. 
Curtis^ (88) had, 

162 L IsraeV b. Feb. 15, 1808 ; m. Lois Horton ; was judge of 
Williams co., Ohio, and d. Dec. 29, 1842. Ch., Dwight, Sarah, Is- 
rael and Phebe. 

163 IL Samuel Augustus," b. May 10, 1809 ; d. Dec. 10, 1884; 
m. Sarah Beecher, Oct., 1830. 

164 in. Curtis," b. July 10, 1811 ; m. Jane R. Doughty, July 1, 
1835. Ch., Charity R., b. Aug. 14, 1836, d. Aug. 28, 1836 ; Phebe, 
b. Oct. 29, 1838; Catherine M., b. July 9, 1840; Austin C, b. 
April 25, 1842 ; Benjamin C, b. June 7, 1844 ; John C, b. May 6, 
1846. 

165 IV. William Ira," b. Oct. 25, 1814 ; d. June 2, 1837. 
IGG V. John," b. Dec. 22, 1820 ; d. Aug. 26, 1837. 

167 VI. Zerah," b. Jan. 7, 1823. 

168 \TrL Martin,"!). Oct. 24, 1824. 

169 VIIL Hcpsey," b. Nov. 3, 1826. 
John"' (91) had, 

170 L Henry Eliakim," b. July 23, 1818 ; ra. Jan. 3, 1843, Sal)ra 
Ann Davis, and had issue, John Henry, b. .Ian. 30, 1847. 



HISTOKT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 721 

171 n. Elijah Woodward/ b. April 23, 1820; graduated at Am- 
herst College, 1849. 

172 III. John,^ b. Oct. 15,1823. 

173 IV. William Albert,"^ b. Jan. 10, 1826. 

174 V. Lewis Gaius,« b. Nov. 14, 1828. 

175 VI. Samuel Augustus," b. April 20, 1835. 
170 VII. Sarah Abigail,^ b. April 15, 1839. 



TERRILL FAMILY 



Roger Terrill, of Stratford, was a signer of the fundamental arti- 
cles for the settlement of Woodbury, and came with the first company 
of settlers to the latter place. He died April 17, 1722, and his wid. 
Sarah, died April 13, 1728. His children are found to have been, I. 
Abigail, bap. Jan., 1681-2. IL Sarah, bap. March, 1684, m. Doct. 
Jonathan Atwood, in 1701. III. Stephen, bap. Aug., 1686. IV. 
Roger, bap. July, 1091. V. Ezra, bap. April, 1693. VI. and VII. 
Timothy and Martha, b. Nov. 19, 1697. 

Stephen, eldest son of Roger, d. in 1728, leaving children, I. Abi- 
gail. II. Sarah. III. Stephen, m. Mary Judson, Dec. 9, 1729, d. 
in 1757, leaving an only child. Prudence, who m. Lieut. Gideon 
Stoddard. IV. Roger. V. Ezra. VI. Timothy. VII. Martha. 

Roger, Jr., second son of Roger, m. Elizabeth Sherman, July 23, 
1713, who d. in 1747. He d. in 1769 ; children, I. Mary, bap. Aug. 
31, 1718, m. Abijah Martin, in 1741. IL Gideon, b, Sept. 14, 1720, 
d. Dec. same year. HI. Gideon, b. Oct. 17, 1721. IV. Daniel, b. 
Nov. 25, 1723. V. Caleb, b. Feb. 12, 1720, d. young. VI. Phebe, 

b. Feb. 12, 1726, m. Root. VIL Betsey, bap. June 23, 1728, 

m. Christoplier'Prentice, May 18, 1748. 

Ezra, third son of Roger, d. 1740. His children by wife, Marga- 
ret, were, I. Sarah, b. April 13, 1715, m. Camp. II. Ezra, b. 

Jan. 6, 1717. IIL Peter, b. Jan. 19, 1719. IV. Paul, b. Feb. 1, 
1721. V. Hannah, b. Sept. 25, 1722. VL Margaret, b. Nov., 
1724. VIL Martha, m. John Brownson, in 1747. VIII. Roger, b. 
Nov. 11, 1731, d. same year. ♦ 

Timothy, fourth son of Roger, m. Thankful Galpin, and d. in 1727; 
children, Eunice, b. July, 1724; Olive, bap. Aug. 28, 1726; Timo- 
thy, (posthumous,) b. Oct., 1727. 
55 ' 



722 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUEY. 

Timothy, Jr., son of Timothy, m. Hope Lee, Feb. 26, 1754, d. 
Aug. 29, 1785; children, Lee, b. Jan. 18, 1755; Timothy, b. Jan. 
15, 1757 ; Olive, b. June 25, 1759, m. Aaron Mallory ; Anna, bap. 
April 25, 1762, d. young; Anna, b. Jan. 7, 1765, m. Jehiel Preston, 
and d. July 12, 1851. 

Lee, eldest son of Timothy, Jr., m. Jerusha Root. He removed to 
Canada with his family, after the birth of his children, where his de- 
scendants are somewhat numerous. His children were, I. Olive, bap. 
Sept. 4, 1788. II. Hazard, bap. Sept. 4, 1788, m. Betsey Bailey, 
and had 1. Hazard Bailey, who d. suddenly in the fall of 1852, while 
in the most active discharge of his duties as a member of the Cana- 
dian Parliament ; 2. T. Lee, was elected to fill the vacancy in said 
Parliament, occasioned by the death of his brother ; 3. Caroline ; 4. 
Preston ; 5. Eliza ; 6. Jerusha. III. Hope Emm, bap. Sept. 4, 
1784. IV. Lee, bap. Oct., 1791, m. and had 1. Joseph Hazard ; 2. 
Samuel Lee ; 3. Olive ; 4. Ann. V. Jerusha Ann, bap. Dec, 1794. 

Timothy, second son of Timothy, Jr., m. Clarissa Stoddard ; chil- 
dren, Timothy, b. Nov. 19, 1781 ; Eunice, (posthumous,) b. April 
15, 1787 ; Timothy, m. 1. Huldah Dudley ; m. 2. Dolly M. Bacon. 
His children are, I. Clarissa, m. Charles J. Minor. 11. Timothy, m. 
Laura Warner. HI. George D., ra. Nancy Booth. IV. William 
Lee, m. Eunice Ingersoll, of Ohio, and resides at Medina, in that 
state. V. Nathan S., m. Emily Green. 



THOMAS FAMILY. 

No. I. 

John Thomas settled in Woodbury about 1690 ; children, 1. John, 
bap. Aug. 30, 1695 ; 2. Samuel, bap. Sept. 10, 1699, m. and had 
Reuben and Rhoda, (twins,) bap. Sept., 1714 ; 3. Thomas, bap. 
March 5, 1701. 

No. IL 

Jeremiah Thomas d. Dec. 10, 1752. His children were, I. John, 
bap. June, 1714, d. young. II. Elizabeth, bap. June, 1714, m. Obed 
Henries, Jan. 20,1737. IIL John, bap. March, 1716, d. Sept., 1722. 
IV. Mary, b. Oct., 1722. V. Susanna, bap. June 22, 1718. VL 
Charles, bap. July 3, 1720. VII. Phebe, bap. Jan. 17, 1725. VIII. 
David, b. 1726. 

Dea. Charles, son of Jeremiah above, m. Mary Barges, Feb. 1, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 723 

1749, d. Oct. 3, 1794; children,!. Dea. John, bap. April 5, 1750, m. 
Parnel Weller, March 2, 1794, d. without issue. II. Mary, b. April 
9, 1753, m. Noali Dudley, in 1775. III. David, bap. Nov. 15, 1754, 
d. same month. IV. David, b. April 16, 1756, m. Abigail Case, 
Sept. 4, 1777, and had Benajah C, b. Aug. 2, 1778. V. Charles, b. 
Jan. 80, 1758, m. Jerusha Weller, who d. May 26, 1827. He d. Feb. 

23, 1833. Children, Charles, Jerusha and Mary. Charles has a 
family, and resides on the old homestead in Roxbury. VI. Annis, b. 
Feb. 7, 1760, m. Abel Bronson. VII. Jeremiah, bap. Jan. 30, 1763. 
VIII. Sarah, b. Oct. 16, 1764, m. Thomas Warner, 1782. IX. Su- 
sanna, bap. April 9, 1769, m. Stephen Terrill. X. James, b. Jan. 
25, 1763, d. July 4, 1767. 

No. III. 
Ebenezer Thomas m. Sarah Mitchell, Oct. 11, 1721 ; children, I. 
Phebe, bap. Dec. 2, 1722, m. Daniel Chilson, July 5, 1759. II. 
Abraham, bap. Feb. 15, 1725, m. Mary Baker, Jan. 31, 1751 ; chil- 
dren, 1. Ebenezer, bap. .Ian. 2, 1751, m. Joanna Galpin, Aug. 14, 
1760, and had Mary Ann, who d. .June 5, 1784 ; 2. Bulah, bap. June 

24, 175^, m. John Mallory, in 1769 ; 3. Lucy, bap. Oct. 5, 1755 ; 4. 
Isaac, bap. April 23, 1758 ; 5. Friend, bap. March 10, 1765 ; 6. Ira, 
bap. Aug. 27, 1769, m. Abigail Hurd, Aug. 28, 1788 ; 7. Sarah Ann, 
bap. May 31, 1772. III. Sarah, b. Nov. 14, 1731, m. Noah Hurl- 
but, in 1761. 

Thomas Thomas had by wife Elizabeth, Aaron, b. March 20, 1759. 



TUTTLE FAMILY. 

Nathaniel Tuttle' settled in Woodbury, about 1680, and from him 
have descended most, if not all of the name now residing in its vicin- 
ity. He d. Aug. 20, 1721, leaving his wife Sarah, and children given 
below, except the first, who is supposed to have died previously, as 
she is not mentioned in his will. 

2 I. Mary,^ bap. May, 1683, d. probably previous to 1721. 

? II. Ephraim,-m. Dinah Wheeler, Feb. 13,1706. 

,2 III. Hezekiah,- m. Martha Huthwitt, April 11, 1711 ; he died 
1753. 

,^0 IV. Isaac," b. Feb. 3, 1697-8, m. 1. Prudence Wheeler, Jan. 
10, 1729, who d. in 1730 ; m. 2. Mary Warner, April 15, 1731. 
She d. Oct. 28, 1746. He d. in 1772, leaving a wife, Ann. 



724 HISTORY OF ANCIENT 1TOODBURT. 

6 V. Temperance," d. Nov., 1749. 

7 VI. Ann,= d. July 22, 1753. 

Ephraim- (3) had 

8 I. Moses,^ I ^^^,. ^_ Q^^^ 22, 1707. 

9 II. Joseph,-* j ' ' 

Joseph d. in 1754, leaving wife Mary, and an only child, Sarah. 

10 III. Sarah,-' b. Oct. 15, 1 712, m. Hezekiah "Wright, June, 1732. 
,•• IV. Ezekiel,^b. Jan. 5, 1718, m. Tabitha ^^^5^^»^ 

11 V. Caleb,^ b. May 3, 1721, d. 1790. Mary, his widow, m. Na- 
than Hine. 

Hezekiah- (4) lived in Main Street, Southbury, near the pres- 
ent dwelling of Sherman Tuttle, his great-grandson. Ch., 

13 I. Lois,3 bap. May, 1713, m. Thomas Kimberly, Jan. 23, 1742. 

14 II. Agnes,^ b. Feb. 11, 1718, m. Obadiah Wheeler, in 1740. 

\l III. Nathaniel,' bap. Oct. 1, 1721, m. in his 5Bth year, Cur- 
rence_^Squire, July 22, 1779, who d. in 1819 ; he d. in 1796. 

16 IV. Gideon,^ b. Feb., 1727, m. Mary Stiles, removed to Ver- 
mont ; children, Amos, Gideon, Nathaniel, Mary and Lois. 

17 V. Ichabod,'' bap. June 1, 1729, m. Sarah Prime, June 27, 
1751, went to Vermont ; childi'en, David, Martha, Hezekiah and 
Nathaniel. 

18 VI. Huthwitt,3 b. Aug., 1731, d. unm. about 1785. 
f, VII. Noah,-'' bap. April 29, 1734, m. Susanna Smith. 

20 VIII. Nathau,3 bap. Aug. 15, 1 730, graduated at Yale College, 
in 1763," m. Lydia Skeel, went to Rutland, Vermont, disappeared 
mysteriously, supposed to have been murdered. 

Sergeant Isaac' (5) had 

21 I. David,' bap. May 21, 1782. 

22 II. Prudence,' b. Jan., 1784, m. Moses Martin, Jan. IG, 1755. 

23 III. Mary,-' b. June 12, 1737, m. John Nichols, in 1756. 
% IV. Andrew,^ bap. March 25, 1739. 

25 V. Daniel,' bap. June 5, 1743 ; had sons, Truman and Garry. 
Truman m. Lovina Manvill ; children, I. Truman, resides in Middle- 
bury, and has a family. II. Harriet E., m. Ebenezer Wheeler, has 
one child, Truman E. III. Jennette M. IV. Julia M., m. Madison 
Johnson, and has two children, Harriet L. and Jennette E. 

26 VI. Aaron,'' bap. May 15, 1748, m. Mary Smith. 

27 Yll. Ichabod,'d. young, in 1749. 

EzekicP (11) had children, 

28 I. Samuel,'' b. Feb. 22, 1743, removed west. 

29 II. Concurrence,^ bap. March 15,1747. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 725 

30 III. Truman,* bap. April 2, 1749, d. young. 

31 IV. Ichabod,* bap. Oct. 25, 1750, went west. 

32 V. Tabitha," bap. Oct. 22, 1754. 

33 VI. Truman,^ bap. Feb. 22, 1756. 
Vo VII. Ephraim,* bap. Nov. 23, 1763. 

35 VIII. Aaron,'' m. Rebecca "Wooster ; children, Olive, Cyrus, 
Anna, Daniel, Betsey, Aaron, William, David, Harvey, Silas and 
Arad. 

36 IX. Mabel,^ bap. April 4, 1769. 

Caleb^ (12) had 

37 I. Amos,'' b. Oct. 5, 1765. 

38 II. Joseph,* b. March 1, 1767. 

39 III. Benjamin," b. IVIay 15, 1768. 

40 IV. Abigail,* b. April 2, 1770. 

41 V. Mary,' b. Nov. 2G, 1771. 

42 VI. Gains,* b. April 15, 1773. 

Noah 3 (19) had children, 
«; tl I. Newton,* m. Rutli Pierce. 

44 II. Ann,* bap. April 29, 1759, m. Agur Wheeler. 

45 III. Susanna,* bap. Nov. 13, 1763, m. Nathan Downs. 

46 IV. Mary Ann,* d. young. 

Capt. NathanieP (15) was in the army during the Revolu- ; 
tionary War. His children were, 

47 I. Martha,* bap. Aug. 1780, m. David Dayton, Nov. 6, 1800. 
He d. Aug. 17, 1836, aged 64 ; children, I. Augusta, m. Burton 
French, resides in Ohio. II. Nathaniel, d. Jan. 6, 1833, aged 30, 
unm. III. Charles, d. Jan. 2, 1816, aged 11 years. IV. Berkley, 
d. unra. on his return from the west. V. Tuttle, m. Caroline, dau. 
of Judson Hurd, of Roxbury, and d. Sept. 18, 1843, aged 35. VI. 
Currence A., m. Hall Gridley, removed to the state of New York. 
VII. James Clark, removed to the state of New York, and d. Aug. 
28, 1851, aged 38. VIII. Charles, d. March 12, 1851, aged 34. 
IX. Benjamin, resides in Naugatuck, Conn. 

48 II. Huthwitt,* bap. May 25, 1785, m. 1. Sally Smith, and had 
one child, Samuel; he m. 2. Olive Burr, and d. May 29, 1844 ; chil- 
dren by second marriage, were Sarah and Mary. 

49 III. Nathaniel,* bap. July 31, 1785, m. Betsey Fabrique, May 
9, 1808, d. May 5, 1850 ; children, I. John H., b. Feb. 16, 1809, d. 
Aug. 30, 1831. II. Nathaniel, b. Feb. 1, 1811, resides in New 
Haven. III. Sherman, b. Jan. 18, 1813. IV. Benjamin Newton, 
b. April 11, 1815, resides in New Haven. 



726 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY, 

50 IV. Anna, bap. March 21, 1793, d. while on a visit at Rutland, 
Vermont, aged 11 years. 

Andrew^ (24) had, it is said, fourteen children, among whom 
were the following : 

51 I. Reuben.^ 

52 II. Ayers.'' 
fa III. Noah.^ 

54 IV. Nathan,^ went west. 

55 V. Isaac,* went west. 

56 VI. Nabby.'' 

57 VII. Reny.* 

58 VIII. Thaddeus." 
f, IX. William.' 

60 X. Russell,'' died young. 

Ephraim* (34) m. Sarah Stone, and d. Dec. 19, 1830, aged 68; 
being the first death in his family. He left 8 ch. and 14 grandch. 
Sarah his wid. d. July 28, 1847, aged 74. Ch., I. Harriet, m. Philo 
Scott. 11. Alvin. III. Lydia, d. Jan., 1844, aged 48, IV. Sarah, 
m. Garry Scott ; is a widow. V. Lucy, m. Ransom Judson, now of 
Southbury.' Ch., Lucius, Charles, Robert, Albert, Jane, Clarissa and 
George. VI. Tabitha, m. David M. Fenn. VII. Clarissa, m. Wil- 
liam Tucker, d. May 9, 1838. VIIL Eliza. 
Newton'* (43) children, 

61 I. Mary Ann,* bap. in 1787, m. Walker Lyon. Ch., Smith, 
Jennette and Harriet. 

62 II. Cyrus,^ bap. Dec. 23, 1789, m. Betsey Smith. Ch., Har- 
riet E. and Samuel S. 

63 III. Benjamin,^ bap. April 19, 1792, m. 1. Harriet Smith; m. 
2. Charlotte Smith. Ch., Sally Jane, Noah B. and Caroline S. 

64 IV. Smith,* bap. Aug. 23, 1794, m. Maria Shelton ; resides in 
Burlington, Conn. Ch., William, d. aged 21 ; Lockwood, Mariette, 
d. young ; Smith and Theron. 

65 V. Newton,* m. Eliza Wilcoxson. Ch., Charlotte, m. Charles 
Munson ; Mary Jane and Nancy B. 

66 VI. Johnson,* bap. Feb. 27, 1797, m. Esther Hinman, had one 
ch. Jennette. 



1 Mr. Judson is a descendant of William Judson, who came from England in 1634. 
He has in his possession a Bible 250 years old, which has descended tohira as an heir- 
loom. This Bible -was printed in London by Christopher Barkers, deputy for the 
Queen. 



niSTORT OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



727 



67 VII. Polly Ann/ m. William Guthrie, Aug. 25, 1842. 

68 VIII. HaiTiet,= m. William Sanford, May 24, 1822. They 
had one ch. Martha T., who d. April 30, 1852, aged 19. 

69 IX. Nathan,^ d. young. 

70 X. Jennette,^ d. aged 9. 

Noah^ (53) had children, 

71 I. Ilarley,^ b. Jan. 13, 1795. 

72 11. Lydia,* b. July 12, 1798. 

73 III. Roxa,^ b. April 2 G, 1801. 

William^ (59) m. Mary Sanford. Ch., I. William R., b. 1808, m. 
Sarah E. Tuttle, ch., William G., Altha and Marvin E. II. John, 

m. Abigail ToUes ; i-esides in Ohio. III. Philo, ra. 1. Stone; 

m. 2. Martha Morriss. Ch., Mary H., John E., Emily J. and Mar- 
vin E. IV. Marinda, m. Burr Keeler. V. Albert, m. Harriet Sax- 
ton. Ch. Nathan A. VI. Charity, m. William Culver. VII. Na- 
than, resides in Ohio. VIII. Burritt, resides in Plymouth, Conn. 
IX. Marvin, m. Caroline Hubbell. X. Emery. 



THOMPSON FAMILY 




==2 A p=J ♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦< 




Or, on a fesse dancettce^az. three estoiles ar. on a canton of the 
second, the sun in glory ppr. Crest, an arm erect, vested gu. cuff 
ar. holding in the hand ppr. five ears of wheat or. Motto — In lu- 
mine luce. 

" There are few names more common among the early settlers of 



728 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBITRY. 

!Jsew England, than that of Thompson, most of whom came from 
London and Hertfordshire, and were probably related to each other. 
Of these, the principal individuals connected with the New England 
settlements were, David Thompson, who emigrated to Portsmouth, 
X. H., in 1622, where he established fisheries, and in 1623, removed 
to an island in Boston harbor, which still bears his name ; James 
Thompson, who was one of the first settlers of "Woburn, Mass., in 
1634; Major Robert Thompson, who resided in Boston in 1639, 
and was a man of wealth and respectability ; Maurice Thompson, a 
merchant of London, governor of the East India Co., who established 
fisheries at Cape Ann in 1639 ; Rev. William Thompson, who came 
to York in Maine, 1637, and Anthony Thompson, of New Haven, 
Conn."' 

Anthony Thompson, with his wife, two children, and two brothers, 
John and "William, embarked at London, on board the ship Hector 

and ship in company with Governor Eaton, Rev. Mr. Davenport, 

and others of Coventry, Eng., and arrived at Boston, June 26, 1637, 
according to Winthrop's Journal," though Cotton Mather says it was 
on the 23d of July in that year. They were dissenters from the 
Church of England, and left home to enjoy quietly here the principles 
of their faith, as well as to avoid the constant persecutions, taxes and 
exactions, which were so frequent during the reign of Charles the 
First. Li the spring of 1638, Messrs. Davenport and Eaton made 
diligent search for a desirable location for the settlement of their 
colony ; and, being perhaps the most energetic and wealthy party, 
which, up to that period, had emigrated to these shores, several towns 
made them tempting offers to join them. But as no site appeared to 
hold out as many advantages as Quinnipiac, or New Haven, they final- 
ly concluded to make that place their permanent abode. Anthony 
Thompson^ signed the colony constitution of June 4, 1639. As the 
Thompson brothers had probably been more or less connected with 
agriculture at home, we find they soon secured lands here. John 
lived at East Haven, and died Dec. 11, 1674. It is asserted, that 
the farm, which he occupied is now in the possession of some of his 
descendants. "William and Anthony resided at New Haven during 



1 Thompson's History of Long Island. 

2 Winthrop's exact words are:—" 26: 4: 1637. There arrived two ships from Lon- 
don, the Hector and the . In these came ilr. Davenport and another minister 

and Mr. Eaton and Mr. Hopkins, two merchants of London, men of fair estates and 
of great esteem for religion and wisdom in outward affairs. 

" In the Hector came also the Lord Ley," &c. 



HISTORY Ol<' ANCIENT WOODBUKY. 729 

their lives, and died there. Anthony died March 23, 1647, at which 
time he made a nuncupative will in presence of Rev. John Daven- 
port, and Robert Newman, who afterward committed his instructions 
to writing, and appeared before the proper officer to prove it, May 
27, 1650. He bequeathed the lands, which were set oft' to him origi- 
nally, and the house whicli he had erected thereon, to his son (2) 
John f other lands since purchased, to Anthony ; a certain sum to 
Bridget, (a daughter of his first wife,) provided she married in ac- 
cordance with the wishes of the deacons of the church ; and tlie re- 
mainder to his second wife, Catherine, and to his three daughters by 
hei', her share to continue during her widowhood. But as it appears 
she married Nicholas Camp, July 14, 1652, the pro})erty probably 
reverted to the family. Anthony, Jr., made his will while on a visit 
at Milford, on the 2Gth, and died on the 29th of Dec, 1G54, giving 
most of his property to his brother, John. William, who was prob- 
ably a bachelor, made his will Oct. G, 1G82, and died the same year. 
He bequeathed all his property to his relatives, particularly mention- 
ing his nephew John. (2) John- seems to have been a sea-captain. 
He had three children, mentioned on the records of the town, viz., 
(3) Mary,^ b. Sept. !), 1GG7 ; (4) Samuel,= b. May 12, lG69,and (5) 
Sarah,^ b. Jan. 16, 1G71 ; but he probably had two or three previous- 
ly, whose names they neglected to register. John died June 2, 1707, 
and ari inventoiy of his estate is on record. His son SaraueP was 
m. Nov. 14, 1695, to Rebecca Bishop, dau. of the Lieut. Governor. 
They lived at the Beaver Ponds, now called Westville, about two 
miles from New Haven. He was captain of the military company, 
in New Haven. He must have been a healthy, athletic man, as his 
grandson Hezekiah used to relate, that he rode behind him on horse- 
back from New Haven to Goshen, a distance of about 50 miles, 
when he was in his 82nd year, at wJiieli latter place he afterward 
died. Children. 

6 I. Samuel,' b. Dec. 2, 1696. 

,3^ n, James,^ b. June 5, 1699. 

8 HI. Amos,^ b. March 3, 1702. 

IV. Gideon,^ b. Dec. 25, 1704. ' 

10 V. Rebecca,^ b. Feb. 23, 1708. 

11 VI. Judah,^ b. June 10, l7n ; d. Aug. 1, 1712. 

12 VII. Judah,^ b. Oct. 5, 1713. 

13 VIII. Enos,' b. Aug. 18, 1717. 

This family lived to an advanced age. Some of them settled in 
Amenia, Dutchess co., N. Y., and others in Goshen, Conn. Smith 
56 



730 HIBTORT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Thompson, judge of the supreme court of the United States, and 
subsequently secretary of the navy, descended from the Amenia 
branch of the family. Enos Thompson Throop, grandson of Enos 
Thompson, was charge to Naples, and governor of the state of New 
York. 

James" (7) m. Hannah TVilmot, May 30, 1723, and lived nearly 
opposite the stone house subsequently built by his grandson Elijah, 
in Westville, Conn. His death, which occurred in 1737, was caused 
by a fall from a cherry tree. He had previously made a will, be- 
queathing his property to his wife during her life, and directing it to 
be divided, at her death, into nine parts, giving to each of his sons a 
double share. Ch., 

14 I. James,*^ b. in 1725, and lived ninety-three years. 
It II. Ilezekiah,* b. in 1735. 

16 III. Mary.^ 

17 IV. Hannah,^ m. Baldwin. 

18 V. Mabel,' m. Bradley. 

19 VI. Amy.^ 

20 YII. Eachel,^ d. in infancy. 

21 VIII. Rachel.' 

Hezekiah,' Esq., (15) was b. in New Haven in 1735. His father 
d. when he was about two years of age, and he resided for some years 
with his grandfather, Samuel Thompson. The records at New Ha- 
ven show that in 1749, when he was fourteen years of age, Enos 
Tliompson, his uncle, was appointed his guardian, and gave a bond 
for £500 sterling, as security for the execution of the trust, and the 
preservation of the property. It would seem that his uncle shortly 
afterward bound him out to learn the trade of a saddler. Whether 
this was done contrary to the will, or in accordance with the wishes 
of his nephew, tradition does not inform us ; but it appears that soon 
after arriving at manhood, when he could control his actions, having 
a taste for reading, which he had for some years gratified, whenever 
he had a leisure hour, his ambition now led him to higher pursuits. 
He studied law under the direction of Col. Walker, of Stratford, and 
soon commenced the practice of his profession at Woodbury, although 
he passed a portion of the year 1757, in the army, as paymaster to a 
regiment, and went to the relief of Fort William Heniy, near Lake 
George, during the French War. In 1760, ho built a large house in 
the south part of the village of Woodbury, which is still in the pos- 
session of one of his descendants, a cut of which appears on the oppo- 
site page. 




= 'f^nTOft 1 



THE OLD MANSION OF HEZEEIAH THOMPSON, Esq. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODKURT. 731 

He was the first person who practiced the profession of law, ex- 
clusively, within the present limits of Woodbury. He was appointed 
a justice of the peace soon after commencing practice. He stood 
well as a lawyer and a magistrate. His integrity and nice discrimi- 
nation were so well established, that questions of difference were often 
brought before him by litigating parties, and left at once to his decision- 
He was a man of stern, though facetious character, and exercised a 
strong influence over his fellow-men. His wit was of the keenest 
quality, his humor universal ; yet he ever maintained his personal 
dignity inviolate, and was, in the best sense of tlie term, " a gentle- 
man of the old school." His sayings and jocose remarks, which 
were never calculated to injure the feelings of others, are to this day 
remembered and repeated by the inhabitants of the town. As would 
be expected of such a man, he set the highest estimate on a thorough 
education ; and although his own was neglected in early life, yet he 
had the satisfaction of seeing three of his sons in possession of a col- 
legiate education. 

He represented the town of Woodbury in the General Assembly, 
May and October, 1782 ; May, 1784 ; October, 1784 ; October, 1788, 
and October, 1789- In all the varied affairs and offices of the town 
he acted a conspicuous part, proving himself in all positions an up- 
right and useful citizen. In addition to these labors, he occupied 
the time which was allowed him from professional pursuits, in over- 
seeing and cultivating a hatidsome landed property, of which he was 
the owner. 

A few years before his death, he had a paralytic shock, from which 
he partially recovered ; but two years subsequently he suffei'ed anoth- 
er attack, from the effects of which he died in March, 1803. During 
his illness, a quality of his personal character was conspicuous. His 
disease had disabled his right arm, with nearly all the muscles of 
his right cheek. The consequence was, that he could neither con- 
verse, nor take food with looks and gestures, such as comported with 
his ideas of propriety. He therefore never ate before strangers, and 
often wept in solitude over the departure of that dignified self-com- 
posure, which had been one of the ornaments of the man. He was 
buried in the rear of the Episcopal church, in the " old burial-ground," 
where a square, pyramidal stone has been erected, to mark the ]ilace 
where his ashes repose. He m. Rebecca, dau. of Isaac Judson, Oct. 
1, 1761. Ch., 

li I. William Abdial,« b. June 15, 17G2 ; d. Dec. 9, 1847. 

23 XL PoUy,« b. Feb. 15, 1764; d. Aug., 1824; m. 1. Doct. 



732 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

Charles A. Hall, in 17 80. Ch. by tliis marriage, 1. Maria, b. at New 
Haven, in 1784, m, George "Washington AYillis, of Kewark, N. J., 
who d. in the 37th year of his age. She d. in Mareh, 1849, aged 62. 
They had three sons and three daughters. 2. Jason James, b. in New 
Haven about 1785, d. in New York, 180G ; 3. and 4. Carlos and 
Fanny, d. in infancy ; 5. Sophia, b. Aug., 1791, m. John R. Lay- 
crafts, of the U. S. navy, in 1809. He d. Aug., 1819, and she d. 
Oct. 11, 1842 — no issue. 6. Carlos, who d. in infancy. Doct. Hall 
d. of consumption about 1795, and his widow, Polly, m. 2. Lazarus 
Beach, Aug. 19, 1797, at Bridgeport, Conn., where they afterward 
resided. They had ch., 1. a son, still-born, Nov. 29, 1798 ; 2. Fan- 
nie, b. March 30, 1800, m. James Ladd, of Devonshire, England, Avho 
d. April 13, 1852. They had six sons and seven daus. 3. Caroline, 
b. Dec. 20, 1801, ni. Augustin Averill, of New York, June, 1825. 
She d. April 9, 1837. He afterward m. Margaret Fraser, who was 
also a grand-daughter of Ilezekiah Thompson, Esq. For his ch., 
see " Averill Family." 4. Catherine, b. in New York, Oct. 12, 1805, 
ra. Thomas S. IJnderhill, April 21, 1825. He d. Feb. 17, 1852. 
They had three sons and three daughters. Of the descendants of 
Doct. Hall and Polly Thompson, but three grandchildren are left. 
Of her descendants by Lazarus Beach, two daughters and ten grand- 
children are left: two of Caroline, five of Fanny, and three of Cath- 
arine. Said Beach was b. Dec. 1, 1760, in Redding, Conn.; d. in 
New York, June 28, 1816. * 

^i HI. James," b. March 4, 1767 ; d. 1844. 

i IV. Samuel,* b. Nov. 15, 1770 ; d. 1800. 

26 V. Hannah," b. Nov. 5, 1772 ; d. 1808 ; m. Rev. Tillotson 
Bronson, D. D., of Cheshire, Nov. 9, 1797. Had four ch., Rebecca, 
Lavina, Isaac and Charles. 

27 VI. Rebecca," b. Jan. 23, 1775 ; m. Daniel Bacon, Esq. For 
further particulars, see " Bacon Family." 

28 VIJ. Amy," b. Feb. 3, 1777; d. Jan., 1849 ; m. Mr. Simon 
Fraser in 1808. Resided in Woodbury (where all her children were 
born) till 1838, when she removed to New York. Simon Fraser 
was born at Quebec in 17.85. His father, Hugh Fraser, Esq., a na- 
tive of Inverness, Scotland, emigrated to and settled at Quebec. He 
was an extensive shipping merchant there, and carried on business 
with the merchants of England. He m. the daughter of Robert 
Jackson, a British officer, who was serving under Gen. Wolfe at the 
time he fell. Hugh Fraser d. in 1828, aged 82. Simon, husband of 
Amy, above-mentioned, was lost at sea in the fall of 1812, on a voy- 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 733 

age from New York to Wilmington, N. C, on the coast of the latter 
state, where he was going to establish business. They , had eh., I. 
Alexander, b. Feb. 17, 1809 ; settled in business as a merchant in 
New York, in 1823 ; m. Sarah, dau. of Joseph "Watkins, Esq., in 
1837, and has had five .ch.: 1. Watkins Alexander, b. Jan. 16, 1838, 
d. March 6, 1843 ; 2. Frederick Thompson, b. Dec. 2, 1839, d. Jan. 
31, 1843 ; 3. Edward Clarence, b. Jan. 3, 1841 ; 4. Sarah Elizabeth, 
b. Aug. 10, 1844, d. May 2, 1846; 5. Alexander Watkins, b. Feb. 
15, 1846. II. William Augustus, b. Sept. 21, 1810, studied law, and 
settled in that proiess'ion in Illinois, where he m. and has two children, 
William and Amy. III. Margaret, b. Sept. 21, 1812 ; m. Augustin 
Averill, Esq., a merchant of New York city, and has ch., 1. Mary 
Frances, b. Oct. 24, 1840 ; 2. Margaret Eraser, b. May 10, 1843; 
8. Louisa Edeiston, b. Nov. 22, 1844; 4. Augustin, b. Feb. 24, 
1852. 
f, VIII. Charles,« b. Feb. 18, 1780, d.Dec. 9, 1817. 

Hon. William AbdieP (22) graduated at Yale College, in 
1782, and after studying law with Gov. Griswold, he settled at Green- 
wich, Conn., where he married in succession two daughters of Israel 
Knapp, viz., Frances, July 17, 1785, and Amy, Sept. 7, 1791. The 
former was born Feb. 25, 1769, died June 11, 1788, and the latter 
was born Nov. 17, 1771, and died Aug. 15, 1807. As the laws of 
Connecticut did not, at that time, allow a man to mai'ry his wife's sis- 
ter, he was obliged to change his residence, and consequently settled 
in the city of New York, where he was employed in a large and lucra- 
tive practice, for many years. In 1795, he purchased several thou- 
sand acres of land in Sullivan county, N. Y., removed to what is now 
called Thompsonville, and erected, at the junction of two stx-eams of 
water, a fine and spacious house. The county seat, in 1802, was 
named Thompson, in compliment to him. He was appointed first 
judge of the court of the counties of Ulster and Sullivan, which situ- 
ation he held many years, until his age by law disqualified him. He 
married here a third wife, Mrs. Charity Reed, March 3, 1809. She 
was born in 1789. By his three wives he had a numerous family. 
In 1811, he made a voyage to Europe, which was a far more rare 
occurrence at that date than at the pi-esent time. He spent a year in 
France and England, (the history of which to him was always a 
favorite study,) and often passed a leisure hour in recounting- the 
attentions he received, and the scenes he witnessed durin"- his ab- 
sence. He was a man of decidedly good literary taste, and frequent- 
ly wrote scientific articles for the periodicals of the day. One of 



734 HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

these attracted the notice of the Geological Society and the Royal 
Institute of France. He was elected an honorary member of that 
body in 1833. A few years before his death, Dec. 9, 1847, he fell 
from his horse, and partially paralyzed his right side ; children, 

30 I. Charles Knapp," b. May 12, 1786, d. March 8, 1814. 

31 II. William Augustus,'^ b. Dec. 11, 1788, m. Maria, daughter 
of John Holdron, Esq. 

32 III. Adeline Augusta," b. Sept. 28, 1793, m. Joseph M. Palm- 
er, Esq. 

38 IV. Julia Margi-etta,'' b. June 11, 1795, m. Doct. Eoyce, died 
March 1, 1829. 

34 V. Louisa,'' b. Jan. 16, 1798, d. Oct. 20, 1807. 

35 VI. Cornelia Ann,'' b. Jan. 4, 1801, m. Jonathan Stratton. 

36 VII. Caroline Rebecca,^ b. Jan. 28, 1802, m. Raymond, 

Esq. 

37 VIII. Harriet Frances,'' b. Feb. 11, 1804, m. Burr Bronson. 

38 IX. James Knapp,'' b. May 26, 1806, m. Adeline Cohen. 

39 X. Francis William,^ b. Dec. 25, 1809, m. Mary Frances 
Wood, of Kentucky. 

40 XI. Helen Maria,'' b. July 15, 1811, m. Edward Gale. 

41 XII. Louisa Elizabeth,'' b. Feb. 23, 1813. 

42 Xin. Samuel Guire," b. Sept. 14, 1814, m. Jane Hill. 

43 XIV. Maria Antoinette,'' b. Jan. 17, 1816, m. Rev. Mr. Louns- 
bury. 

44 XV. Ann Augusta,^ b. March 29, 1821, d. 1839. 

45 XVI. Catherine Elizabeth,'' b. Oct. 28, 1823, d. Oct., 1826. 

Rev. James" (24) b. March 4, 1767, graduated at Yale Col- 
lege, in 1789, studied law, and settled in the practice of his profession 
at New Durham, N. Y. When he was 35 years of age, he experi- 
enced a change in his religious opinions, and was induced to take 
orders in the Episcopal church. Though he owned two large farms 
within three or four miles of his residence, which required liis daily 
oversight, he still found leisure to write one or two sermons weekly, 
and preached nearly every Sabbath for about forty years. He was 
an eminently pious and pure clergyman. He died at Durham, Aug. 
18, 1844. He m, Anna, dau. of Capt. Elijah Humphreys, of Derby, 
Conn., Oct. 22, 1798. Children, 

46 I. Anna,^ b. Aug. 16, 1800, d. Oct. 21, 1801. 

47 II. Caroline," b. Feb. 18, 1802, m. John Young, April 27, 1825. 

48 III. James Mansfield,'' b. July 13, 1803, d. in New York, Aug. 
21, 1822, of yellow fever. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 735 

49 IV. Elijah Humphreys^ b. Nov. 17, 1804, d. Aug. 10, 1811. 

50 V. Hezekiali,^ b. Aug. 22, 1808. 

51 VI. Sarah Ann,' b. Nov. 21, 1813, m. Capt. Edward B. Crafts, 
of Derby, Oct. 15, 1845. 

52 VII. Betsey Vose,'' b. Aug. 19, 1816, m. Edward Hand, of 
Durham, April, 1837. 

Doct. Samuel,'' (25) b. in 1770, graduated at Yale College, in 
1790, studied medicine, and practiced the profession for a time at 
New Milford. He is said to have possessed talents of the first order, 
and would undoubtedly have become a distinguished man, had he not 
been disappointed in an affair of the heart, which brought on intem- 
perance, and seriously clouded his prospects. With a view of chang- 
ing his associates, as well as his habits, he concluded to seek his for- 
tune in a foreign clime, and in 1800 he sailed for the island of St. 
Thomas, West Indies, where he shortly after died of the yellow fever. 

Charles, Esq.,'' (29) was b. Feb. 18, 1780. As he was the 
youngest son, his father intended that he should remain with him, 
follow agricultural pursuits, and inherit the homestead and the farm 
connected with it ; but when he was about fifteen years of age, cir- 
cumstances led him to make a visit to New York, where his brother 
(William A.) was engaged in an extensive law business. Observing 
the facility with which money was made there, and being delighted 
and amused with the novelties of the city, he concluded to change 
the course which his father had marked out for him, and immediately 
turned his attention to the study of the classics. When he was be- 
tween 17 and 18 years of age, we find him in the law ofiice of Noah 
B. Benedict, Esq. He concluded his studies at the celebrated law 
school of Judge Reeve, at Litchfield. At the age of twenty-one he 
received a license to pi-actice law, in the state of New York, and 
commenced his career at Spencertown, Columbia county, where he 
formed a partnership with Gov. Van Ness, who was subsequently 
minister to Spain. He soon became a warm admirer of Mr. Jeffer- 
son's administration, and ever after espoused the principles of the 
democratic party. Nov. 1, 1801, he m. Elizabeth, only daughter of 
Rev. Justus Mitchell, of New Canaan, Conn. In 1806, he removed 
to Mount Pleasant, Westchester county, N. Y. Hei-e he purchased >( 
the Durell property, where he lived ten years, in the enjoyment of a 
large and profitable business. At the expiration of this period, he 
bought the residence of S. F. Jones, of Monticello, and many hundred 
acres of land in Sullivan county, with a view of erecting mills and 
other improvements upon them. When the first mill was completed, 



736 HISTORY or ancient woodburt. 

he rode out to the place, caught cold, a fever followed, when erysip- 
elas on the brain attacked him, and after a fortnight's illness he died 
Dec. 9, 1817. His stature was about five feet ten inches. He was 
well proportioned, having the usual characteristics of the Thomp- 
sons, dark hair and a light, llorid complexion. He was a generous 
man, of popular manners, and having a fine voice and excellent mem- 
ory, he Avas enabled to occupy a very respectable position in his pro- 
fession. His wife, Elizabeth Mitchell, was born Aug. 28, 1780, and 
died at White Plains, N. Y., June 10, 1825. Child, 

51 I. Charles Chauncey, Esq.,'' b. Feb. 6, 1803. He was a mer- 
chant in the city of New Yoi'k, for more than twenty years. In 
1845, he retired from commercial pursuits, with an ample fortune, 
and, having a predilection for the fine arts, antiquarian researches, 
and subjects of a like nature, he has indulged his taste for several 
years in traveling through most of the counti-ies of Europe, as well 
as in the East. 

He married Lydia, daughter of Daniel Bacon, Esq., of Woodbury, 
Oct. 11, 1826. She was born April 27, 1805, and died Dec. 2, 1840. 
Her worth is recorded in the following epitaph engraved on her 
monument in Woodbury : 

" Here lies deposited the remains of Lydia, wife of Charles C. 
Thompson, and daughter of the late Daniel Bacon, Esq., who died at 
her residence in the city of New York, Dec. 2, 1840, aged 35 years. 

" She was formed by nature to conciliate and please, while her 
good sense, amiable disposition, and unexceptionable deportment, 
secured her the esteem and love of all, who had a knowledge, of her 
spotless character. In each of her varied relations of wife, mother, 
daughtei*, sister and friend, she has not left a more faultless example 
behind her ; and the recollection of her many virtues should not fade, 
till memory loses its power, or affection ceases to be a feeling of the 
human heart. 

" 'Tis ever thus, 'tis ever thus, with all that's best below ; 
The dearest, noblest, loveliest, are always first to go. 
A little while they dwell with us, blest ministers of love ! 
Then spread the wings we liad not seen, and seek their home above," 
Children, 

52 I. Charles B.,« b. Sept. 30, 1827; d. June 11, 1829. 

53 11. Rebecca B.,** b. March 30, 1830, m. Charles D.Matthews, 
a merchant of New York city, Jan. 31, 1849, and has a dau., Lydia, 
b. Nov. 20, 1850. 

54 IIL Chauncey Minot,« b. March 29, 1833. 

55 IV. Charles Edward,** b. Nov. 21, 1834; d. Jan. 31, 1836. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT 



737 



56 V. Frederick Augustus,'' b. Jan. 26, 1839; d. March 26, 1841. 

There have been other individuals of the name of Thompson re- 
siding in tlie '' ancient territory," whose relationship with the fore- 
going can not now be traced. 

Ambrose Thompson, ch., John, bap. Oct., 1680; Ambrose, bap. 
Sept., 1G86; Sarah, bap. same date. 

Doct. Ebenezer Thompson, of Bethlehem society, m. Mary Judd, 
Oct. 29, 1742. He d. June 11, 17.50; his wid. d. in 17.o2. He is 
the ancestor o!" the Thompson families now-residing in the east part 
of Bethlera. Ch., Levi, b. Dec. 13, 1743, m. Rebecca Leavitt, in 
1772; Amos, bap. Oct. 1.3, 1745, d. May 8, 1750; Esther, b. Oct. 
14, 1747 ; Mary, b. April 28, 1750. 

Daniel Thompson d. in 1776, leaving brothers and sisters, James, 
Paul, George, Henry, Mary, w. of Thaddeus Minor ; Hannah, w. 
of Bradley, and Comfort, w. of Kasson. 



Henry m. Prudence 
Lucy, b. June 10, 1785. 



-, and had ch., Daniel, b. Jan. 12, 1783 ; 



TROWBRIDGE FAMILY 




1 The account of this family is reluctantly furnished by Philo M. Trowbridge, Esq., 
of this town, at my solicitation. lie has collected much information concerning the 
family, and has, at a late moment, hastily written the following sketch, containing 
only a. part of what he has in his possession. He is desirous that any person possess- 
ing information relating to the family, would communicate it to him at Woodbmy, 
Conn., with full dates of births, marriages, deaths, change of residence, &c., as he 
may at a future time present to the world an extended history of the name. 

57 



738 HISTORT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

" Or, over water, in base, en a bridge of three arches in fesse, 
embattled, a tower ppr., thei'eon hoisted a broad pendant, flying to- 
wards the sinister, a canton az. cliargcd with two keys in saltier, 
ward upward, gold. Crest — A dexter arm, embowed, habited az., 
holding a flag staff erect, thereon a broad pendant of the last 
charged with two keys, in saltier, as in the arms." 

The name of Trowbridge is of high antiquity in England, as per- 
sons bearing this name are found to have lived during the reign of 
William the Conquei'or. The fii'st of the name are found in Trow- 
bridge, a market town and parish in Wiltshire co., England, which 
town received its name from that of one of the family, being their 
residence for many centuries, and the property of one of the name 
in the reign of Edward I. The name of Trowbridge first appears in 
" Doomsday Book." Trowbridge formerly had a castle, but no 
traces of it now remain. It was besieged by Stephen about A. D. 
1135. 

A younger bi'auch of the Devonshire family of Trowbridge seems 
to have settled in Somersetshire, as early as 1541. They resided at 
Taunton in that county. From this branch sprang the Trowbridges 
of America. That the Taunton family /lesceuded from that of De- 
vonshire is sufliciently proved by their arms being precisely the same 
as those seen in the stained glass window in the chancel of St. James' 
Church, Devonshire. 

Thomas Trowbridge' the progenitor, probably, of all of the name in 
America, emigrated from Taunton, Somersetshire, England, to this 
country about 163G. lie brought with him two sons, viz., 2. Thomas,^ 
and 3. William,2 settled at Dorchester, Mass., where another son (4. 
Dea. James") was born in 1636. Thence he removed with his 
family in 1639, to New Haven, Conn., where he purchased lands, 
built houses, was a merchant, and after a few years, (in 1645,) return- 
ed to England, leaving his " Sons, Houses, Goods, Lots, estates and 
chattels in trust with his steward or servant, Henry Gibbons," but 
this man shamefully neglected them, and '^ a friend of Mr. Trow- 
bridge took these three sons to educate and bring up in the fear of 
the Lord, and when Mr. Trowbridge comes back, he will leave it 
with the court to determine what is equal for it." Mr. Trowbridge 
did not return, but Avrote often to his sons and the authorities of New 
Haven to bring Gibbons to account for his breach of trust. He ex- 
ecuted a power of attorney Jan. 19, 1662, to his sons " Thomas, Wil- 
liam and James, [the last being described of Dorchester, Mass,] to 
receive of all persons, Claims, Houses, &c., to bring to account and 
punish Gibbons." This instrument was brought to the governor and 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 739 

court, and proveJ. Gibbons was also brought before tliem, when 
" he said he had rendered the account as well as he could, but it was 
many years since." The secretary was ordered to examine records, 
^c. In a short time Gibbons died, but he made over by Avill to 
Thomas the eldest son, all his possessions. Mr. Trowbridge died at 
Taunton, England, about Feb. 7, 1672. His sons, as soon as they 
attained their majority, became men of influence and possessed large 
estates. 

Thomas," (2) the eldest son, remained at New Haven, was a mer- 
chant. He was b. in 1G32, m. Sarah, dau. of Mr. Henry Ruther- 
ford of New Haven, where many of his descendants are still found. 
He died in 1702, leaving a large estate. His son Thomas, b. in 1663, 
d. 1711, m. Mary, dau. of Mr. John Winston, and had Daniel, b. 1703 ; 
d. 1752. Graduated at Yale College, m. Mabel, dau. of Mr. Francis 
Brown, and had Rutherford, b. 1744; m. Dorcas Hitchcock, dau. of 
Mr. Amos Hitchcock, and had, Henry, b. July 30, 1781, m. Harriet, 
dau. of Ezekiel Hayes, and d. Oct. 7, 1849. lie was a shipping mer- 
chant, and founded the house of Henry Trowbi'idge and Sons. Since 
his decease, the business is continued by his sons, (Thomas R., Hen- 
ry, Ezekiel H. and Winston J.,) under the firm of Henry Trow- 
bridge's Sons. They are more extensively engaged in the West 
India trade than any other house in the state. Of these, three 
reside at New Haven. The last named, Winston J., resides at Bar- 
bade^. Thomas R. has made quite extensive researches for informa- 
tion referring to the family, both in this country and England, and 
has procured very many valuable facts during his investigation. 

Dea. James" (4) left New Haven and settled in Dorchester, Mass., 
about 1658. He removed thence to Newton, Avhere he died May 22, 
1717. In his will he speaks of his father-in-law, Maj. Humphrey 
Atherton, and refers to rights he (James) had in Dorchester by his 
father Thomas. The ch. of Dea. James, were, 

1. Elizabeth, b. Oct. 12, IGGO. 

2. Mindwell, b. June 20, 1GG2. 

3. John, b. May 22, 1664. 

4. Margaret, b. April 30, IGGO. 

5. Thankful, b. March 6, 1GG8. 

6. Mary, b. June 11, 1G70. 

7. Hannali, b. June 15, 1672. 

8. Experience, b. Nov. 1, 1675. 

9. Thomas, b. Dec. 9, 1677, was father of Judge Edmund, "of 
whom it has been asserted, that he was the most profound lawyer in 



740 HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBTTRT. 

New England prior to the Revolution.' He also was ancestor of Doct. 
Josiah Trowbridge of Buffalo, N. Y., of which city the latter has 
been mayor. 

10. Deliverance, b. Dec. 31, 1679. 

11. .James, b. Sept. 20, 1682. 

12. William, b. Nov. 19, 1684. He is the ancestor of Otis Trow- 
bridge, Esq., of Newton, Mass., who possesses much valuable infor- 
mation referring to this branch of the family. 

13. Abigail, b. April 11, 16S7. 

14. Rev. Caleb, b. Nov. 7, 1692, settled at Groton, Mass., and 
died Sept. 9, 1760. 

William^ (3) remained at New Haven, was a planter, afterward 
master and owner of a vessel trading to FayaL He is the ancestor 
of those of the name residing in Danbui*y and vicinity, and of 
those at Litchfield and "Ancient "Woodbury." His descendants 
also are found in many parts of the country. He m. 1. Mrs. or Miss 
Sullivant at Milford, June 9, 1656; m. 2. Elizabeth Lamberton, and 
d. in 1690. A grand-dau. of Mr. Trowbridge, m. Rev. Mr. Wood- 
bridge, who gave name to the present town of Woodbridge." 
'' 5 I. William,^' b. Sept. 12, 1G57. 

6 II. Thomas,-' b. Oct. 3, 1659. 

7 III. Elizabeth,^* b. May 5, 1601. " 



1 See Blake's Biographical Dictionary; also Farmer. ' 

2 'Cotton Mather in his Wagnalia, records the following interposition of Divine 
Peoviden'CE, which he says is "attested bc3-ond all contradiction." 

" The Dolphins and the Lord's day. 
"On the 16th of October in this present year, 1697, there arrived at New Haven, s 
Rloop of about 50 Tons, whereof Mr. William Trowbridge was master, the vessel be- 
longed unto New Haven, the persons on board were 7, and 17 long weeks had they 
now spent since they came from their Port, which was Fayal. By so unusual tedious 
a passage, a terable famine unavoidably came upon them, and for the five last weeks 
of their voyage, they were so destitute of all food, that through faintness they would 
have chosen death rather than life. But they were a praying and pious company, 
and when these poor men cried unto the Lord, he heard and saved them. God sent 
his Dolphins to attend them, and of these they catch'd still one every day which was 
enough to seiwc them, only Saturdays they still catch'd a couple, and on the Lord's 
Days they could catch none at all. With all possible skill and care, they could not 
supply themselves with the fish in any other number or order, and in deed with an 
Holy blush, at last they left oif trying to do any thing on the Lord's Days, when they 
were so well supplied on the Saturdays. Thus the Lord kept feeding a company 
who put their trust in him, as he did his Israel with his manna, and thus they contin- 
ued till the Dolphins came to that change of water where they used to leave the ves- 
sels, then they so strangely sun-ender'd themselves, that the company took 27 of them, 
which not only supplied them till they came ashore, but also some of them were 
brought ashore dry'd as a monument of the Divine benignity." 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 741 

8 IV. James,^' b. March 21, 1664. 

9 V. Margaret,^ b. June 1, 1006. 

10 VI. Hannah,^b. July 6, 1CG8. 

11 VII. Samuel,^ 12 VIII. AbigaiP, (twins,) b. Oct. 7, 1670. 
This Samuel was fathei" of the Samuel who d. in New Fairfield, 
Conn., Nov. 24, 1782, and was the progenitor of most of the name now 
residing at Danbury and Bethel.' The following was taken from 
Samuel Jr's family record, contained in his Bible, which is in posses- 
sion of his great-grandson, Samuel Trowbridge, Esq., of Hamburg, 
S. C. 

" Sixiniiel Trowbridge born was ho, 
In seventeen Hundred you may see. 
The month of August he was born, 
The six and tv/enticth in ye morn." 
" Samuel Trowbridge, Jan., born August ye 2o, 1700." 

13 IX. Mary,^b. Oct. 12, 1672. 
13| X. Joseph,^ b. 1G7G. 

James^ (3) m. 1. Nov. 8, 1688, Lydia Alsop; m. 2. Hester 
Howe, Sept. 9, 1691. He had a son, 

14. James,* b. Sept. 13, 1689, who d. in 1740, leaving a son, 

15. Samuel,' who chose Benjamin St. John of Norwalk for his 
guardian in 1640-1. This Samuel m. a dan. of Rev. John Eells, of 
New Canaan, Conn., and settled in Bedford, West Chester co., N. Y. 
Children, 

16 I. James," m. and had, 1. Samuel, resides at Sing Sing, has ch. 
2. John, had a family and d. in N. Y ; 3. George, d. unm. ; 4. Polly, 
m. Osser ; 5. Hannah ; 6. Betsey, m. Davis ; 7. Cathe- 
rine, m. McCord. 

" II. John," b. in 1752 ; came to Woodbury in 1778 or '9. 

18 III. Lydia," m. .Smith. Ch., 1. John; 2. Richard, had a 

grandson, Richard Trowbridge Smith, whose name was changed to 
Richard Smith Trowbridge, and resides in Philadelphia; 3. Anna, 

m, Potter; 4. Hannah, ra. 1. Penier, 2. Joseph Tuthill, 

and resides in Brooklyn, N. Y. 

19 IV. Samuel," m. Clarissa Reymond ; lived in Bedford. Ch., 
1. Stephen, in. and resides in Monticello, N. Y., has ch.; 2. James 
Harvey, m. Eiiza Canfield, is dec'd. Ch., Doct. Israel L., James H. 
and Elizabeth, all ra., reside in Bedford ; 8. Henry, m. Charlotte 
Purdy, resides in New York; 4. Jeremiah, m. Fountain, d. in 



1 A tradition exists in tliis branch of the family, that their ancestor came from 
Scotland. It is believed to be hlie most other traditions, without foundation. 



\~i^ f^ 



742 HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 

Bedford, left ch.; 5. Alexander, lives in Peekskill, has a family ; 6- 
Abigail, m. Walter Iveeler, Las four ch.; 7. Clarissa, m. Whedon 

Fowler, and has four ch.; 8. Edwin, m. IV^ead, has one ch.; 9. 

Anjaline, m. Williams, is dec'd ; 10. Samuel, m., has ch., re- 
sides in New Yoi'k. 

John^ (17) settled in the south part of Woodbury ; m. Esther, 
dau. of Preserved Strong, and grand-daughter of Rev. Anthony Stod- 
dard. He remained a few years in Woodbury proper, removed 
thence to Roxbury soc, in 1793. His wife, Esther, d. Sept. 13, 
1807, aged 45. He m. 2. Widow Elizabeth Logan, of Washington, 
July 2, 1811, and d. May 5, 1826. His widow, Elizabeth, d. in 
1848. Children, 

20 I. James,'' b. 1784 ; m. Sarah Wakeley, and was killed in- 
stantly by a fall, Oct. 9, 1838 ; no issue. His widow went to Mur- 
raysville, Ohio, and d. there June 9, 1840, aged 52. 
I II. Edmund," b. Dec. 4, 178G. 

22 III. Fanny ,^ b. 1790; m. in 1817, Rev. F. Harrison.^ Ch., 
1. Harriet C; 2. Fanny S., d. Oct. 2, 1831 ; 3. William R.,m. Mar. 
25, 184G, Susan L., dau, of Dea. Adam C. Kasson, and resides in 
Bethlem ; 4. E. Eliza, m. Theodore Bird ; 5. Caroline F., m. Sam- 
uel, brother of Theodore — sons of Dea. Joshua Bird, of Bethlem. 
f, IV. John,^ b. Nov., 1788. 

24 V. Anna,^b. in 1792; d. Sept. 20, 1810. 

25 VI. Mary,'' b. Nov. 14, 1796; m. Nov. 13, 181G, Samuel W. 
Baldwin.- Ch., Samuel T., b. April, 1821, m. Emeline L. Castle in 
1841 ; Charles, d. Oct. 4, 1830 ; Charles W., b. April, 1834. 

3^ VII. Charles Strong,'' b. in 1798. 

27 VIII. Caroline,' b. April, 1802; m. Dec, 1820, Harmon Bald- 
win, of Washington, brother of Samuel W., above ; has one child, 
George R. T., b. 1822 ; m. Sarah Smith, of Northfield, in 1848. 

Edmund^ (21) m. Esther L., dau. of Adna Mallory, May 4, 
1809. Ch., 

28 I. Philo Mallory," b. Aug. 4, 1810; m. Sept. 18, 1837, Sarah 
Earl, dau. of Lemuel Akin, dec'd, of Norfolk, Conn., she being great- 
grand-dau. of Henry Akin, who emigrate^, from Londonderry, Ire- 

, .^'^ ;', ..-.. ^/ U-x ^-L^ v\-v ^'i-^LKj;) 



Mr. Harrison m. 1. Betsey Bunnell, of North Branford, who d. SlSrch 31, 1816, aged ''-^ - 

34, leaving two daughters, Mary A. and Betsey B. Mary A. m. Rev. R. Manning ,. < ^ 

Chipman, now of Guilford, Conn. Betsey B. m. Robert Townsend, formerly of Mid- (-lifltv 

diebury, now of New Ilavcn. , . . . rJs 

2 He is son of Samuel, whose father, Enos Baldwin, came from Milford, Coun. ; set- -i '■'•■ 

tied on the hill west of the Shepaug River, near Ferry's bridge in Washington. • ■ 



■!-V 



t ~ 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 743 

land, in 1710 ; landed at Boston, Mass., where he m. Isabel, dau. of 
Rev. Mr. Holmes. He afterward located at Middletown, Conn., and 
d. there in old age. She is also fourth in descent from Sarah Earl, 
(from whom she received her name,) who m. David Johnson, in En- 
gland. Johnson and his wife came to this country, settled in Dur- 
ham, Conn., where she was shot by an Indian, while standing in the 
door of their dwelling, and immediately expired. 

29 II. Charles Samuel,« b. May 4, 1812 ; m. July 30, 1834, Ann 
Jennet, dau. of John Ilurlbut, of Woodbury, who d. Oct. 15, 1835, 
aged 23. He m. 2. Sept. o, 1836, Julia Ann, dan. of Dea. David 
Mills, of Auburn, N. Y., where he now resides. Ch., Hellen Mills, 
b. Jan. 27, 1840 ; Charles Augustus, b. Jan. 30, 1843 ; Julia Frances, 
Oct. 24, 1844 ; all three born in Tecumseh, Mich.; David Henry, b. 
at Auburn, Aug. 29, 1851. 

30 III. Fanny Caroline,^' b. June 18, 1817. 

31 IV. Francis Finch,« b. Aug. 14, 1830 ; d. Oct. 5, 1836. 

John" (23) m. Mahalah Thompson, and resides in Roxbury. 
Childi'en, 

32 I. Mary Ann,^ b. April 9, 1817; m. Enoch Ford; has five 
ch.; resides in Bi-idgewater. 

83 II. John,'' b. Dec. 25, 1819 ; m. in 1846, Louisa J. Treat, of 
Milford ; has one ch., Henry Treat, b. March 8, 1852. 

34 III. Eliza,** b. Feb. 5, 1823 ; m. Jay Gregory, and resides in 
Salem, Westchester co., N. Y. 

35 IV. George,^ b. Nov. 18, 1824. 

36 V. Caroline,'' b. Jan. 13, 1828 ; m. Samuel Thomas, of Rox- 
bury. 

37 VI. William," b. in 1830. 

Charles Strong'' (26) m. Eliza, dau. of David Clark, of New 
Milford. Ch., 

38 I. Charles Edwin,^ b. May 8, 1835. 

39 II. Mary Marinda," b. Nov. 20, 1836. 

40 III. Esther E.,'' b. Oct., 1838 ; d. July 5, 1842. 

41 IV. James E.,** b. Oct. 18, 1840; d. Feb. 15, 1841. 

42 V. Henry C.,« b. Dec. 14, 1841 ; d. 1852. 

43 VI. Job A.,« b. Aug. 14, 1843. 

44 VII. Esther E.," b. July 12, 1845. 

45 VIII. William F.," b. March 22, 1848. 

46 IX. Sarah H.,'' b. June 25, 1850 ; d. Oct. 6, 1851. 

47 X. Sarah,^ b. Feb. 10, 1853. 

Joseph Trowbridge, of West Haven — probable descendant of Wil- 



744 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

liam,^ (3) — settled in Southburj society, about 1740, m. Trial More- 
house, April 15, 1741. He had a sister Sally, "who m. David John- 
son, of Southbury, in 1755. Joseph, in his old age, resided with his 
eon, Doct. Joseph Trowbridge, of Danbury, where he died. His eh. 
were, 

1. Lieut. Elihu, a Revolutionary soldier, who d. unm. 

2. Lorana, m. David Woodin. 

3. Ruth, m. David Mullory, Sept. 3, 1778. 

4. Anna, m. Nov. 16, 1772, Joel Hicock, of Washington. 

5. Philoman, m. Eunice Hicock. 

6. Sarah, bap. Jan. 29, 1755, ra. Ephraim Stiles, May 7, 1780. 

7. Doct. Joseph, bap. Nov. 8, 17G1 ; removed to Danbury ; d. 
leaving daughters. 

Of the above, Philoman removed to Clinton, N. Y., with his fam- 
ily, where some of his descendants now reside. Ch., 

1. Elihu, bap. March 11, 1781 ; m. Lois Curtiss, Oct. 18, 1802. 

2. Sally, bap. March 11, 1781 ; d. young. 

3. EH, bap. Nov. 3, 1782 ; now living in Clinton, N. Y., and has 
a family. 

4. Pheba, bap. Jan. 28, 1784. 5. Cyrus. 6. Polly. 



WALKER FAMILY. 

Richard, John and Robert Walker, were admitted freemen in Bos- 
ton, in 1632. 

1. Robert Walker,' was born about 1606, and was living in Boston 
June 10, 1684. He had six sons, as follows : 

^ L Zechariah,^ b. in Boston, 1637v 

3 IL John,=^ " " 1639; d. there June 6, 1663. 

,^0 III. Jacob,^' 

5 IV. Joseph,^' " " 164G; d. in 1655. 

6 V. Eliakim,^ « " 1652. 
,; VI. Joseph,^ " 

Rev. Zechariah^ (2) m. Susannah , who d. April 26, 1710. 

He was a Presbyterian clergyman at Jamaica, L. I., from 1663 to 
1668 ; was ordained pastor over the second church in Stratford, May 
5,1670; removed his family to Woodbury, June 27, 1678. He d. 
Jan. 20, 1699-1700. Ch. 

i\ I. Zechariah,^ bap. May 22, 1670 ; settled in Woodbury. 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY, 745 

9 11. Abigail/' bap. May 22, 1670. 

10 III. Elizabeth,^ b. March 1, 1674-5. 

Jacob* (4) m. Widow Elizabeth Blackman, Dec. 6, 1670, and 
settled at Stratford. Ch., 

11 I. SamueV b. Nov. 7, 1671. 

12 II. Moses,='bap. Dec, 1673. 

13 III. John," b. Oct. 29, 1 674 ; m. Tabitha Wooster, Oct. 15, 
1705. 

14 IV. EHzabeth,'' bap. July, 167G. 

15 V. Mary ,3 b. Jan. 1, 1678-9. 

16 VI. Mercy," b. March 11, 1681. 

Joseph- (7) settled at Stratford ; m. Abigail . Ch., 

17 I. Robertj^* bap. May 22, 1670 ; m. Ruth Wilcockson, Aug. 1, 
1695. 

18 II. Sarah,^ bap. May 22, 1670. 

19 III. Abigail, Feb., 1671-2. 

Dea. Zechariah" (8) m. Elizabeth, dau. of Dea. Samuel Bull. 
He d. Dec. 21, 1753. She d. Dec. 19, 1749. Ch., 

20 I. Mary,^ bap. Jan., 1689 ; m. Lieut. Joseph Judson, Feb. 13, 
1706-7. 

21 II. Abigail,' bap. Sept., 1691; m. Valentine Prentice. 
li III. Timothy,-* bap. June, 1693. 

f^ IV. Josiah,^ bap. Sept., 1694. 

24 V. Joseph,'' d. unm. in 1727. (See Probate Rec.) 

25 VI. Zechariah;' b. May 14, 1702; m. Margaret . She 

d. June 16, 1782 ; had one ch., Joseph, who d. num. 

^.,. ~l VII. Peter," b. Oct. 24, 1706. 

27 VIII. Elizabeth,' b. Dec. 16, 1708; m. Caleb Martin, June 
26, 1729. 

28 IX. Gideon,' b. Dec. 16,1711 ; m. Mary Munn, Nov. 6, 1735, 
who d. April 6, 1793. He d. April 30, 1781 ; had no ch., but adopt- 
ed the following : I. Esther,^ m. Zimri Moody. II. Zechariah.^ 

Capt. Timothy" (22) m. Sarah ; d. June 15, 1786. Ch., 

29 I. Elisha,-^ b. Feb. 7, 1724; m. Isabel Ward, Nov. 2, 1752; 
she d. Aug. 11, 1790. Ch., I. Anna," b. Aug. 25, 1753. II. Eliza- 
beth," bap. July 9, 1758. III. Elisha," bap. Dec. 16, 1764. 

30 II. Sarah,' bap. Nov. 7, 1725. 

31 III. Elizabeth,^ b. Sept., 1728. 
I] IV. Joseph,' b. Feb. 13, 1731. 

33 V. Timothy,' b. Dec. 14, 1732. 
58 



746 HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBTTRT. 

34 VI. Samuel/' bap. April 11, 1736 ; had a son Asa, who d. ia 
1759. 
^ 35 VII. Gideonj-^ b. April 27, 1739. 

36 VIII. IMarj,^ bap. Aug. 23, 1741. 

37 IX. Abigail,^ bap. April 26, 1747. 

Josiah-» (23) in. Dec. 24, 1719, Phebe Hurlbut, and removed 
to Litchfield. Cli., 

38 I. David/ b. Sept. 18, 1720. 

39 II. Josiah.5 

40 III. Lucy.-^ 

41 IV. Phebe/ b. Sept. 19, 1728; m. Daniel Beers, Aug. 9, 
1750. 

42 V. Zecheriah.s 

43 VI. Susannah,* m. Abner Mallory. 

Peter^ (26) m. 1. Mary , who died April 4, 1740 ; m. 2. 

Rhoda Sherman, Nov. 13, 1740. He died in 1788. Ch., 

44 I. Elizabeth/ b. April 28, 1734, m. David Minor. 

45 II. John/ b. Dec. 13, 1735, d. May, 1760. 

46 III. Joanna/ b. Sept. 25, 1737, m. 1. Richard Peet; m. 2. 

Wilmot ; m. 3. Jehiel Preston. 

47 IV. Peter/ bap. May 21, 1739. 

48 V. Mary/ b. March, 1740, d. April 3, 1740. 

49 VI. Mary/ b. Oct. 23, 1741, m. Jonathan Stoughton, Nov. 12, 
1761. 

50 VII. Kezia/ bap. Dec. 11, 1743, m. 1. Hungerford; m. 

2. Sheldon Clark. 

51 Vin. Peter/ bap. Oct. 27, 1745, d. Oct. 6, 1749. 

52 IX. Rhoda/ bap. Feb. 14, 1748. 

14 VRhoda/ } *^^^"^' ^- ^^^y 1^' 1 ' ^^- m. Jeremiah Burton. 

^ XII. Samuel/ bap. April 1, 1753. 

56 XIII. Susanna,* bap. July 27, 1755, m. Jacob Linley. 
Joseph* (32) had the following children : 

I. Joseph/ bap. Nov. 11, 1753. II. Simeon/ bap. Jan. 11, 1756. 
in. Caleb/ bap. March 8, 1759. IV. Phebe," bap. Nov. 4, 1764. 
V. Caleb/ bap. March 30, 1766. VI. Mary,« bap. June 4, 1769. 
VII. Timothy/ bap. Jan. 6, 1773. VIII. Reuben/ b. 1777, m. Ar- 
milla, daughter of Dea. Matthew Minor, and died Oct. 20, 1851, aged 
74; children, Theodore AY., Joseph F., Augusta, m. John Bacon, 
John, went south, Nathaniel, resides in Oxford, and others. IX. 
Elizabeth, bap. Dec. 14, 1780. 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 747 

Peter^ (53) m. Annis Minor; children, I. Electa, m. Jonathan 
Spicer. II. Rhoda, m. John Root. III. Betsey, m, Elijah Judson. 
IV. Keziah, m. Asa Judson, Dec. 6, 1820. V. Caroline, m. Gould 

Camp. VI. Olive, m. Pine, from the state of N. Y. VII. 

Guy, m. Oct. 16, 1811, Nancy Lum, had one child, Harriet, who ni. 
Loren Forbes, has children, Mary W. and William. VIII. Annis, 
m. Jonathan Baker. IX. Laura, m. Asalicd Ilurd. X. Rebecca, 
m. Asahel Hurd. 

SamueP (55) m. Abia Judson, removed to Manchester, Vermont ; 
children, I. Mary, m. Nathan "Warner. II. Laura, m. Walter Jen- 
nings. III. John, m. Anna Roberts. IV. Horatio, in. Rhoda Pur- 
dy, resides in Vt. V. Sally, in. Jabez Havvley. VI. Catherine, m. 
Cyrus Munson. VII. Hiram, m. Lucy Harris. 



WHEELER FAMILY. 

Farmer informs us that thirty distinct families of the name of 
Wheeler resided at Concord, Mass., between 1650 and 1680. John, 
of Concord, went to Fairfield, Conn., in 1644. 1. John,' of Strat- 
ford, probably a son of John, of Fairtield, was a signer of the funda- 
mental articles for the settlement of Woodbury, removed early to the 
latter place, and d. May 12, 1704. His children by his wife Ruth, 
are found to have been, 

2 I. Sarah,- b. Feb. 24, 1663-4. 

3 II. Elizabeth,- b. Feb., 1669, m. Burritt. 

4 IIL Mary,2bap. Jan. 19, 1670, d. 1701, unm. 

I IV. Thomas,- bap. May 25, 1673, m. Sarah Stiles, Aug. 20, 
1701, who was dau. of Benjamin Stiles. He was killed by the fall 
of a tree, March 2, 1728. 

6 V. Ruth,^ b. June 30, 1679, m. John Richardson, of Waterbury. 
April 23, 1701. 

7 VL Dinah,2 bap. 1681, m. Ephraim Tuttle, Feb. 13, 1706-7. 

^ f, VII. John," bap. May, 1684, m. Ruth, dau. of Benjamin Stiles, 
Nov. 4, 1704, and d. May 19, 1727. 
Thomas2 (5) had 
9 L Prudence," b. Sept. 19, 1702, m. Isaac Tuttle, Jan. 10, 1729. 
i? IL Benjamin," b. July 21, 1706, m. Mary Waller, Oct. 3, 1729. 
aJ III. Lemuel," bap. Jan., 1711, ra. Bethia Bronson, Aug. 14 
1729, d. 1782. 



748 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

^ IV. Thomas,'-' b. June 13, 1715, m. Eunice . 



13 V. Obadiah," b. Nov. 11, 1716, died young. 
13^ VI. SeiTSiW b. Aug. 1, 1719. 

14 VII. Mary,3 b. Aug., 1725. 

John= (8) bad 
— IS I. Caleb,'b. March 21, 1704, m. Ruth . 

16 II. Abigail,^ b. Feb. 15, 1707. " 

17 III. Obadiah,3 b. May 28, 1709, droAvned Oct. 1, 1715. 

^- J4 IV. Samuel,^' b. June 24, 1712, ra. Abigail , who d. 1792 ; 

he d. 1786. 

19 V. Lois,^ b. March 10, 1714, d. young. 

20 VI. Lois,3 b. May 2, 1716, m. Olive Atwood, Nov. 12, 1740. 

?i VII. Obadiah,3 i,ap. April 27, 1718, m. Agnes Tuttle, May 12, 
1740, d. 1806. 

fo VIII. John, 3 b. March 5, 1720, m. Delilah Sanford, Jan. 3, 1752, 
who d. Feb. 6, 1802. He d. May 22, 1811. 

23 IX. Jesse,3bap. April 22, 1722, m. and had adau. Sarah. 

24 X. Seth,3 b. 1724, lived in Bethlem, d. 1746, unm. 

Benjamin^ (10) had 

25 I. Joseph,* b. July 20, 1730. 

26 II. Mercy," b. Feb. 27, 1733, d. 1751. 

27 III. Benjamin,* bap. Oct. 26, 1735, d. young. 

28 IV. Bathsheba,* b. Feb., 1739. 

29 V. Caleb," bap. Dec. 19, 1740. 

30 VI. Abigail," bap. Jan. 5, 1748. 

LemueP (11) had 
?^ I. Obadiah," b. June 27, 1730, m. Mary Manvill, March 25, 1756. 

32 II. Prudence," b. June 26, 1732, m. Nathan Baldwin, March 
28, 1757. 

33 III. Sarah," bap. Sept. 2, 1737, d. Oct., 1749. 

34 IV. Amos," bap. May 3, 1741. 

35 V. David," bap. May 11, 1746. 

36 VI. Asa," bap. Sept. 10, 1749. 

37 VII. Justus." 

Thomas' (12) had 

38 I. Noah,< b. June 6, 1743. 

39 II. Chloe," bap. Feb. 2, 1746. 

40 HI. Seth," bap. April 2, 1749. 

Ens. Caleb^ (15) had 

41 I. Sarah," b. Sept., 1727. 

42 XL Ruth," b. July, 1729, d. 1730. 



J 



~^ 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 749 

43 III. Caleb," bap. Oct. 17, 1731, d. June, 1737. 

44 IV. Simeon,^ b. Nov., 1733. 

45 V. Preserved," bap. March 28, 1736, m. Lucy Parks, May 1, 
1757, d. 1769. 

46 VI. Caleb," b. Nov. 9, 1737, d. Feb., 1738. 

47 VII. David," b. Sept. 13, 1739. 

48 VIII. John," b. Oct. 14, 1741, m. Lois Dudley, in 1763, and 
had a daughter Lydia. ^ \ ^"■, ^ 

49 IX. Peter," b. April 16, 1744. 

50 X. Gideon,'' bap. March 13, 1745. 

51 XL Martha," bap. April 27, 1746. 

52 XIL Abigail," bap. June 30, 1748. 

53 XIII. Ashbel," bap. Nov. 12, 1749. 

54 XIV. Ruth," bap. April 5,1712. 

SamueP (18) had 

55 I. Justus," bap. Oct. 8, 1733. 

■>56 II. Mabel," bap. Aug. 4, 1735, m. ^^-— Pierce. 

57 III. Patience," m. Ambrose Sperry. 

58 IV. Ann," bap. Sept. 14, 1743, m. Parmlee Allen, July 21, 
1768. 

59 V. Ruth," bap. March 24, 1745, m. Nehemiah St. John. 
f^ VI. Seth," bap. July 26, 1747, m. and had a family. 

Obadiah^ (21) had 
I I. Truman," b. Nov. 26, 1741. 
62 11. Martha," b. July 12, 1742. 
f^ HL Adin,^ b. Nov. 20, 1743.^ 

64 IV. Gideon," b. July 27, 1745. 

65 V. Betty," b. May 15, 1747, d. Jan. 26, 1752. 

66 VL Olive," b. Sept. 21, 1749, d. Jan. 14, 1752. 

67 VII. Currence," b. Jan. 20, 1752, d. same day. 

68 VIII. Obadiah," b. May 1, 1753. 

69 IX. Betty," b. Jan. 1, 1755,m. JudeMoulthrop, July 30,1777. 

70 X. Olive," bap. Jan. 5, 1757, m. Samuel Drakeley, Oct. 2, 
1777. 

John' (22) had 

71 L Amos," b. Jan. 18, 1753. 

72 IL Elizabeth," b. Oct. 11, 1754, m. William Hues, 1781. 

73 III. Rachel," b. Jan. 14, 1757, m. Stevens. 

74 IV. Daniel," b. Aug. 3, 1758. 

75 V. Annis," bap. May 4, 1760. 

76 VL Zaphar Sanford," bap. May 6, 1764. 



750 HISTORY OP ANCIENT AVOODBURY. 

77 VII. Ruth,' bap. April 2, 1766. 

78 VIII. Amarillis,^ bap. Jan. 26, 1772, m. Hezekiah Gilbert, 
Feb. 10, 1793. 

's? IX. John," m. Thankful Beeclier. 
Obadiah* (31) had 

80 I. Sarah,^ bap. Feb. 13, 1757. 

81 II. Mary,' b. Sept. 2, 1758. 

f* III. Asa,* b. Oct. 15, 1760, m. Abigail Tyler, 1781. 

83 IV. Ebenezer,* b. Nov. 28, 1762, m. Love Curtiss, in 1780. 

^% V. Amos,* b. Dec. 12, 1764, m. Reny Booth, Nov. 13, 1793. 

85 VI. Job,* b. Feb. 12, 1767, m. Molly Mallory, 1789. 

86 VII. Ruth,* b. March 17, 1769. 

87 VIII. David,* b. June 22, 1771, d. Feb. 16, 1774. 

88 IX. Aremynta,*b. March 10, 1781. 

Seth^ (60) had 

89 I. Hinman,* b. April 21, 1768. 

Z IL Seth Noble,* b. Jan. 28, 1772, m. Olive MitcheU, Feb. 19, 
1795. 

Truman^ (61) had 
f,\j I. Truman,* m. Nancy Burritt, Nov. 18, 1806, d. Oct. 3, 1843. 

Dca. Adin" (63) liad 

92 I. Currence,* bap. Aug. 5, 1778, m. Joel F. Benedict. 

93 II. Lois,* bap. Aug. 5, 1778. 

94 III. Clarissa,* bap. Aug. 5, 1778. 

95 IV. Agnes,* bap. Aug. 5, 1778, m. Sheldon Bristol, Feb. 17, 
1811. 

96 V. Esther,* b. July 9, 1780, ra. Benjamin Hurd. 

97 VL Adin,* b. Sept. 16, 1795. 

John" (79) had 

98 L John L.,* b. July 31, 1805. 

99 IL Francis,* b. Feb. 28, 1808. 

100 in. Ransom B.,*b. Jan. 25, 1810. 

101 IV. Philander,* b. May 25, 1811. 

102 V. Mariette,* b. Dec. 2, 1812. 

103 VI. William E.,*b. May 7, 1814. 

104 VII. Mariette T.,* b. May 17, 1817, ra. Doct. William C. Cat- 
lin, 1840. 

Asa* (82) had 

105 L Lemuel," who d. June 11, 1789. 
Amos* (84) had 

106 L SaUy," b. Oct. 17, 1793. 



IIISTORT OF ANCIENT WOODBUKT. 751 

107 II. Mmerva,^ b. Aug. 13, 1795. 

108 III. Amos,« b. Nov. 30, 1797. 

109 IV. Leorany,^ b. Sept. 20, 1799. 
Seth Noble^ (89) had 

110 I. Betsey, b. Oct. 22, 1798, m. Peter C. Oakley. 

111 II. Eunice, b. May 15, 1805, m. Matthew E. Mitchell, 1823. 

112 III. Sarah, b. May 8, 1807. 
Truman-^ (91) had 

113 I. Sarah Ann, b. May 30, 1808, m. Albert G. Ambler, Not. 
25, 1829. 

114 II. Mary Ann, b. Aug. 21, 1811, m. Ebenezer Hurd, Nov. 
18, 1834. 

115 III. Burritt T., b. June 13, 1813. 

116 IV. Truman B., b. Nov. 1, 1819. 

117 V. Harriet M.,b. April 4, 1820. 

118 VI. Flora N., b. Nov. 24, 1822. 

Lt. Samuel Wheeler, probably son of Samuel, of Stratford, settled 
in the south-east section of "Ancient Woodbury," about 1740. We 
are informed by his descendants, that he had ten children, all of 
whom died young, except two. The following is from record : Rob- 
ert, son of Lt. Samuel, b. 1746 ; Agnes, d. Aug. 2, 1764, aged 16; 
Abigail, wife of Lt. Samuel, d. June 15, 1792. He d. Dec. 24, 1799 
aged 81. 

Robert above named m. Ruth , who d. May 15, 1788. He d. 

April 17, 1782. His children were, Samuel, b. July 2, 1769 ; Elisha, 
b. Jan. 29, 1771 ; Moses, b. March 4, 1773 ; Sarah, b. July 10, 1776, 
m. Isaac Riggs ; James, b. March 3, 1779, m. Hannah Booth, and d. 
Aprils, 1805 ; Joseph, b. July 3, 1781, d. July 81, 1793. 

Samuel, eldest son of Robert, m. Phebe Glover, of Newtown, and 
had Maria, who m. Washburn ; Betsey, Avho m. Orlando Ca- 
bles, and Birdsey G., who d. Feb. 18, 1838, aged 30, unm. 

Elisha, second son of Robert, m. 1. Mehetable Smith, who d. Jan. 
19, 1795 ; m. 2. Deborah Booth, Jan. 1, 1799 ; children, Elvira, b. 
April 19, 179G, m. Eleazer Gidney,and d. Oct. 8, 1822. 

Moses, third son of Robert, m. Betsey Loveland, in 1795, and had 

I. Robert, b. Feb. 13, 1796 ; 2. Joseph, b. Dec. 24, 1797 ; 3. David, 
who d. in Georgia, Aug. 25,. 1822, aged 23 ; 4. James, d. Feb. 11, 
1831, aged 31 ; 5. Henry S. ; 0. Harriet, d. March 9, 1842, aged 31 ; 
7. Willis, d. July 6, 1805, aged 2 ; 8. Willis, d. Sept. 4, 1807, aged 
five months ; 9. Sally, d. July 8, 1813, young ; 10. Elisha, d. young ; 

II. Elisha, b. June 14, 1816. 



752 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY, 

Robert, son of Moses, m. Julia Washburn, and had Betsey Ann, 
George, Smith, Robert, Elisha and Julia Ann. 

Joseph, son of Moses, m. Mary M. Candee. Ch., Sarah, Maria 
and David. Sarah d. unm. 

Henry S., son of Moses, m. "Widow Polly Blagg, and had Harriet 
and Maria. 

Elisha, youngest son of Moses, ni. 1. Ann Maria Johnson, April 
13, 1836; shed. April, 1837; m. 2. Elizabeth Leavenworth, April 
10, 1838. Ch., James, b. March 1, 1837 ; Francis E., b. Oct. 17^ 
1840; Martha E., b. Aug. 12, 1842; Ralph E., b. May 17, 1844;' 
Mary S., b. April 26, 1846 ; Henry S., b. Aug. 5, 1848. 



WARNER FAMILY. 

John Warner, of Farmington, died in 1678-9, leaving ch., among 
whom was John, who settled at Waterbury, and had, John, Ephraim, 
Robert, Ebenezer and Lydia. The last married Samuel Bronson ; 
John, Jr., d. at Farmington, while on a visit, in 1707. Three of his 
sons settled in Woodbury, viz., Ephraim, Robert and Ebenezer. 

First Family. 
Ephraim Warner had, 1. Ephraim, bap. Nov., 1693; 2. Benjamin, 
bap. Aug., 1698. It is probable they emigrated from Woodbury, as 
the records of the territory show nothing more of them. 

Second Family. 
Robert Warner m. 1. Mary Hurlbut, who d. April 14, 1743 ; m. 
2. Sarah Wlieeler, April 14, 1744. She d. May 30, 1755. Mr. 
Warner d. 1759. Ch. as follows: 

1. Sarah, bap. July, 1704; d. Jan. 28, 1721. 

2. Mary, bap. July 24, 1707 ; m. Isaac Tuttle, April 15, 1731. 

3. Margaret, b. April 22, 1709; d. Sept. 8, 1711. 

4. John, b. Oct. 27, 1713 ; m. Jemima Hurd, June 11, 1735 ; d. 
Dec. 8, 1785. His ch. were, 

I. Daniel, b. July, 173G, d. same month. II. Sarah, b. Aug. 2G, 1737, m. 
Ephraim Baldwin, 1757. III. Jemima, b. Oct. 2, 1739. IV. Mary, b. April 
22, 1742. V. Daniel, b. Aug. 26, 1744, rn. Ann Stoddard, Feb. 7, 1765. He 
was killed at the battle of Bennington, July, 1776. Ch., 1. Mary, b. March 27, 
1766 ; 2. Eunice, bap. Sept. 12, 176S; 3. Daniel, bap. July 5, 1772 ; 4. John, 
bap. July 4, 1773 ; 0. Mary Ann, b. June 7, 1776. VI. Hannah, b. March 20, 
1753. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 753 

5. Nathan, b. Feb. 14, 1717 ; m. Hannah ; he d. July 14, 

1784. He had, 

1. Mary, b. June 23, 1743. II. Rlioda, b. March S, 1745. III. Nathan, b- 
Feb. 13, 1747, m. Lois Armstrong. IV. Robert,' bap. June 4, 1749, m. Feb. 
19, 1772, Emma Sherman, and had, 1. Jeruslia, b. Feb. 11,1778; 2. Rhoda, b. 
April 29, 1775; 3. Lucinda, b. May 7, 1781 ; 4. Robert Sherman, b. March 29, 

1785. 

6. Silence, bap. Sept. 11, 1720 ; m. John Hui'd, Jan., 1741. 

Third Family. 

Doct. Ebenezer "Warner m. Martha Galpin, Dec. 19, 1704, who 
d. April 17, 1745. He d. April 23, 1755. Ch., 1. Ebenezer, b. 
Mar. 18, 1705, m. Elizabeth Hurlbut, Feb., 1729. He d. Aug. 23, 
1769. Ch., 

I. Ebenezer, bap. Aug. 13, 1732, m. Patience Minor, July 6, 1757, who d. 
Sept. 23, 1774. He d. March 21, ISOO. Ch., 1. David, b. Jan. 3, 175S, m. 
Ruth Baker, Nov. 2S, 17S4 ; both d. March, 1S13— their son David d. April 3, 
1813; 2. Ebenezer, b. July 19, 17G0, ni. Elizabeth Sweet, April 13, 1779, and 
had Ebenezer, Patience, m. David Judson. Stephen, Elizabeth, m. Barnet Haw- 
ley, Polly, m. Simeon Castle; 3. Gideon, b. Aug. 19, 1762; 4. Elizabeth, bap_ 
March 10, 1765, m. Solomon Squire; 5. Susanna, m. Samuel Bristol. 11. Eliz- 
abeth, b. Nov. 17, 1730, d. 1753. III. Martha, b. June 9, 1746, m. Gideon 
Squire, Nov. 19, 1761. 

2. Martha, b. July 23, 1707 ; m. Solomon Squire. 

3. Doct. Benjamin, b. May G, 1709; m. Silence Hurd, Dec. 16^ 
173G. She d. Nov. 15, 17S5. Their ch. were, 

I. Hannah, b. Aug. 4, 1737, m. Josiah Hawley. II. Doct. Benjamin, b. May, 
1739, m. 1. Rebecca Castle, Nov. 2, 1761 ; m. 2. Jemima Chambers, of New- 
town, and had, 1. Benjamin, 2. Allyn, 3. Rebecca, m. Daggett, 4. Silena, m. 
Asaph Betts, 5. Rhoda, m. Maj. Abraham Bronson. III. Daniel, b. April 12, 
1741, m. Patience Norton in 17G5. IV. Col. Seth, b. May 6, 1743, d. Dec. 26, 
1784, m. Hester Hurd, 'and had, Seth, Asahel and Abigail. V. John, b. May 
29, 1745, ni. Hurlbut, went to Vermont. VI. Doct. Reuben, bap. March 4, 

1750, m. 1. Eunice , who d. Feb. 7, 17S5 ; ch., Reuben and two daughters. 

VII. Elijah, bap. June 30, 1754. VIII. Asahel, m. Rhoda Bassett, and had, 
1. Marvin, 2. Rhoda, m. Benjamin Rumsey, 3. Olive, m. Isaac Newton. IX. 
David, had Daniel, Lucy and Malcolm. X. Tamar, m. Asahel Hurd. 

4. Margaret, b. Dec, 1712 ; m. David Squire, Dec. 20, 1732. 

5. Rebecca, b. Dec. 12, 1715 ; m. Moses Plurlbut, Dec. 25, 1735. 

6. Tamar, b. Feb. 26, 1718; m. llemember Baker. 

7. Lydia, b. Feb., 1720 ; m. Stephen Judd, March 13, 1751. 

8. Thomas, b. Nov., 1722 ; m. Abigail Prentice, July 4, 1749 ; he 
d. Dec. 17, 1778 ; his widow d. Nov., 1794. Ch., 

I. Deborah, b. July 31, 1751. II, Martha,b. Nov. 3, 1753, m. Gideon Hurl- 
but, Sept. 18, 1772. III. Esther, b. May 21, 1755, m. Amos Leavenworth, 
1779. IV. Samuel, b. Sept. 24, 1756. V. Saul, b. March 12, 1758, m. Abi- 
59 



754 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY, 

gail Keeler, Feb. 15, 1781, and had, James, Daniel, Sally, Jemima, William 
and Hannah. VI. Sarah, b. Sept. 19, 1759. VII. Thomas, b. April 28, 1761, 
m. Sarah Thomas, 1782, d. Jan. 26, 1836. His widow died April 16, 1844. 
Ch., Mary, Sally, Thomas, Susan, Lucy, Zella, John, Silas, Moses and Irene. 
VIII. Lydia, bap. Sept. 19, 17G2. IX. Dorcas, bap. May 12, 1765. X. Eno3, 
b. May 5, 1767. XI. Abigail, bap. May 27, 1770. 

9. Frances, b. Feb., 1726; m. Oviatt. 

10. Rachael, bap. March 23, 1729. 



WAKELEY FAMILY. 

Abner Wakeley and wife Sarah, had, Henry, b. April 9, 1750 ; 
Eunice, b. Sept. 19, 1752; Sarah, bap. July 14, 1754; Abel, bap. 
Oct. 7, 1759 ; Ann, bap. May 3, 1761 ; Sarah, bap. Aug. 20, 1763 ; 
Piatt, bap. April G, 1766; Phebe, bap. Sept. 27,^1767. Abner, the 
father, died 1769. 

Joseph Wakeley, d. June, 1730, leaving his wife, Elizabeth, and 
ch., Daniel and Dinah, pjlizabeth, after the death of Mr. Wakeley, 
m. John Squire. Daniel, d. 1748, leaving his wife, Joanna, and dau. 
Tabitha. 



( jaA-v 



^X^fJ^ M)^uWlU-(lW^U &kt^ 



/K^ 



, ;• ) . . 

WYATT FAMILY. 



Ensign John Wyatt, one of the signci's of the original compact, 
came from Stratford, and settled in " Ancient Woodbury." 

His ch. were, Gershom, bap. Feb. 16,1679-80; Sarah, bap. Feb., 
1781-2 ; Elizabeth, bap. Aug., 1785 ; Mercy, bap. April, 1787-8. 



WALLER FAMILY. 

Joseph Waller came early to Woodbury ; d. 1727, " in the great 
sickness;" had a wife, Abigail, and ch., 1. Sarah; 2. Lydia; 3. Abi- 
gail—all three bap. Sept. 25, 1698; 4. Joseph, b. April 3, 1701 ; 5, 
Samuel, b. March 18, 1703, had w. Esther, who d. Oct. 6, 1749 ; he 
d. in 1745. Ch., Jane, bap. June 22, 1729 ; Lydia, bap. April 18, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUKT. 755 

1731; Joseph, b. June, 1788; Samuel, b. April 17, 1785; Elijah, 
bap. April 3, 1737; Er-ther, b. Dec, 1738; David, b. Dec, 1740; 
Martha, baj). July 7, 1745, m. David Atwood, Dec. 17, 17G5 ; Peter* 
bap. Aug. 3, 1747. G. Martha, b. Sept, (5, 1705; 7. Mary, bap- 
May, 1708, m. Benjamin AVheeler, Oct. 3, 1729 ; 8. Bathsheba, b. 
May 19, 1710 ; 9. Daniel, b. May 23, 1713, d. same month. 

Thomas AValler had. Rose, bap. April, 1714; Elizabeth, bap. July, 
1716; Mary, bap. Nov. 9, 1718. 



WARD FAMILY. 

Andrew "Ward was admitted freeman in 1638, at Boston. In 
June, 1635, he was at Wethersfield, and with twenty others, pur- 
chased Stamford. He also with others, made a purchase of Hemp- 
stead, L. I., but in consequence of some difficulty with the Dutch 
government, removed to Fairfield, Conn., and d. Oct., 1659, leaving 
his wife, Esther, and ch. He was a man of great worth and conse- 
quence in the colony, was frequently united with the governors and 
other most important men on committees of the General Assembly, 
and was the ancestor of a respectable and wealthy family, who reside 
in Hartford. He was father of Andrew, who was father of William, 
who settled at Wallingford, who was father of Zenas, who came to 
" Ancient Woodbury," and m. 1. Mary Bates, 1743, who d. Sept. 25, 
1760 ; m. 2. Patience Squire. Ch., Bethuel, b. April 8, 1744; Ma- 
cock, b. Nov. (5, 1745 ; Marj', b. Oct. 26, 1747, m. Ichabod Squire, 
and went to Vermont; Amy, b. July 6, 1752, d. unm.; Anna, b. July 
6, 1755, m. Thomas Squire ; Content, b. Oct. 20, 1757, m. Isaac 
Squire, Aug. 7, 1777 ; Patience, b. Dec. 27, 1761, m. Benjamin 
Squire, and removed to Ohio ; Hannibal, b. Sept. 30, 1764, m. Adna 
Mallory, Nov. 26, 1788 ; Zenas, b. July 17, 1770, m. Martha Parks. 

Bethuel, son of Zenas, m. Ruth Squire, April 23, 1769. Ch., 1. 
Hannah ; 2. Chloe ; 3. Asher, m. Anna Mallory, and had, Bennet, 
Harriet, Charles ; 4. Amy ; 5. Rebecca ; 6. Eunice ; 7. Sally ; 8. 
Lucy. 

Macock, son of Zenas, m. Elizabeth Squire, Jan. 8, 1769. Ch., 1, 
Macock, d. unm.; 2. Arry, m. Ruth Kane ; 3. Mary, d. unm.; 4. 
Eli, m. Alice Brown, and had Laura, d. young ; Levi, m. Polly 
Cogswell ; Abiram, Sterling, Alvin and Calvin, (twins,) William 
Mary and Laura ; 5. Reuben ; 6. John, m. Sally Gilbert. Ch., Lem- 



756 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

uel and a daughter ; 7. Alvin, d. unm.; 8. Elizabeth, drowned young ; 
9. Samuel, m. Olive Ilurlbut ; 10. Ambrose. 

Zenas, son of Zenas 1st. Ch,, Ruth, James, Ashbel, Sylvauia, 
Zenas, Patience. 



WHITTLESEY FAMILY. 

1. John Whittlesey' is believed to be the first person of the name 
who emigrated to the United States, and the ancestor of all the Whit- 
tleseys who have lived here. He came from England about 1650, 
and became a tanner and shoemaker at Saybrook, Ct. The town of 
Saybrook, by authority of the General Court, gave to Mr. Whittle- 
sey and Wm. Dudley, the right to establish a ferry over Connecticut 
River, near which he lived in 1663. This still belongs to his de- 
scendants. He died, April 15, 1704— his wife, Sept. 29, 1714. They 
were eminent Christians. Their descendants were, 

1^0 I. John,- settled at Saybrook. 

fa II. Stephen," attorney at Saybrook. 

^5 III. Joseph,- settled at Saybrook. 

[j IV. Eliphalet,^ settled at Wethersfield ; m. Mary Pratt, Dec. 
1, 1702. 

6 V. Ebenezer,^ settled at Saybrook. 

7 VI. Jabez,^ settled at Bethlem ; deacon. 

fj VII. Samuel,^ settled at Wallingford ; minister. 
9 VIIL Elizabeth.' 

10 IX. Ruth.- 

John^ (2) had children, 

11 I. John,^ settled in Saybrook, 

21 II. Hezekiah, settled in Saybrook ; deacon, justice of the peace. 
13 III. David, settled in Saybrook ; died young. 

Stephen- (3) had children, 
14 I. Samuel,^ d. young, 
a II. Ambrose,^ settled in Saybrook ; attorney. 

Joseph^ (4) had children, 
^ I. Joseph," settled in Saybrook. 

Eliphalet- (5) had children, 

17 L Mary,^ b. Oct. 1, 1703 ; m. Post. 

18 IL Hannah,^' b. May 13, 1711 ;. m. Smith. 

J? III. Eliphalet,^' b. May 10, 1714 ; m. Dorothy Kellogg, Dec. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODEURT. 757 

IG, 173G ; removed to New Prestop, 1761 ; united witjbi the church 
same year; chosen deacon soon after. His wife d. April 14, 1772, 
aged 55 years. He m. Widow Hannah Mallory, June 23, 1774, who 
lived some years after his death. He d. July 12, 1786, aged 72. 
Samuel" (8) had children, 

20 I. Samuel,^ settled in Milford ; minister. 

21 II. Chauncey,^ settled in New Haven ; minister. 

Hezekiah^ (12) had children, 

22 I. Hezekiah,'* settled in Saybrook. 

23 II. David,* settled in Saybrook. 

Ambrose^ (15) had children, 

24 I. Ambrose,^ settled in Saybrook. 

25 II. Stephen,* " « 

26 III. Samuel," " " 

27 IV. Azariah,* " « 
■ 28 V. David,* " " 

Joseph^ (16) had children, 

29 I. Joseph.* 32 IV. Duzen.* 

30 II. Stephen.* 33 V. Aaron.* 

31 III. Samuel.* 

Eli))halet'^ (19) had children, 

^.j I. Martin,* b. Oct. 5, 1737 ; m. Sarah Deming ; settled at New 
Preston ; farmer ; served a short time in the Revolutionary War, 
where he was sick, fx-om the effects of which he never fully recovered, 
and received a pension the remainder of his life. Died May 29, 
1800, aged 62 years ; wife d. March 29, 1829, aged 92. 

% II. Lemuel,* b. May 16, 1740; m. Hannah Wells; settled at 
Newington; d. Aug. 30, 1823, aged 83 years. 

II III. John,* b. Dec. 23, 1741 ; m. Mary Beal; settled in New 
Preston ; farmer ; justice of the peace ; member of the legislatui-e 
seventeen sessions, between 1781 and 1791 ; chosen deacon, June 
30, 1784, which appointment he declined; removed to Salisbury, 
1792, where he died, March 22, 1812, aged 70 years ; wife died Sept. 
30, 1802. 

37 IV. Anna,* b. Jan. 27, 1744 ; m. Wm. Cogswell, of New Pres- 
ton ; d. Jan. 10, 1810, aged Go years, 11 months. 

11 V. Abner,* b. May 1, 1746; m. Ruth Wadsworth; settled in 
Farmington; farmer; died July 12, 1821, aged 75 years. 

g? VI. Eliphalet,* b. July 2, 1748; m. Comfort Waller; settled 
in Stockbridge, Mass.; farmer ; d. Jan. 25, 1823, aged 74. 

« VII. David,* b. Aug. 18, 1750; m. for his first wife, Abigail 



758 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUET. 

Judsbn, Dec, 1779, who d. Oct, 1, 1782, aged about 25. She had 
one daughter, Abigail Laura, who died May, 1784, aged 3 years 
and 3 months ; also a son that lived but a few hours. He m. Martha 
Pomeroy, of Northampton, INIay 19, 1798 ; lived in New Preston, on 
the same farm occupied by his father; served a short time in the Rev- 
olutionary "War ; sheriff's deputy 12 or 15 years ; justice of the peace, 
1792; deacon, April 22, 1807; d. Jan. 31, 1825, aged 74 years; 
wife d. Sept. 8, 1827, aged 59 years. 

^i VIII. Asaph,! b. May 12, 1753 ; m. Abigail Skeels ; settled at 
Wyoming ; killed in the battle at that place, July 3, 1778. 

42 IX. Dorothy,^ b. Sept. 5, 1755 ; m. Col. Perry Averill, Sept. 
22, 1774; d. July 12, 1824, aged 69. 

i X. Elisha," b. Jan. 8,1758; graduated at Yale College, 1779 ; 
studied law; settled in Danbury ; m. Mary Tucker ; d. Nov. 9, 1802, 
aged 44 years and 10 months. 

44 XL Roger," b. Oct. 6, 17G0 ; d.June 23, 1761. 

Martin' (34) had children, 

45 I. Sally,* b. March, 1762; m. Dea. Isaiah Johnson, Jan. 11, 
1791 ; settled in Russia, N. Y.; d. in 1836. 

II IL Joseph,* b. March 20, 1764 ; ni. Mary Camp, Oct. 6, 1785 ; 
settled in New Preston ; farmer ; captain of the militia ; member of 
the Legislature; d. March 8, 1838, aged 74; wife d. April 4, 1853, 
aged 89. 

47 III. Jemima,* b. Feb. 2, 1765, m. Ilezekiah Ackley, Jan. 8, 
1787, settled in New Preston, died Aug. 17, 1835. 

48 IV. Mary,* b. Dec, 1767, m. Daniel Camp, d. Dec. 19, 1792. 
/^ V. Martin,* b. March 2, 1770, m. Lorana Dayton, Dec, 1797, 

settled at New Preston, as farmer on the homestead, d. May 28, 
1837. 

50 VI. Elizabeth,'"' m. Dea. Cyrus Johnson, Sharon, Ohio. 

51 VIL Dolly,* died young. 

52 VIII. Dolly,* b. Dec, 1776, m. Dea. Gideon Smith, Salisbury. 

53 IX. Sheldon,* b. 1780, d. June 17, 1800. 

54 X. Abigail,* b. 1783, m. Eliada Peck, Litchfield, d. 1825. 

Lemuel* (35) had children, 

1^ I. Roger,* m. Smalley, settled in Southington. 

i*f3 II. Asaph,* settled in Newington. 

57 III. Hannah,* m. Gridley, settled in Farmington. 

58 IV. Dolly,* m. Dr. Belden, settled in Newington. 

John* (36) had children, 
ffg I. Matthew Beal, m. Hannah White, settled in Danbury. 



HISTORY or ANCIENT 'WOODBURT. 759 

,f4 John,5 m. Abigail Johnson and Rebecca Camp, settled in Salis- 
bury. 

I'^ls III. Chester,^ m. Nancy Wadsworth, settled in Southington, d. 
May 15, 1849, aged 76 years. 

1^3 IV". Eliphalet,^ ra. Martha R., settled in Salisbury. 

fa, V. Asaph,^ m. Zesta Hart, settled in Tallmadge, Ohio. 

iVi VI. Elisha,^ m. Polly Mygatt, settled in Canfield, Ohio. 

65 VII. Polly,' m. N. P. Averill, settled in Salisbury. 

Abner* (38) had children, 

66 I. Ruth.^- 

67 II. Dolly,' m. Harvey Wliittlesey, settled in Farmington, died 
March 19, 1841. 

Eliphalet^ (39) had children, 

68 I. Comfort,' m. Joel Camp, of New Preston. 

fli H. David,' m. Rebecca Smalley, settled in New Britain, Conn. 

i'^, III. Eliphalet,' settled in Cayuga, N. Y. 

TO IV. Asaph,"^ m. Clarissa Richards, settled in Galon, N. Y. 

n3 V. Solomon,' settled in Brownhelm, Ohio. 

i" VI. Heman,' m. Electa Kellogg, settled in Newington. 

/gg VII. Charles,' settled in Brownhelm, Ohio. 

192 VIII. Federal,' settled in Stockbridge, Mass. 

76 IX. Mary.' 

77 X. Sarah, m. Leavenworth, settled in Brownhelm, Ohio. 

78 XL , m. Curtiss, settled in Stockbridge and Ohio. 

David^ (40) had children by Martha, his wife, 
,?9 I. Frederick,' b. June 12, 1799, graduated at Yale College, 
1818, studied law, settled in Cooperstown, N. Y., removed in 1823, 
to Rochester, N. Y. ; m. Sept. 12, 1825, to Ann Hinsdale, of Winsted; 
elected a member of Congress in 1830, re-elected in 1832, appointed 
vice-chancellor of the state of New York, professor of law at Geneva 
College ; died Sept. 19, 1851, aged 52. 

80 IL Frances P., b. June 26, 1801, m. William C. Cogswell, Oct. 
3, 1821, settled in Woodbury, d. Oct. 22, 1887. 

,|\ III. David Chester, b. March 29, 1803, m. Mary Cogswell, 
Oct. 2, 1823, settled in New Preston, occupying the same farm that 
Eliphalet^ (19) first settled on when he came to New Preston, mem- 
ber of the legislature, justice of the peace. 

82 IV. William Sheldon,' b. Nov. 4, 1806, settled in Rochester, 
N. Y.,d. Sept. 11,1849. 

Asaph" (41) had children, 

83 I. Anna,' m. Joel Camp, New Preston. 



760 HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

84 II. Abigail/ m. William Camp, settled in Owego, N. Y. 

85 III. Laura/ m. Eneas Camp, settled in New Milford. 

Elisha* (43) had children, 

86 I. Elisha.= 

2^8 II. Thomas,^ m. Holley, settled in Danbury and Michigan. 

88 III. Harriet, m. Condit, settled in Owego, N. Y. 

Joseph^ (46) had children, 

89 I. Anna," b. April 21, 1786, m. Wilmot Sperry, Sept. 22, 1812, 
settled in New Preston, d. Nov. 25, 1844. 

Z II. David," b. Aug. 18, 1787, m. Matilda P. Averill, Sept. 30, 
1816, who died Dec. 31, 1845, aged 56 years ; m. Mrs. Anna Miranda 
Taylor, Nov. 12, 1848 ; settled in New Preston, farmer. 

I/; III. Harvey,'' b. Oct. 6, 1788, m. Dolly Whittlesey,^ (67,) who 
died March 19, 1841 ; m. Dolly M. Sperry, Aug. 31, 1842 ; settled in 
Farmington, farmer. 

92 IV. Deming," b. July 9, 1790, settled in Tallmadge, Ohio ; 
killed by the fall of a tree, March 16, 1816. 

93. V. Mary,*^ b. June 7, 1792, m. Dea. Calvin Hatch, March 2, 
1813, settled in Farmington. 

^ VI. Charles," b. Oct. 5, 1793, m. Mary Ann Camp, Oct. 1, 1816 ; 
settled in New Preston, farmer, deacon ; wife died Oct. 29, 1843, 
aged 47 ; m. S. Augusta Minor, of Woodbury, Sept. 27, 1848. ^ 

2^ VII. Luman," b. March 15, 1795, graduated at Yale College, 
1816, m. Sally J. Cogswell, Sept. 15, 1818 ; settled in Williamston, 
N. C, teacher ; m. for his second wife, Eliza J. Peal, of Williamston ; 
removed to Alexandria, Va. 

^^ VIII. Joseph," b. Dec. 8, 1797, graduated at Yale College, 
1825, m. Maria A. Chappell, of New London, who died Nov. 10, 
1846 ; m. Maria Peck, of Litchfield, May, 1849 ; pastor at Stonington, 
Conn., Haverhill, Mass., and Berlin, Conn. 

97 IX. Sheldon Camp," b. Jan. 9, 1799, d. Oct. 19, 1809. 

«,*!j X. Ralph," b. July 2, 1801, lived in various places in the south- 
ern states, m. Nancy Rowan ; wife died, and he then served in the 
Mexican War ; afterward went to California, died at Stockton, Cal., 
July 21,1850. 

99 XL Sarah Maria," b. April 21, 1803, d. April 3, 1828. 

l'^3 XII. Roger Newton," b. Feb. 15, 1805, m. Esther Ann Hub- 
bell, Feb. 4, 1833 ; settled in New Preston, farmer ; wife died July 24, 
1836, m. Mrs. Jane Lane ; removed to Farmington ; where he died 
July 15, 1841. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 761 

Martin^ (49) had cliiklren, 

101 I. Garry,"^ d. Dec. 24, 1799, aged one year. 

102 II. Laura," d. Sept. 18, 1800, aged five months. 

103 III. Harriet," d. Oct. 15, 1805, aged four years. 

104 IV. Laura," d. J\larch 25, 1807, aged three years. 

24U V. Sheklon,'' b. Aug. 2S, 1800, m. Eunice Smilh, Dec. 13, 
1837 ; settled in New Preston, farmer; wife died May 19, 1843 ; m. 
Esther M. Hart, of Cornwall, March 13, 1844. 

lOG VL i:)olly,'' I). Nov. 2, 1808, m. Kcv. A. Newton, Aug. 14, 
1837, settled in Norwalk, Ohio. 

107 VII. Martin Dayton," h. July 31, 1810, d. July 21, 1823. 

108 VIII. Martha," b. Oct. 5, 1812, m. Albion C House, Jan. 17, 
1844, settled in Cornwall, removed to Illinois. 

109 IX. Hannah Maria," d. July 16, 1815, aged eight months. 
Roger'' (55) had children, 

110 I. Henry." 

111 IL Chaunccy." 

112 III. Frederick." 

113 IV. Dwight," m. Laura Barnes, settled in Southington. 
Asaph' (5G) had children, 

114 I. Delia," m. Homer Camp, settled in Newington. 

115 IL Elizabeth." 
IIG HI. Hannah.." 

Matthew Beal" (59) had children, 

117 I. William," settled in Marietta, Ohio. 

118 II. Eliza," ra. Dr. Botsford, settled in Daubury. 

119 III. John." 

120 IV. Oliver." 

121 V. ]Mary," m. Rev. Grove L. J^>rownell, settled in Sharon, Ct. 

122 VI. Julia," m. Hawley, settled in Winsted. 

123 VII. Amelia," m. Brown, settled in Hartford. 

124 VIII. Ebenezer," settled in Daubury. 
John'^ (60) had children, 

125 I. Mary." 

Chester'^ (61) had children, 

126 I. Elizabeth," m. Lowry, settled in Southington, died. 

127 II. Mary." 

128 III. Laura Ann." 
Ehphalet'' (02) had children, 

129 I. Martha," m. Norton. 

130 XL Walter." 

60 



762 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

131 III. Caroline,*' m. Fisli. 

132 IV. Philander.'^ 

133 V. Eliphalet.s 

134 VI. Charles." 
185 VII. Elisha." 

136 VIII. Lucy.« 

137 IX. t^eorgc." 

Asaph'^ (G3) had children, 

138 I. Charles.'^ 

139 II. Samuel." 

140 III. Hannah.'- 

141 IV. Rosanna." 

142 V. Mary." 

143 VI. Asaph.*"' 

144 VII. Nancy." 

Elisha'^ (64) had children, 

145 I. Frederick,*' m. Mary Sniitli. 

146 II. John M.," m. Seely. 

147 III. Harriet," m. Collins. 

148 IV. Anna Maria.'' 

149 V. George." 

150 VI. Lucy." 

151 VII. Elisha," m. 

152 Vni. William." 

153 IX. Comfort." 

154 X. Granville." 

David' (69) had childi-en, 

155 I. "William," minister, lives in New Britain. 

156 II. Nancy," m. Stanley, lives in.New Britain. 

157 III. Sarah." 

158 IV. Mary." 

159 V. John," minister, lives in New Britain. 

160 VI. Rebecca, m. 

161 VH. David, m. Dolly B. Averill, settled in Berlin. 

162 VIII. Calista, m. settled in Illinois. 

163 IX. Eliphalet, minister, settled in Bath, Maine. 

164 X. Elizaheth,m. Rev. Charles "VV. Camp, settled in Wisconsin. 
Eliplialet^ (70) had children, 

165 I. Wilham." 

166 II. Austhi." 

167 III. Lewis." 



IIISTOKr OF ANCIENT WOOUBUIIY. 762 

168 IV. Emeline." 

169 V. Watson.« 

170 VI. Johnson." 

171 VII. Heniy.s 

172 VIII. Maiy.« 

173 IX. George." 

Asaph^ (71) had children, 

174 I. Cornelia.'' 

175 II. Melzar." 

176 III. Franklin." 

177 IV. Charles." 

178 V. Emily.'^ 

Solomon^ (72) had children. 

179 I. Mary Ann.'^ 

180 II. Edmund." 

181 III. Eliphalet." 

182 IV. Cahsta.« 
. 183 V. David." 

184 VI. Salmon." 

185 VII. Pamelia.'^ 

186 VIII. Lorenzo.'' 
Heman^ (73) had cliildren, 

187 I. Martin Kellogg," minister in Wisconsin. 

188 II. Ilenian," m., settled in Nevvington. 

189 III. Cornelia.'' 

Charles'* (74) had children, 

190 I. Mary." 

191 II. Charles." 

192 III. Caroline." 

FederaP (75) had children, 

193 I. Frederick.^ 

194 II. Caroline." 

David Chester^ (81) had children, 

195 I. David Eliphalet," b. Sept. 18, 1824, d. April 1, 1826. 

196 11. Martha Pomeroy," b. Aug. 11,1827. 

197 III. John Eliphalet," b. May 22, 1830. 

198 IV. Frederick," b. Sept. 25, 1833. 

199 V. Fanny Pomeroy," b. Oct. 14, 1835. 
Frederick* (79) had children, 

200 I. Edgar," b. June 11, 1826, d. June 24, 1826. 

201 II. Frederick Augustus," b. Aug. 1, 1827, graduated at Ge- 
neva College, studied law at Cambi*idgc. 



764 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

202 III. Martba Ann," b. Jan. 13, 1829, d. Sept. 8, 1834, of 
cholera. 

203 IV. Mary Matthews," b. July 4, 1831. 

204 V. Theodore Hinsdale,^ b. Dec. 17, 1833. 

205 VI. Thurlow Weed,« b. Dec. 16, 1835. 

206 VII. Frances Cogswell," b. July 14, 1837. 

207 VIII. WilHam Seward," b. July 3, 1840. 

208 IX. Ann Louisa," b. April 30, 1844. 
Thomas' (87) had c' ild, 

209 I Elisha." 

David" (90) had children by wife Matilda, 

210 I. Mary Averill,' b. March 81, 1818, m. A. B. Campbell, 
teacher, Oct. 3, 1835, settled in Galena, Illinois, d. Dec. 29, 1849. 

211 II. Caroline Maria,'^ b. July 5, 1820, m. Dr. S. Stuart, April 
17, 1737, settled in Milan, Ohio. 

212 III. Sarah Deming," b. May 25, 1822, m. Leman A. Warner, 
Nov. 7, 1847. 

213 IV. Elisha Averill,^ b. Dec. 25, 1824. 

214 V. Deming,^ b. Aug. 25, 1827. 

215 VI. Helen Matilda,'' b. March 1, 1831, by his second wife, 
Miranda. 

216 VII. Chester Beal,' b. Sept. 10, 1849. 

217 VIII. Joseph Tryon, b. Aug. 6, 1853. 
Harvey^ (91) had children by first wife, 

218 I. Ann Amelia,^ b. May 23, 1815, m. Daniel Youngs, settled 
in Barkhamsted. 

219 II. Harriet Deming," b. March 3, 1817, died 1840. 

„52 III. Abner Sheldon,^ b. March 6, 1819, m. Harriet A. Newell, 
May 24, 1848, settled in New Preston. 

221 IV. Lucius Wadsworth,'' b. April 16, 1821, d. Sept. 5, 1826. 

222 V. Dolly,'' b. Aug. 1, 1823, d. Feb. 4, 1825. 

223 VL Louisa DoUy,^ b. June 14, 1825. 

224 VIL Ellen Ruth," b. Aug. 22, 1828, m. George S. Cogswell, 
May 21, 1851, settled in New Preston. 

225 VIII. Emily Wadsworth,'^ b. Oct. 4, 1830. 

226 IX. Frances Marion,'' b. Nov. 10, 1832, d. March 18, 1834. 

227 X. Frances Marion,^ b. July 14, 1835. 

228 XL Lucius Harvey,^ b. March 11, 1841. 
Charles" (94) had children by his first wife, 

229 L Gould Camp,'' b. Dec. 21, 1818, m. Sarah A. Cogswell, 
Dec. 11, 1844. 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT -WOODBURT. 765 

230 11. Lucy Ann,'' b. March 11, 1820, m. William C. Bronson, 
April 16, 1840, settled in Washington. 

231 III. Rebecca Jane,' b. Sept. 9, 1823, d. Sept. 9, 1833. 

232 IV. Sally Amelia,^ b. April 16, 1827, m. Nathan Hart, Jr., 
Sept. 8, 1847, settled in Cormvall. 

233 V. Thalia Judson,-' b. Aug. 16, 1829. 
Luman" (95) had children by his wife Sally. 

234 I. Edgar Augustus,"' b. July 1, 1819, settled at Silver Creek, 
Miss. ; ra. Elizabeth Bullock, wife died ; removed to Texas, m. second 
wife. 

235 II. Joseph Adolphus," b. Oct. 13, 1820, m. Ann Bullock, set- 
tled in Texas. 

By his wife Eliza, 

236 III. Sarah Johnson,^ b. Aug. 24, 1824. 

237 IV. Oscar Columbus,^ b. Aug. 17, 1826. 
Joseph'^ (96) had children by his first wife, 

238 I. Ezra Chappell,^ b. Aug. 7, 1832. 

239 II. Charles Boardman,^ b. Dec. 4, 1834.' 

240 III. George William," b. Aug. 18, 1836. 

241 IV. Joseph Edward,' b. Jan. 28, 1846, d. March 13, 1847. 
By his second wife, 

242 V. Mary Abigail,' b. April, 1850, d. June, 1851. 
Ralph' (98) had children, 

243 I. John Rowan," b. June 13, 1845. 

Roger Newton*' (100) had children by Esther, 

244 I. Susan Florinda," b. Nov. 21, 1833. 

245 II. Newton Ilubbell,'' b. May 4, 1836. 
By wife Jane, 

246 III. Harriet Esther,^ b. Nov., 1839. 
Sheldon''. (105) had children by Eunice, 

247 I. Amelia Frances,'' b.Nov. 26, 1838. 

248 II. Timothy,'' b. Aug. 4, 1840. 

249 HI. Alfred Newton,'' b. April 21, 1843. 
By his wife Esther, 

250 IV. Nathan Hart,^ b. April 15, 1848. 

251 V. Robert Clark,'' b. Feb. 5, 1851. 

252 VI. Mills,^ b. Nov. 26, 1852. 
Abner S.^ (220) had children, 

253 I. Sherman Newell,^ b. May 24, 1849. 

254 H. Henry Hawley,** b. Jan. 9, 1853. 



CHAPTERXXII. 

STATISTICS. 

MEMBER OF CONGRESS. 

Nathaniel Smith, from 1795 to 1799. 

JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT. 
Nathaniel Smith, from 1806 to 1819. 

JUDGES OF THE COUNTY COURT. 

Col. William Preston, from 1751 to 1754. 
Daniel Sherman, from 1786 to 1791. 
Charles B. Phelps, from 1850 to 1851. 
" " " 1852 to . 

COUNTY COMMISSIONER. 
William Cothrcn, from 1851 to 1852. 

ROLL OF ASSISTANTS AND SENATORS. 

Assistants were magistrates, Avho constituted the upper house of the Assem- 
bly, and, in early times, were the supreme court of the state. They were 
the leading men of their times. 



John Sherman, 
Nathaniel Smith, 
Noah B. Benedict, 



Nominated. 


Elected. 


Retired. 


1711 


1713 


1723. 


1798 


1799 


1805. 


1810 


1816 


1818. 


SENATORS. 







Nchemiah C. Sanford, 1833, 1834. 
Matthew Mnor, Jr., 1337. 
Charles B. Phelps, 1843. 



JUSTICES OF THE QUORUM. 

John INIinor, from 1684 to 1719. 
John Sherman, from 1684 to 1728. 
Col. Joseph jNIinor, from 1725 to 1739. 
Col. William Preston, from 1740 to 1751. 
Noah Ilinraan, from 1754 to 1759. 
-/ Increase Moseley, from 1755 to 1780. 
Daniel Sherman, from 1761 to 1786. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT -WOODBURY. 



767 



JUDGES AND CLERKS OF PROBATE FOR THE DISTRICT OF 
WOODBURY. 

From the first settlement of the colony of Connecticut, to 1G6G, probate 
business was done by the court of assistants and the General Court. In 
I'JGG, county courts were e.stablislied, and jn-obate business was clone by them 
till October, 1G9.S, when probate courts were first established. There were 
l)ut four counties in the state, till 172G, viz.: Hartford, New IlaA'cn, New 
London and Fairfield. The probate districts corresponded in name and ex- 
tent to the counties, till Oct., 1719, when three new districts were constituted, 
viz. : Guilford, Windham and Woodbury. The probate districts, including 
the original four, now number one hundred. The first court in Woodbury 
district was held Feb. 2, 1719-20. It included all of the settled part of the 
present county of Litchfield, and Waterbury in New Haven county. Litch- 
field district was set off in 1742. Waterbury, in 1779. New Milford, in 
1787. Washington, in 1832, and Koxbury in 1842. The district now in- 
cludes Woodbury, Southbury and Bethlem. 



Capt. John Sherman, 
Col. Joseph Minor, 
Daniel Sherman, Esq., 
Nathan Preston, Esq., 
Noah B. Benedict, Esq., 
John Strong, Jr., Esq., 
Nathan Preston, Esrp, 
Charles B. Phelps, Esq., 
John Strong, Jr., Esq., 
Charles B. Phelps, Es(i., 
Nathaniel B. Smith, Esq., 
Charles B. Phelps, Esq., 
Leman B. Sprague, Esq., 
Thomas Bull, Esq., 
Charles B. Phelps, Esq., 
Thomas Bull, Esq., 
Charles B. Pheli:)s, Esq., 



Rev. Anthony Stoddard, 
Gideon Walker, Esq., 
Daniel Sherman, Jr., 
Nathan Preston, Es(j., 
Noah B. Benedict, Esq., 
Matthew Minor, Jr., Es(j., 
Judson Blackman, 
Nathan Preston, Jr., 
Edward M. Phelps, 
Thomas Bull, Escp, 
William Cothren, 
David S. Bull, 



JUDGES. 




Appointed. 


Retired. 


Oct., 


1719, 


Resigned May, 1728. 


]\Iay, 


1728, 


May, 1758. 


May, 


1758, 


May, 1795. 


May, 


1795, 


May, 1805. 


Mav, 


1805, 


Resigned May, 1816. 


May, 


181(1, 


May, 1818. 


May, 


1818, 


died Sept. 20, 1822.' 


May, 


1823, 


May, 1834. 


May, 


1*834, 


died Nov. 1, 1834.5 


May, 


1835, 


IMay, 1838. 


May, 


1838, 


May, 1842. 


^lay, 


1842, 


May, 1844. 


May, 


1844, 


May, 1845. 


]May, 


1845, 


May, 184G. 


JNIay, 


1846, 


May, 1847. 


Mav, 


1847, 


]\Iay, 1849. 


May, 


1849. 




CLERKS. 




Oct., 


1719, 


Resigned May, 1759. 


June, 


1 759, 


1778. 




1778, 


June, 1794. 


June 18, 


,1794, 


June, 1795. 


June 


, 1795, 


May, 1805. 


June. 


, 1805, 


May, 1816. 


June, 


1816, 


May, 1818. 


May, 


1818, 


Sept., 1833. 


Sept., 


1833, 


June, 1834. 


June, 


1834, 


April, 1845. 


April 17, 


1845, 


June 22, 1845. 


June 22, 


1845. 





1 The duties of probate .judge were performed from this time till May, 182.3, by Jolni 
Kingsbury, Esq., of Waterbury district, by statutory provision. 

2 Holbrook Curtiss, Esq., of Watertown district held jurisdiction till May, 1835. 



L)» HISTORY 


OF ANCIENT 


WOODBURY. 


REGISTERS, 


OR TOWN CLERKS 


OF 


WOODBURY. 




Appointed. 


Retired. 


Capt. John Minor, 


1672, 




Dec, 1702. 


John Sherman, Esq., 


Dec., 1702, 




Dec, 1727. 


Col. Joseph Minor, 


Dec., 1727, 




Dec, 1755. 


Gideon Walker, Es(|., 


Dec, 17.55, 




Dec, 1780. 


Peter Gilchrist, 


Dec., 1780, 




died Dec, 1782, 


Nathan Preston, 


March 3, 1783, 




Oct., 1822. 


Leman Sherman, 


Oct., 1822, 




died Oct. 24, 1831. 


Matthew Minor, Jr., 


Dec, 1831, 




died Dec, 1839. 


Lewis Jiidd, 


Dec 20, 1839, 




Oct.,. 184 (J, 


Elijah Sherman, 


Oct., 184G, 




Oct., 1847. 


Lewis Judd, 


Oct., 1847, 




Oct., 1851. 


Elijah Sherman, 


Oct., 1851, 




Oct., 1852. 


Lewis Judd, 


Oct., 1852. 







ROLL OF REPRESENTATIVES. 



Woodbury was .settled in 1672, made a town in 1674, but was not repre- 
sented in the General Court till 1684. The . following is a roll of the repre- 
sentatives to the present time. < 



1G84 



1685 



1686 



1687 



1688 



1689 



1690 



1691 



1692 



1693 



1694 



1695 



1696 



1697 



1698 



1699 



1700 



May Session. 
Capt. John Minor, 
Lt. Joseph Judson, 

No choice. 

No choice, 
Capt. John Minor, 
Lt. Joseph Judson, 
Capt. John Minor, 
{ No choice, 
-| Andross' usurpation, 
{ No choice, 
Capt. John Minor, 
Israel Curtis, \^ 

No choice. 

No choice, 
Lt. Israel Curtis, 
Capt. John jVIinor, 
Lt. Israel Curtis, June, 

No choice, 
Lt. Israel Curtis, 

No choice, 
Capt. John Minor, 
Lt. Israel Curtis, 
Capt. John Minor, 
Lt. Israel Curtis, 
Capt. John Minor, 
Lt. Israel Curtis, 
Capt. John Minor, 

No choice, 
Thomas Minor, 

No choice, 
Israel Curtis, 

No choice, 
John Slierman, 

No choice. 



October Session. 
Capt. John INIinor. 
Lt. Joseph Judson. 
Capt. John Elinor. 
Lt. Jose])h Judson. 
Capt. John I^Iinor. 
Lt. Joseph Judson. 
Capt. John JNIinor, June. 

No choice. ) 

No choice. |- 

No choice. ) 
Capt. John Minor. 
Israel Curtis. 

No choice. 

No choice. 
Capt. John Minor. 
Lt. Israel Curtis. 
Lt. Israel Curtis. 

No choice. 
.Lt. Israel Curtis, Oct. and Sept. 

No choice. 

No choice. 

No choice. 
Capt. John ]\Iinor. 
Lt. Israel Curtis. 
Capt. John Minor. 
Lt. Israel Curtis. 

No choice. 

No choice. 
John Elinor. 

No choice. 
John Sherman. 

No choice. 

No choice. 

No choice. 



I 





HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 




May Session. 


October Session. 


1701 


No choice, 


No choice. 




No choice, 


No choice. 


1702 


Samuel Jenner, 


No choice. 




No choice, 


No choice. 


1703 


John Minor, 


No choice. 




Israel Curtiss, 


No choice. 


1704 


John Sherman, 


John Sherman. 




Israel Curtiss, 


Israel Curtiss. 


1705 


John Sherman, 


John Minor. 




Israel Curtiss, 


John Sherman. 


1706 


John Minor, 


John Sherman. 




No choice, 


No choice. 


1707 


No choice, 


John Sherman. 




No choice. 


No choice. 


1708 


John Minor, 


John Minor. 




John Sherman, 


John Sherman. 


1709 


John Mitchell, 


John Minor. 




No choice, 


John Shergian. 


1710 


John Sherman, 


John Sherman. 




No choice, 


No choice. 


1711 


John Sherman, (Speaker,) 


John Sherman, (Speaker.) 




Benjamin Hinman, 


Benjamin Hinman. 


1712 


John Sherman, (Speaker,) 


John Sherman, (Speaker.) 




Joseph Minor, 


Titus Hinman. 


1713 


Joseph Minor, 


Titus Hinman. 




No choice. 


Joseph Minor. 


/1714 


A Titus Hinman, V" 
' William Preston, 


^Capt. Titus Hinman. 
Joseph Minor. 




1715 


Joseph Minor, 


Thomas Judd. 




John Curtiss, 


John Hoskins. 


1716 


No choice. 


/-Capt. Titus Hinman. 




No choice. 


Joseph IMinor. 


1717 


Joseph Minor, 


Joseph Minor. 




William Preston, 


John Curtiss. 


1718 


Joseph Minor, 


Capt. Thomas Judd. 




Stephen Curtiss, 


Timothy Stanley. 


1719 


^Capt. Titus Hinman, 
Joseph Minor, 


John Judson. 




Benjamin Hickock. 


1720 


Joseph Minor, 


<Japt. Titus Hinman. 




Zachariah Walker, 


' Lt. Joseph Minor. 


1721 


William Preston, 


Joseph Minor. 




John Judsoii, 


John Curtiss. 


1722 


Joseph Minor, 


William Preston. 




Thomas Knowles, 


Ebenezer Warner. 


1723 


Capt. Joseph Minor, 


Capt. ^Villiam Preston. 




Thomas Knowles, 


Ebenezer Warner. 


1724 


Capt. William Preston, 


Capt. Joseph Minor. 




Ephraim Minor, 


William Preston. 


1725 


Joseph Judson, 


Capt. Joseph Minor. 




Andrew Hinman, 


AVilliam Preston. 


1726 


Capt. Joseph INlinor, 


Capt. William Preston. 




Adino Strong, 


Joseph Minor. 


"■1727 


Capt. Joseph Minor, 


William Preston. 




Henry Castle, 


Andrew Hinman. 


1728 


Capt. Joseph Minor, 


Capt. Joseph Minor. 




Capt. William Preston, 


Andrew Hinman. 




61 





769 



770 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURT. 



May Session. 

1729 Joseph Minor, 
"William Trcston, 

1730 Joseph Minor, 
^Villianl Trcston, 

1731 .Joseph Minor, 
Noah Ilinnian, 

1732 Joseph Minor, 
William Preston, 

1733 Joseph JNIinor, 
William Preston, 

173-4 John Curtiss, 

Ephraim Minor, 

1735 John Curtiss, 
Ephraim INlinor, 

1736 Joseph Judson, 
Andrew Hinman, 

1737 William Preston, 
Noah Ilinman, 

1738 Cai)t. William Preston, 
Andrew Hinman, 

1739 William Preston, 
Noah Hinman, 

1740 Capt. William Preston, 

* Capt. Andrew Hinman, 

1741 Noah Hinman, 
Knell aiitchell, 

1742 Samuel Minor, 
Daniel Curtiss, 

1743 William Preston, 
Noah Hinman, 

1 744 William Preston, 
Noah Hinman, 

1745 Col. Joseph Minor, 
Col. William Preston, 

1746 Col. William Preston, 
Noah Hinman, 

1747 Col. William Preston, 
Noah Hinman, 

1748 Caleb IMartin, 
Benjamin Hlco.x, 

1749 AVil'liam Preston, 
Noah Hinman, 

1750 Noah Hinman, 
Samuel Minor, 

1751 Samuel Minor, 
Benjamin Hicox, 

1752 Noah Hinman, 
Samuel jMinor, 

1753 Samuel ]\Iinor, 
Increase Moseley, 

1754 Daniel Sherman, 
Increase Moseley, 

1755 Daniel Sherman, 
Benjamin Stiles, v^' 

1756 Increase Moseley, ■-' 
Benjamin Stiles, 



\. 



October Session. 

Henry Castle. 
Andrew Hinman. 
Joseph Minor. 
AVilliam Judd. 
Joseph Minor. 
AVilliam Preston. 
Joseph Minor. 
William Preston. 
Joseph Minor. 
William Preston. 
John Curtiss. 
Ephraim Minor. 
William Preston. 
Noah Hinman. 
Joseph Minor. 
Noah Ilinman. 
William Preston. 
Noah Hinman. 
Joseph Minor. 
William Preston. 
Capt. Thomas Knowles 
Andrew Ilinman. 
Knell Mitchell, 
llichard Bronson. 
Noah Hinman. 
William Preston; 
Noah Hinman. 
Samuel IMinor. 
AVilllam Preston. 
Noah Hinman. 
William Preston. 
Noah Ilinman. 

No choice. 

No choice. 
Col. William Preston. 
Noah Ilinman. 
Caleb ]\lartln. 
Benjamin Hicox. 
William Preston. 
Noah Hinman. 
Samuel IMinor. 
Eleazur Hinman. 
Samuel ]Minor. 
Benjamin Hicox. 
Sanuiel Minor. 
Increase Moseley. 
Samuel Minor. 
Increase INIoseley. 
Samuel IMinor. 
Increase IMoseley. 
Daniel Sherman, 
Increase IMoseley. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Increase Moseley 
Samuel Minor. 

No choice. 



-^^ 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY 



771 



May Session. 

1757 Daniel Sherman, 
Elisha Stoddard, 

1 758 Daniel Sherman, 
Benjamin Ilicox, 

1759 Daniel Sherman, 
Benjamin llicox, 

1 760 Daniel Sherman, 

Col. Benjamin Hinman, 

1761 Daniel Sherman, 

Col. Benjamin Hinman, 

1762 Daniel Shei-man, 

Col. Benjamin Hinman, 

1763 Daniel Sherman, 
Inerease Moscley, 

1764 Daniel Sherman, 
Inerease Moseley, 

1765 Daniel Sherman, 
Increase Moseley, 

176G Daniel Sherman, 
Increase INIoseley, 

1767 Increase Moseley, 

No choice, 

1768 Daniel Sherman, 
Benjamin Hinman, 

1769 Daniel Sherman, 
Benjamin Stiles, 

1770 Daniel Sherman, 
Benjamin Stiles, 

1771 Daniel Sherman, 
Benjamin Stiles, 

1772 Daniel Sherman, 
Increase Moseley, 

1773 Daniel Sherman, 
Edward Hinman, 

1774 Daniel Sherman, 
Increase Moseley, 

177r> Daniel Sherman, 

Increase Moseley, ^^^ 

1776 Daniel Sherman, 
Increase Moseley, v^ 

Five sessions this year. 

1777 Daniel Sherman, 
Increase ]\Ioseley, 

1778 Daniel Sherman, 
Increase Moseley, 

1779 Daniel Sherman, 
Increase Moscley, 

1 780 Daniel Sherman, 

Benjamin Hinman, 

1781 No choice. 
No choice. 

1782 Increase Moseley, 
Ilezekiah Thompson, 

1783 Daniel Sherman, 
Increase IVIoseley, 

1784 Hezekiah Thompson, 
Increase Moseley, 



October Session. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Benjamin Hinman. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Benjamin Ilicox. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Col. Benjamin Hinman. 
*" Daniel Sherman. 
Cok Benjamin Hinman. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Col. Benjamin Hinman. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Benjamin Stiles. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Increase Moscley. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Increase Moseley. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Increase Moseley. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Increase Moseley. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Benjamin Hinman. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Benjamin Hinman. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Benjamin Stiles. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Benjamin Stiles. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Benjamin Stiles. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Increase ISIoseley. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Increase Moseley. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Increase Moseley. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Increase Moseley. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Inerease Moseley. '^ 

Daniel Sherman. 
Benjamin Hinman. 
Andrew Graham. 
Benjamin Hinman. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Benjamin Hinman. 
Benjamin Hinman. 
Increase Moseley. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Increase Moseley. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Inerease Moseley. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Increase Moseley. 
Increase IMoseley. 
Hezekiah Thompson. 



772 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



May Session. 

1785 Daniel Sherman, 
Benjamin Ilinman, 

1786 Daniel Sherman, 
Bonjamiu Hinman, 

1787 Benjamin Hinman, 
Da\id Ambler, 

1 7SS Daniel Sherman, 

Hezeiciah Thompson, 

1789 Daniel Sherman, 
David Hind, 

1700 Daniel Shexman, 
Nathaniel Smith, 

1791 Daniel Sherman, 
Nathan Preston, 

1 792 Nathaniel Smith, 
Shadraeh Osborne, 

1793 Nathaniel Smith, 
Nathan Preston, 

1794 Samuel Orton, 
Curtiss Hurd, 

1795 Nathaniel Smith, 
Shadraeh Osborne, 

1796 David Tallman, 
Phineas Smith, 

1797 Nathan Preston, 
Elijah Sherman, 

1798 Elijah Sherman, 
Noah B. Benedict, 

1799 Garwood H. Cunningham, 
Reuben Mitchell, 

1800 Reuben Mitchell, 
John Clark, 

1801 Nathan Preston, 
John Clark, 

1802 Nathan Preston, 
John Clark. 

1803 John Strong, 
Reuben Mitchell, 

1804 Elijah Sherman, 
Reuben Mitchell, 

1805 Nathaniel Perry, 
Samuel "Walker, 

1806 Nathan Preston, 
Elijah Sherman, 

1807 Elijah Sherman, 
Nathan Preston, 

1808 John Strong, 
Matthew Minor, 

1809 John Strong, 
Noah B. Benedict, 

1810 Noah B. Benedict, 
^Matthew Minor, 

1811 Nathaniel Lamson, 
Noah B. Benedict, 

1812 John Strong, 
Nathaniel Bacon, 



October Session. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Benjamin Hinman. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Benjamin Hinman. 
Daniel Sherman. 

No choice. 
Daniel Sherman. 
David Hurd. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Hezekiah Thompson. 
Daniel Sherman. 
Nathaniel Smith. 
Nathaniel Smith. 
Nathan Preston. 
Nathaniel Smith. 
Nathan Preston. 
Nathaniel Smith. 
Nathan Preston. 
Nathaniel Smith. 
Shadraeh Osborne. 
Nathan Preston. 
Shadraeh Osborne. 
David Talknan. 
Noah B. Benedict. 
Nathan Preston. 
Elijah Sherman. 
Elijah Sherman. 
Noah B. Benedict. 
Garwood H. Cunningham. 
Reuben jMitchell. 
John Clark. 
Noah B. Benedict. 
Garwood H. Cunningham. 
John Clark. 
"William Hawley. 
Elijah Sherman. 
John Strong. 
Reuben Mi'tehell. 
Noah B. Benedict. 
Reuben Mitchell. 
"William Hawley. 
Nathaniel Perry. 
Reuben Mitchell. 
John Strong. 
John Strong. 
Noah B. Benedict. 
John Strong. 
Noah B. Benedict. 
John Strong. 
Noah B. Benedict. 
Nathaniel Bacon. 
Nathaniel Lamson. 
Nathaniel Perrj'. 
Daniel Bacon. 
John Strong. 
Nathaniel Bacon. 



HISTORY OF ANCIEXT ■WOODBURY. 



773 



1813 

18M 
1815 
181G 
1817 
1818 



Mav, 
1819 
1820 
1821 
1822 
1823 
1821 
1825 
1826 
1827 
1828 
1829 
1830 
1831 
1832 
1833 
1834 
1835 
1836 
1837 
1838 
1839 
1840 
1841 
1842 
1843 
1844 
1845 
1846 
1847 
1848 
1849 
1850 
1851 
1852 
1853 



May Session. 
Nathaniel Bacon, 
John Strong, Jr., 
Daniel Bacon, 
Keuben Martin, 
Nathaniel Perrj', 
Philo Murray, 
Nathan Preston, 
Reuben IMartin, 
John P. I\iarshall, 
Elijah Sherman, Jr., 
Natiian Preston, 
Philo I\Inrrav, 



October Session. 
Nathan Preston. 
Nathaniel Perry. 
Daniel Bacon. 
Reuben Martin. 
Daniel Bacon. 
Elijah Daily. 
Daniel Bacon. 
Nathaniel Perry. 
Nathaniel Perry. 
Jesse Minor. 
John P. Marshall. 
Elijah Sherman, Jr. 



1819. 



UNDER THE CONSTITUTION. 



Reuben Martin, 
Nathaniel Perry, 
Daniel Bacon, 
Daniel Bacon, 
"William Drakeley, 
William Drakeley, 
John Strong, Jr., 
John Strong, Jr., 
Noah B. Benedict, 
John Brush, 
Harvey Morriss, 
Nehemiah C. Sandford, 
Charles B. Phelps, 
JMatthew Minor, .Jr., 
Matthew Minor, Jr., 
Gideon B. Botstbrd, 
Harvey Morriss, 
Peter F. Peck, 
Charles B. Phelps, 
Harvey Morriss, 
Hernion Stoddard, 
John Judson, 
No choice, 
Phineas S. Bradley, 
Daniel Curtiss, 
Daniel Curtiss, 
Thomas Bull, 
Daniel Bacon, 
Nathaniel B. Smith, 
"William B. Hotchkiss, 
"Willys Lambert, 
Monroe C. Sherman, 
Bennet A. Sherman 
Reuben H. Hotchkiss, 
Solomon Strong, 



Nathan Preston.. 
Daniel Bacon. 
Samuel Steele. 
"William Drakeley. 
Chauncey Crafts. 
Samuel Steele. 
Jeremiah Peck. 
Peter F. Peck. 
Daniel Bacon. 
Nathaniel B. Smith. 
Samuel Steele. 
Matthew Minor, Jr. 
Treat Camp. 
Gideon B. Botsford. 
Jeremiah Peck. 
Treat Camp. 
John Judson. 
"William H. Bacon. 
Elmore Judson. 
Nathaniel Preston. 
Farnham Patchen. 
Charles Booth. 

No choice. 
Lewis B. Candee. 
Stephen Atwood. 

No choice. 
John Abernethy. 
Charles P. Strong. 
Reuben H. Hotchkiss. 
Barlow Russell, 
Silas Clark. 
Jason Parker. 
Josiah G. Minor. 
Charles B. Phelps. 
Alexander Gordon. 



774 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 



In the year 1797, the Post-Office was established. 



LIST OF POSTMASTERS. 





Entered. 




Retired. 


Doct. Daniel Huntington, 


1797 


Resigned 


1814 


John P. Marshall, 


May 28, 1814 


Resigned 


1817 


William Perry, 


1817 




1822 


Leman Sherman, 


1822 


Died 


1831 


Charles B. Phelps, 


1831 




1841 


Andrew Root, 


1841 




1844 


Charles H. Webb, 


1844 




1849 


John Marvin, 


1849 


Resigned, 


1850 


Charles B. Crafts, 


1850 


Resigned, 


1S53 


Gilead IP Smith, 


March, 1853 


June, 


1853 


George P. Allen, 


June, 1853 







SOVEREIGNS OF ENGLAND 



While Conyieclicut teas a colony, after Woodbury was settled, 1672. 

Charles II., ' Began to reign, 1660 

James II., " " 1685 

Mary and William III., " " 1689 

WilfiamllL, " « 1694 

Anne, «« « 1702 

Georffel, " " 1714 

George II., « " 1727 

George III., « " 1760 

The last ceased to reign, 1811 



LIST OF GOVERNORS 



0/ Connecticut, since the settlement of Woodbury. 
John Winthrop, - - from 1659 to 1676 — died in office. 

William Leete, - - from 1670 to 1683 " " 

Robert Treat, - - - from 1683 to Oct. 31, 1687. 



Government interrupted fi'om Oct. 31 

Robert Treat, - - from 

Fitz-John AVinthrop, - from 

Gurdon Saltonstall, - - from 

Joseph Talcott, - - from 

Jonathan Law, - - from 

Roger Wolcott, - - from 

Thomas Fitch, - - - from 

William Pitkin, - - from 

Jonathan Trumbull, - - from 

Mattliew Griswold, - from 

Samuel Huntington, - - from 

Oliver Wolcott, - - from 

Jonathan Trumbull, - - from 

John Treadwell, - - from 

Roger Griswold, - - from 

John Cotton Smith, - from 

Oliver Wolcott, - - from 

Gideon Tomlinson, - from 



, 168 7, to May 9, 1689. 

1689 to 1698. 

1698 to 1707, died. 

Dec. 17, 1707, to 1724, died. 

Oct., 1724, to 1741, died. 

Oct., 1741, to 1750, died. 

Nov., 1750, to 1754. 

1754 to 1766. 

1766 to 1769, died. 

Oct., 1769, to 1784. 

ll^A to 1786. 

1786 to 1790. 

1796 to 1798. 

1798 to 1809, died. 

Oct., 1809, to 1811. 

1811 to Oct., 1812, died. 

1813 to 1817. 

1817 to 1827. 

1827 to 1831. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



775 



John S. Peters, 
Samuel A. Foot, - 
AVilliam W. Ellsworth, 
Chauneey F. Cleveland, 
Roger S. Baldwin, 
Isaac Toucey, 
Clark Bissell, - 
Joseph Trumbull, 
Thomas H. Seymour, 



- from 1833 to 1834—1835 to 1838. 
from 1834 to 1835. 

- from 1838 to 1842. 
from 1842 to 1844. 

- from 1844 to 1846. 
from 1846 to 1847. 

- from 1847 to 1849. 
from 1849 to 1850. 
from May, 1850 to Oct., 1853. 



Charles H. Pond, on resignation of Gov. Seymour, from Oct., 1853. 



CENSUS OF WOODBURY. 



Year. 


Whites. Blacks, including Indians. 


1756 


2,880 31 


1774 


5,224 89 9 Indians. 


1782 


4,980 83 


1790 


2,662 


1800 


1,944 three of the number being slaves, out of forty- 


« 


seven in the state. 


1810^ 


1,963 one slave. 


1820 


1,885 one slave. 


1830 


* 2,045 one slave. 


1840 


1,948 one slave. 


1850 


2,150 


1863 


2,201 



WOODBURY LISTS. 



On the eleventh of October, 1683, the whole number of tax-payers in the 
colony was 2,735. The whole number of tax-payers in Woodbury at that 
date, was 62. The whole amount of the lists of the colony was £159,385, 
Of this amount, Woodbury had £2,552. 



Year. 


Persons. 


Estate. 


Year. 


Persons. 


Estate. 


1683 


62 


£2,552 


1698 


72 


£2,974 2s. 


1684 


62 


2,580 


1699 


05 


2,084 


1685 


74 


3,152 


1700 


66 


2,814 


1686 


64 


2,947 


1701 


65 


3,045 


1687 


91 


2,912 


1702 


80 


3,260 


1689 


53 


2,700 


1703 


86 


3,646 


1690 


46 


2,093 


1704 


80 


3,807 


1691 


52 


2,487 


1705 


84 


3,492 


1693 


61 


2,639 


1706 


90 


3,663 2s. 


1694 


61 


3,049 


1707 


80 


3,840 


1695 


62 


2,767 


1708 


80 


3,715 


1696 


63 


2,970 


1709 . 


79 


3,598 


1697 


64 


2,989 









Year. Estate. 



Year. Estate. 



Year. Estate. 



1710 


£4,284 


1716 


£5,019 


7s. 


1722 


£6,892 19s. 


1711 


4,049 


1717 


5,500 


19s. 


1723 


7,196 15s. 


1712 


3,635 


1718 


5,817 




1724 


7,317 12s. 


1713 


4,766 19s. 


1719 


5,980 




1725 


8,064 


1714 


4,434 


1720 


6,190 


7s. 


1726 


7,988 13s. 


1715 


4,806 


1721 


6,636 


9s. 


1727 


8,191 13s. 



776 


HISTORY OP 


ANCIENT 


■WOO DBURT. 


Year. 


Estate. 


Year. 


Estate. 




Yeai'. 


Estate. 


1728 


£8,359 lis. 


1772 


£57,931 2.?. 


9d. 


1816 


S44, 245.67 


1729 


8,455 15s. 


1773 


57,882 3s. 


lOd 


. 1817 


43,229.64 


1731 


9,648 is. 


1774 


57,229 4s. 


3d. 


1818 


43,348.37 


1732 


10,175 


1775 


56,435 14s. 


lOd 


. 1819 


31,725.56 


1733 


10,262 3s. 


1776 


56,572 19s, 


.6d. 


1820 


29,390.14 


1734 


10,753 Os.Gd. 


1777 


56,699 4s. 


lid 


. 1821 


29,430.12 


1735 


12,197 19s. 


1778 


59,536 8s. 


2d. 


1822 


30,441.49 


1736 


12,885 lis. 


1779 


59,462 6s. 


9d. 


1823 


30,144.79 


1739 


14,474 4s. 9d. 


1780 


44,375 18s. 


lid 


, 1824 


30,450.82 


1740 


16,487 Os. 3d. 


1781 


45,149 7s. 


2d. 


1825 


30,329.90 


1741 


15,803 Os. Id. 


1782 


49,125 12s. 


dd. 


1826 


28,200-88 


1742 


16,326 12s. 3d. 


1783 


47,600 4s. 


Ud. 


, 1827 


28,218 43 


1743 


18,656 5s. 5d. 


1784 


37,749 15s. 


dd. 


1828 


28,946-16 


1744 


18,674 16s. dd. 


1785 


39,274 14.S-. 


Id. 


1829 


29,338-21 


1745 


20,949 9s. 


1786 


36,955 19s. 


lid. 


, 1830 


29,650-93 


1746 


22,358 7s. 7d. 


1787 


15,263 6s. 




1831 


30,215-02 


1748 


24,327 17s. ed. 


1788 


15,325 14s. 


6d. 


1832 


28,118-02 


1749 


29,861 Is. 3d. 


1789 


16,835 5s. 


ed. 


1833 


2^9,436-81 


1750 


27,787 9s. lOc^, 


.1790 


17,046 19s. 


lid. 


1834 


30,742.05 


1751 


28,703 12s. 


1791 


17,982 13s. 


ed. 


1835 


31,417.45 


1752 


30,038 3s. 3d. 


1792 


19,451 4s. ] 


[Od. 


1836 


32,671.25 


1753 


29,781 5s. 3d. 


1793 


20,679 18s. 


ed. 


1837 


34,735.80 


1754 


33,165 10s. 3(/. 


1794 


21,027 Is. 


2d. 


1838 


35,147.08 


1755 


30,298 7s. 10c7. 1795 


22,155 5s. 4c?. 


1839 


34,419.80 


1756 


34,407 4s. Id. 


1796 


$74,616.27 




1840 


34,526.98 


1757 


37,17016s. 7d. 


1797 


46,260.23 




1841 


34,830.20 


1758 


38,813 18s. 4(/. 


1798 


48,456.39 




1842 


34,991.71 


1760 


41,832 13s. 5(/. 


1800 


46,393.83 




1843 


31,658.54 


1762 


40,436 17s. Id. 


1801 


47,527.75 




1844 


31,595.39 


1763 


44,456 13s. 4d. 


1802 


48,381.38 




1845 


32,170.21 


1764 


45,429 10s. lid. 


1806 


40,448.77 




1846 


33,217.89 


1765 


59,327 18s. lOr/. 1808 


39,906.23 




1847 


34,178.35 


1766 


62,334 3s. 8d. 


1811 


42,894.40 




1848 


35,351.02 


1767 


.49,425 8s. lid. 


.1812 


44,327.54 




1849 


35,050.00 


1768 


53,799 19s. ed. 


1813 


45,201.81 




1850 


32,861-00 


1769 


54,317 lOs. 7d. 


1814 


45,347.38 




1851 


37,280.00 


1770 


54,996 4s. 7d. 


1815 


44,535.46 




1852 


39,653.83 


1771 


54,325 18s. 













LIST OF AVOODBURY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 



John Minor, 
Col. Josepli Minor, 
John Sherman, 
Noah Ilinman, 
Col. William Preston, 
Daniel Castle, 
Benjamin Ilicock, 
Hezckiah Hooker, 
Increase ^Moseley, 
Daniel Sherman, 
Benjamin Ilinman, 
Gideon Walker, 
Thomas Warner, 
Joseph Pierce, 



Daniel Averilt, 
Elisha Stoddard, 
Ilonrv Castle, 
Tilley Blakoley, 
Benjamin Stiles, 
Edward Ilinman, 1776. 
David Hard, 1 780, 
Ilez'h Thompson, 1782, 
Benjamin Specs, 
Ohvil Parmeley, 
Justus Johnson, 
Nathan Preston, 1793, 
Curtis Ilurd, 
Nathaniel Smith, 1796, 



NoahB. Benedict, 1800, 
John Clark, 1801, 
John Strong, 
Reuben Mitchell, 
Matthew JMinor, Jun., 
Nathaniel Bacon, 1811, 
Joseph M. Palmer, 1811, 
Charles B. Phelps, 1818, 
Philo Murrey, 
Jesse Minor, 
Nathaniel Perry, Jun., 
Leman Sherman, 
Gideon B. Botstbrd, 
John Strong, Jun., 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY 



777 



John Jiulson, 
Elijah Sherman, Jan., 
Treat Camp, 
Daniel Bacon, 
Joel Pierce, 
Samuel Steele, 
Samuel Hopkins, 
Lauren .Jiidson, 
Ashbel Moody, 
Isaac Peck, 
John Hurlbut, 
Thomas Bull, 
Daniel Martin, 
Elmore Judson, 
Harvey Morris, 
William De Forest, 
Samuel W. Gould, 
Ethan Walter, Jr., 
Reuben H. Plotchkiss, 
Hermon Judson, 



Phineas S. Bradley, 
Nathaniel B. Smith, 
Samuel Sherman, 
William R. Atwood, 
Loren Forbes, 
Edson Camp, 
George Peck, 
Lewis Judd, 
Horace S. Atwood, 
Norman Parker, 
Gideon H. Hollister, 
Nathaniel INlinor, 
Barlow Russell, 
Leman B. Sprague, 
Charles P. Strong, 
John P. Marshall, 
Peter F. Peck, 
Levi S. Douglass, 
Garwood H. Atwood, 
Phineas A. Judson, 



Benjamin C. Peck, 
Philander Nichols, 
Calvin H. Downs, 
William Cothrcn, 
Samuel Minor, 
Leman G. Atwood, 
Silas Chapin, 
Truman Minor, 
John W. Rogers, 
George Drakeley, 
Charles H. Webb, 
David C. Somers, 
Nathan Warner, Jr. 
William Way, 
Jason Parker, 
David C. Bacon, 
Grandison Beardslev 
AVillys Lambert, 
David H. Curtiss. 



MEMBERS OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, 

August, 1818. 

Daniel Bacon, Esq., Nathaniel Perry, M. D. 

MEMBERS 

Of the Convention of Connecticut, Jan. 3, 1788, for the ratification of the 
Constitution of the United States. 

Hon. Daniel Sherman, } ^Voodbury 
Doct. Samuel Orton, j -^ ' 

Benjamin Hinman, Esq., Southbury. 

T.''^"- ^^S' 1*^'"^'' ^!'^\ I Washington. 
Daniel N. Bnnsmade, Esq., \ == 

]\Ioses Hawley, Bethlem. 

All the above"^ voted in favor of ratifying the Constitution. 



FORT WILLIAM HENRY ALARM. 

CajH. Ehenezer Downs' Company. 
In August, 1757, there was an alarm for the relief of Fort Wilham Henry 
near Lake George. The persons named below marched for that fort on this 
occasion, and were gone about three weeks. 
Capt. Ebenezer Downs, Thaddeus Lacey, 
Lt. Gid. Stoddard, Gideon Hollister, 

Lt. Mat. Mitchell, Joseph Rcny, 

Sgt. Jo. Hicock, Eldad King, 

Sgt. Return Strong, Obadiah Wheeler, 

Jedediah Hurd, Timothy Allen, 

Thomas Kuowles, Benajah Hawley, 

Joseph Washburn, John Stoddard, 

Daniel King, Timothy Walker, 

Gideon Tuttle, Nathan Hine, 

Gideon Curtiss, Benjamin Warner, 

Robert Potter, Carpenter Sandford, 

John Calhoun, Sam. Hurd, 

Selah Strong, Samuel Knowles, 

G2 



Abner Mallory, 
Reuben Hurlbut, 
Benajah King, 
Nathan Hurd, 
TiUey Blakesley, 
Nathaniel Minor, 
Bushnell Benedict, 
Timothy Turrell, 
Daniel Sherman, 
Thaddeus Curtiss, 
Gideon Hicock, 
Ben. Sandford, 
Reuben Castle, 
Reuben Hinman, 



778 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



Samuel IMinor, 
Daniel Illcock, 
Enos Hawley, 
Peter pastlc, 
Ebenezer Hurlbut, 
Daniel Judson, 
James Durkee, 
Jesse Roots, 
Samuel Hinmau, 
AVm. Hopson, 
Peleg Stone, 
Thomas Roots, 
Ben. Prime, 



Sctli Minor, 
James Morey, 
David Crissey, 
Jolm Reynolds, 
Joseph Burch, 
Noah Frisbie, 
Ezekiel Baker, 
John Hunt, 
Jo.-iah Bassett, 
Josiah Judson, 
John Bassett, 
Samuel Gal pin, 
Daniel Hurlbut, 



Gideon Bristol, 
Phineas Potter, 
Gideon Bronson, 
Edward Smith, 
Ancr Bronson, 
David Hicock, 
David Johnson, 
Elisha Stoddard, 
Robert Edmond, 
Mattbew Dutton, 
David Hurd, 
Gideon Squire. 



CAPT. WAIT IlINMAN S COMPANY. 



Capt. Wait Ilinman, 
Lt. John Ilinman, 
Lt. Ephraim Baker, 
David Martin, 
Elijah Hurlbut, 
Joseph Perry, 
Benajah Hinman, 
David Pouter, 
Samuel "Wheeler, 
Elizur IMitchell, 
Amos Hicock, 
Daniel Wheeler, 
Edward Lake, 
Edward Frisbie, 
John Hurlbut, 
Mitchell Horn, 
Lemuel Castle, 
Timothy Fuller, 
Ephraim Baldwin, 
Gideon HoUey, 
John Jackson, 
Nathaniel Sandford, 
Timothy Judson, 
Zechariah Walker, 
Ben. Eastman, 
Gideon Munn, 
Israel Sumner, 
Noah Tuttle, 
Samuel Castle, 
Wm. Baldwin, 
Deliverance Koine, 
Wm. Black, 



In the- same alarm . 
Samuel Judson, 
Amos Martin, 
Abicl Tomlinson, 
Daniel Minor, 
David Barnum, 
Abraham Brownson, 
Charles Smith, 
Daniel Cressey, 
Elihu Smith, 
Joseph Gilbert, 
Ben. Galpin, 
David Stiles, 
Elijah Brownson, 
Graham Lake, 
John AtweU, 
Noah Hurlbut, 
Titus Beach, 
William Edmond, 
Ichabod Tuttle, 
Gideon Walker, 
John Corday, 
Remember Baker, 
Timothy Case, 
Abisha JMoseley, 
Isaac Bush, 
Jehial Post, 
Joseph Hurlbut, 
Robert Thomas, 
Thomas jNIinor, 
Zachariah AVeller, 
Hezekiah Noble, 



Charles Strong, 
David Durkee, 
David Ilinman, 
Daniel Wheeler, 
Hezekiah Thompson, 
Anthony Stoddard, 
David Foot, 
Daniel Read, 
Abiel Mitchell, 
Judah Durkee, 
David Calhoun, 
David Leavenworth, 
Eliphalet Clark, 
John Walker, 
Joseph Guthrie, 
Richard Bouden, 
Thaddeus Judson, 
Philemon Way, 
Israel Canfield, 
Ebenezer Hurlbut, 
Jonathan Royce, 
Samuel Logan, 
William Youngs, 
Samuel- Koine, 
Natlian Martin, 
Justice Blakeley, 
.Justice Gibbs, 
Samuel Curtiss, 
Thomas Durkee, 
James Nichols, 
Cole Weller. 



LIST OF SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTIONARY AVAR FROM 
WOODBURY. 

It may be safely asserted that no town in Connecticut, or in New England, 
furnished a greater number of men in the war of the Revolution, in propor- 
tion to the number of its inhabitants, than the town of Woodbury. In 1 776, 
every able-bodied man in this and the other western towns of Connecticut, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY 



779 



between the ages of sixteen and sixty years, was marched to New York, by 
order of Gen. Washington, and Woodbnry was during the entire war the 
head-quarters of the recruiting service in western Connecticut. No com- 
plete list of soldiers can be obtained. The following is the best that can now 
be had. It contains nearly 1,000 names. A few in tliis list may have come 
here from other towns to enlist. Probably not far from 1,500 men went from 
this town during the coui-se of the war. 



Armstrong, Stephen 

" • James 
Allen, Capt. Parmely 

" Nathaniel 
Arthur, James 
Avery, Benjamin 
" Nathaniel 



Avered, Reuben 
Aver, Peter 
in Austin, Caleb 
Aspinwal, Caleb 
Ambler, David 
Andrus, Lt. Benjamin 
" Thomas 



Baker, Phineas 

" Love well 

" Eldad 

" Edward 

" Natlian 

" Thaddeus 

" John 

" John, Jr. 

" Capt. Remember; 

killed at St. John's by 

the Indians, in 1775. 

His head was cut oH', 

and set upon a pole, 

and our people gave 

them a guinea to take 

it down, that they 

might bury it. 
Bull,"Major Thomas 
Brace, Joseph 
Bond, William 
Bassett, Samuel 
Bell, N. 

" Andrew 

" Benjamin 
Bacon, Josiah 

" Gould 

" Jabez, Jr. 
Blakesley, James 

" Capt. Tillcy 
" Isaac 
" Jonathan 
" Ezra 
" Samuel 
" Joseph 
Bedeau, William; rupt- 
ured in action, Oct., 

1778. 
Brinsmade, Hon. Dan. N. 



A. 

Arnold, Stephen 
Adge, Auer 
Atwood, Asa ; shot 

New York. 
Atwood, Benjamin 
Abernethy, James 
Allien, Samuel 

B. 

Brinsmade, Zechariah ; Brownson, Sgt. Abijah 
he was confined with " Thomas 

others at Halifax in " Abraham 

1 7 76, in a room " among Brewster, Jonas 
felons, thieves and ne- " Gideon 

groes," having been Burns, John 
taken prisoner with Bird, Ebenezer 
Col. Ethan Allen, the Beardsley, Nathan 
preceding 25th Sept., " John 

1775, and lodged for a " Henry 

time in Halifax jail, " Theodorus 

before transportation Beach, Curtiss 
to England. 
Bellamy, Jonathan ; at- 
torney, died of small- 
pox in 177 7, in New 
Jersey. 
Beemont, Friend 

" William 
Booth, Capt. James 

" Abijah 

" John 

" Amos 

" Joseph 

" Aaron ; taken 
prisoner, cai'ricd to 
England and kept six 



John ; was at first 
a tory, and enlisted in- 
to the British service ; 
was arrested and tried 
at Derby, convicted, 
and pardoned on con- 
dition of enlisting to 
serve during the war. 
Beach, Ambrose 
Bunnell, Frederick 
Bailey, Jonathan 
Brown, Asahel — 
" James " 
" Elijah ; died at 
New York. 



years and eight months. Buel, Benjamin 
Banham, .lohn Blois, Edward 

Barlow, John Bullard, Isaac 

" David Burton, I^ns. Judson 



Bunce, John ; sick .it 


(( 


Robert 


Ticonderoga in 1 775. 


a 


Ephraim 


Bunce, Isaiah 


(( 


Jeremiah 


Prownson, Luman 


a 


Asahel 


« Abel 


(I 


Daniel 


" Capt. Gideon 


u 


David 



Ens. Cornelius Bondy, WilUam 



780 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



Baldwin, Eno3, Jr. 

" John ; died in 
the northern army. 
Baldwin, Judali 
<' Nathan 
" Asalicl 
Barnes, Abraham; died 

in the army, 1781. 
Barnes, Samuel 
" Simeon 
" Frederick 
» John 
Beers, Lt. Nathan 
" Zachariah 
" Stephen 
" Abner 



Coles, James 
" Amos 

Crammer, John 

Chitman, Thomas 

Cutler, Joseph 

Carter, John 

Chatfield, Yarmouth 

Churchill, Oliver 
" Moses 

Curtiss, Lt. Ephraim 
« Elihu 
'« Edmund 
'* Kobcrt 
" Andrew 
" Jabez 
" Lewis, 
" Ebenezer 
'« David 
" Isaac 
" Jeremiah 
" Henry 
" Reuben 
" Abner 
" Daniel 
" Phineas 



Davenport, Jonathan 
" John 

Dudley, George 
" Buel, 
" Benjamin 
" Ehzur 
" Nathan 

Dimonds, John 
" David 

Davis, Amos 

DaUy, Obadiali 



Beers, Silas 

" Josiah 

" Philo 

" Lewis 
Belden, Asahel 

" Enos 
Bates, Elias 

" Ejihraim 
Burritt, Samuel 

« Dr. Anthony 
Bristol, Nathaniel 

" Gideon, eJr. 
Bannister, George 
Balcomb, Nathaniel 
Butler, Abel 
Bcecher, Abraham 

C. 

Curtiss, Aaron 

" Capt. Agur 

" Asa 

i" Wait 

" Israel, Jr. 

" Capt. Eleazur 
Crissey, Solomon 
" Truman 
Canfield, Thomas 

" Elisha 
Collins, Ens. Edward 
Chittenden, Daniel 
Case, John C. 

Crosby, 

Cogswell, Capt. William 
Cash, Africa 
Corbran, Samuel 
Clark, Benjamin 

" Isaac 

" Amos 

" William 

" John 

" Phineas 

" Robert 

'• Josiah 

D- 

Dixon, David 
" Archibald 
" Jared 
Doolittle, Thomas 
Doel, Shem 
Dunning, Capt. Elias; 

Commissary. 
Dunning, Christopher 
" David 
" Phineas 
Davidson, John 



Bradley, Zuar 
" Jehiel 

Benedict, William 

Bostwick, Andrews 

Blenney, Barnabas 

Botsford, Samuel 

Blaisdell, Roger 

Backus, Delucena ; after- 
ward Colonel in U. S. 
Army. 

Brothwell, Joseph F. 

Burchard, Dan " 

Bidlbrd, John 

Bloom, Isaac 

Burr, William, Sergeant 



Carpenter, AVilliam II. 

Couch, Capt. Ebenezer 

Chilson, Thomas 

Crowfoot, James 

Castle, John 
" Timothy 
" William 

Cole, Phineas 
" Simeon 

Chui'ch, Ebenezer 
" Moses 
" Nathaniel; 
wounded by a grape 
shot at White Plains, 
and disabled for life. 

Collin, Samuel 

Camp, Phineas 
" Ens. David 

Chapman, Capt. Nathan 
" Israel 

Chidson, John ; wounded 
in left arm at White 
Plains, Oct. 28th, 1 7 7G. 

Calechan, Thomas 

Crow, Elias 



Durkee, Benjamin 

" Asa 
Durbey, Ephraim 

" John 
De Forest, Joseph 
Dunbar,'Joseph 
Downs, Eliphalet 

" Daniel ; killed at 
White Plains. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 



781 



Eastman, Benjamin 
" Azariah 

Easton, Eliphalet 
" Normand 
" Julian 
'• Elijah ; enlisted 
in 1777, for three 
years ; was taken sick 
at ]\Iud' Fort, Nov., 
1777, and transferred 
to the hospital at Tren- 
ton, N. J. At the time 
the hospital was remo- 



Frisbie, Jonathan 

" Asah(>l 

" Noah 

" Noah, Jr. 

" Abiel 

" David 

" James 
Foot, Joseph ; lived to 
.98- years. 



E. 

ved seventy miles, the 
wagoners employed 
to transport the inva- 
lids, I'au off with the 
wagons, leaving him 
to make his way on 
foot. He afterward 
petitioned the General 
Assembly for relief, 
and the sum of £30 
was granted him. 
Elderkin, Jedediah 
Edmond, William 5 after- 

F. 



Parrand, Capt. Jonathan Filets, Francis 
Fish, Nathan ~ 

Flowers, Nathan 

" Nathaniel 
Fall, Patrick 
Field, Francis 

" George 

" Nathaniel 



ward judge of the su- 
perior court. He was 
wounded in the right 
thigh, in the " Dan- 
bury Alarm," April 
27th, 1777 ; was also at 
Ticonderoga. 

Edwards, Corp. John 

Elgur, Abner 

Eastburu, Dehvesance 

Elwood, 

Ellis, Jonas 



Frost, Joseph 
Fales, Francis 
Fieldsley, Francis 
Franklin, Jehiel 
Fenn, Daniel 
Fisher, Darius 



Goodrich, Wait ; com- 
missary, Pay Table al- 
lowed him £3,000 Dec. 
18th, 1780, for purcha- 
sing pork for the army. 

Goodrich, Timothy 

Galesley, Thomas 

Gideons, Joshua 

Grant, EHsha 

Gillis, Tint 

Goodsell, Isaac 

Graham, Isaac G., M. D. ; 
surgeon under Gen. 
Washington. 

Graham, Doct. Andrew ; 



G. 

Graham, Rev. Chaun- 

ccy ; chaplain. 
Gardin, John 

Gilchrist, 

Giles, Timothy 
Garnsey, Joseph 
Gould, John 

" John W. 
Garnet, John 
Gilbert, Corp. Isaiah 

" Eluathan 
Gorham, Benjamin 
Garret, Jolin 

" John 
Green, Ezra V 

" Elcazer J 

H. 



Ilinman, Col. Benjamin Ilinman, Jonas 



Capt. Elijah 
" Capt. Ephraiui ; 
Commissary. 
Hlimian, Moses 
« Lt. Asa 
" Ens. Joel 
« Wait 
" Silas 



Enos 
Michael 
Isaiah 
James 
Francis 
Capt. David 
Daniel 
Capt. Samuel 



Green, Samuel 
Galpin, Josejih 

" Stephen 

" Samuel ; died in 
N. Army. 
Gage, Thomas 
Guernsey, Richard 
" Solomon 
Gillet, Eliphalet 

" David 
Gridley, Asahel 
Griswold, Ebenezer 
Gear, Ezra 
Glazier, Jacob 
Gordon, Robert 



Hinman, Lemuel 

" Capt. Truman ; 
Commissary. 
Hinman, Enos 
« Timothy 
" Benjamin, 3d; 
returned a deserter in 
1780 by mistake, he 
having gone home on 



782 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



account of sickness, by 
advice of his oai^tain. 
Hinman, Capt. Elisha; 
commandor of a gov- 
ernment ship called the 
Alfred, which sailed 
out of New London. 
Hinman, Ens. Titus ; in 
Col. Zebulon Butler's 
regiment. He was 
killed in the bloody 
massacre of Wyoming, 
July 3d, 1778. 
Hicock, Asa 
" Silas 

" Reuben ; sick at 
Ticonderoga in 1775. 
Hicock, Thaddeus, Jr. 
" Ebenezer 
" David 
" Elijah 
" Ephraim 
" Benjamin 
" Johnson 
" Nathaniel 
Hull, Ebenezer 
" William 
" Doct. Titus; sur- 
geon. 
Hull, Stephen 
Hall, Ebenezer 
" Thomas 
" Thomas, Jr. 
" Aaron 
« L. 
Hawley, Capt. Enos 
" James 
" Moses 
" David 
Hamsted, David 
Hows, Samuel 
" George 
Humphrey, Capt. Elijah 
Herrick, John 
Hilliard, ^Villiam 
Hubbell, Ebenezer 
Hill, Abi-aham ; died in 
N. Army. 



Hill, Reuben 
" Solomon ; sick at 
Ticonderoga, in 1775. 
Higley, Nehcmlah 
Hazen, AVilliam 

" Elijah, Sergeant 
Hurd, Capt. Thaddeus 
" Lt. Asahel ; killed 
in the war. 
" Simeon 
" Capt. David 
" David, Jr. 
" Daniel 
" Capt. Adam 
" Stephen 
" Lovewell 
" Samuel 
" Isaac 
" Solomon 
" Noah 
" Moses 
" Calvin 
" Curtiss 
*' Lewis 
" Gideon 
" Gideon, Jr. 
" Simeon, Jr. 
" Abner 
" Abraham 
" Graham 
" Joseph 

" John ; sick at Ti- 
conderoga, in 1775. 
Hurlbut, Truman 

" Robert 

" Joel 

" Noah 

" Wait 

" John 

" Amos 

" Elisha 

" Gideon 

" Gideon, Jr. 

" Thomas 

" Squire 

" Joel 

" Capt. Adam 



Hurlbut, Asaph 

" Capt. Samuel 
" Abraham 

Hine, Capt. Nathan ~ 
" Jonathan 
" Adam 
" Lewis 
Hitchcock, Benjamin 
" David 
" James R. 
" Benjamin, Jr. 
Hunt, William 
" John, Jr. 
". Isaac 
" Simeon 
" Isaac, Jr. 
Hooker, James 

" Thaddeus 
Hastings, Dr. Seth; sur- 
geon. 
Hand, Ellas 
Hannah, Alexander 
" James 
" Robert 
Hawkins, ]\Ioses 
" Zadock 

" Zadock, Jr. 

Hayes, 

Hodge, Gulielmus 

" Phllo 
Huntington, Ebenezer 
Hotchkiss, Reuben 
Hobert, Elisha 

" John 
Hudson, John 
Hungerford, James 

" Lt. Benja- 

min ; sick at Ticonde- 
roga, in 1775, and died 
soon after. 
Hastians, Samuel 
Hannayed, William 
Holt, Nicholas ; had small 

pox in Canada, 1 7 76. 
Henries, Zadock 



Ingraham, Nathaniel 
" Henry 

William 



Ingraham, Eleazer 
Indian, Tom 
Ives, Asahel 



Ives, Abner 

'• Daniel, Jan. 
Isbell, Seruda 



HISTOKT Ol'' ANCIENT WOODBUKY. 



783 



Johnson, Isaac 

" Amos ; stood 
next to Daniel Downs, 
whose brains were 
spattered upon him at 
White Plains. 
Johnson, John 
" William 
" Isaiali 
" Hiram 
" Justus ; wound- 
ed in the left arm in 
the action near Nor- 
walk. His arm was 
amputated. State al- 
lowed him $12 per 
month in conse(|uence. 
Johnson, Peter 
Judd, Daniel 



Judd, Freeman 
Jackson, Samuel 

" Theophilus 
Jones, Benjamin 
Jewett, Isaac 

" Caleb ; had small- 
pox, and was disabled 
by it in his sight, in 
Canada, 1776. 
Jordan, John 

" William 
Judson, Gen. David, A. 
M.; was eapt. in the 
Continental army. 
Judson, Capt. James 
" Ensign John 
" Joseph 
" Ensicru Amos 



Judson, Elijah ; sick at 

Ticonderoga, 1775. 
Judson, Chapman, do. 

" Chapman, Jr. 

" Agur 

'' Timothy, Cajit. 

" Aaron 

" Joel 

'^ Elihu 

" William 

'' James 

'' Abel 

" Joshua 
Jenks, Thomas 
Jennings, Charles ; had 
sraall-pox and fever in 
Canada. 
James, Thomas 



Ivimberly, David 

" Thomas 
Kellogg, Samuel 
Knapp, Eleazar 
" Moses 



K. 

Keeney, Levi 
Kelly, John 
Kasson, James 
" Alexander 



Kasson, Archibald 
Keeler, Hezekiah 
Kellis, Peter 
King, David 



Lewis, Capt. Ezekiel 

" George 

" Asa 

" Abraham 

" Nathaniel 

" James 

" Elihu 
Lacey, Capt. Thaddeus ; 

died in service at Cas 

tleton, Oct. 3, 1775, 
Lacey, Ebenezer 

" Ebenezer, Jun. 

" Ezra 
Leavenworth, Capt. Da- 
vid 



Martin, Joel 

" Joseph 

" Solomon 

" Ezekiel 

" David 

" Isaiah 

" Capt. Andrew 

" William 

" Gideon 



L. 

Leavenworth, David, Jr. 
" Amos 
" Morse 
" Lt. Ebenezer 
" Gideon 
" Capt. John 
Lake, Edward 
Leavitt, Samuel 
" Jonathan 
" David 
Ladd, Bcnajah 

" David 
Lee, Abner 
" Samuel 
Linsley, Abiel 

M. 

Martin, Amos 

" Samuel 
Minor, Adoniram 

" Simeon ; taken 
prisoner at Danbury. 
Minor, Elisha 

" Sergt. Israel 

" David 

" Daniel 



Linsley, Abiel, Jun. 
" Brainard 

Lines, Abraham 

London, Pomp 

Lamfear, Samuel 

Logan, Matthew 
" John 

Laslin, John 

Lusk, Samuel 

Liberty, JctY; formerly 
slave of Jonathan Ear- 
rand ; made free by 
enlisting.^ 

Lyon, Isaac 



Minor, Timothy • sick at 
Ticonderoga. Taken 
prisoner at Danbury, 
and carried to N. York. 

Moseley, Increase, Esq.; 
Commissary. 

Moseley, Col. Inci'ease, 

Moseley, Capt. Abner 



784 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



Mauvillc, Simeon 
" Ira 
" John 

Mac Daniel, Thomas 

Meigs, Jesse 

Mott, Lyman 

Mills, Curtiss 

" Samuel, Jr.; had 
the small-pox in Can- 
ada, 177G. 

Mills, Alexander 

Moody, ZimTi 

Morgan, Lewis 

Mansfield, Clement 

Moltrope, Jude 

McKinney, John 

Mitchel, Bcriah 

• " Nathan 
« Daniel 
" David 



Mitchell, Thomas 

" Capt. John 

" Jehiel 

" Simeon 

" Seth 

" Capt. Nathan'l 

" Abijah 

" Capt. Eleazer 

" Brier 
Mallory, Aaron ; three 
years aid to General 
AVashington. 
Mallory, Daniel 

" David 

" John 

" John, Jr. 

" Simeon 

" Eli 

" Capt. Abucr 



IMallory, Walker 
Murray, Samuel 

" Noah 

" Hugh 
Meramble, John 
Mix, Joseph 
Masters, N. S. 
Morris, ISIatthcw 
Munn, Doct. Ebenezer ; 

surgeon. 
Munn, Corp. Samuel 

" Justus 
Mclntire, Henry 
McGraw, John 
[Merchant, Job 
My, Ebenezer 
Mulatto Michael 

" Job 
Munger, Jonathan 



Norton, Issachar 

" George 

" George, Jun. 

" William 

" John Austin 

" David 
Newton, Ezekiel 



N. 

Nettleton, Josiah 
Northrop, Amos 

Nails, John " 
Nichols, Elisha ; killed at " 

New York " 

Nichols, James " 

" Andrew ; died " 



at Boston 
Negro Robbin 
James 
Titus 
Peter 
Toney 
Cumming 



Osborne, Shadrach ; 
purchasing and issuing 
commissary during the 
war. 

Osborne, Samuel 



0. 

Osborne, Nathan ; New York ; was there 

wounded in several three montlas. 
parts of the body at Olcott, John E. 
llorse Neck, June 8, Olds, Oliver 
1779, and carried to " Aaron 



Peck, Abijah 
" John 
" Josiah 
" Judson 

Plati, John ; taken pris- 
oner at Fort Wash- 
ington, June 5, 1777; 
was released on parole 
and came home with 
the small-pox. 

Pitcher, Ebonezer 

Pease, William 

Patterson, Sherman 

" Ens. William 

Pierce, David 

Post, Abraham 



P. 

Parks, James 
Pislie, Elijah 
Prindle, Enos 
Parker, Gamaliel 

" Peter 
• " Thomas 

" Amasa 
Prentice, Zachariah 
Peters, Galloway 
Peet, Daniel 

" Richard 
Parry, Daniel 
Pollard, Isaac 
Palmer, Phineas 
Porter, Capt. David 

" John 



Porter, Benjamin 

Pritchard, Nat. 

Potter, Sheldon 
" David 
" Daniel 

Phelps, Charles 
" Darius 
" Samuel 

Parmeh', Thomas 

Perry, Elisha 
« Eli 

Preston, Nathan; pay- 
master and issuing 
commissary of supplies. 

Pain, Justus 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



785 



Reynolds, Matthew 
" Sergt. James 

William 
" Jas. Blakesly 
" Justus 
" Ilezckiab 
" Simeon 

David 
" Solomon 
" Solomon, Jun. 
sick at Ticonderoga. 
Roots, Isaac 

" Solomon ; died at 
Crown Point. 



R. 

Roots, Joseph 

" Colonel ; sick 
Ticonderoga, 1775. 

Royce, INIatthew 

Rill, Edward 

Rice, Edward 

Rumsey, David 
•' Nathan 

Rumrill, Frederick 

Richards, Amos ; sick 
Ticonderoga. 

Rusco, Stephen 
" Benjamin 

Ranney, Solomon 



Ranney, Stephen 
at Rogers, Ebenezer 
Robinson, Solomon 
" David 
" William 
Robin, Michael 
Read, Jonathan 
" Matthew 
Rood, Simeon 
at " John ; shot thro' 
the thigh with a mus- 
ket ball at White Pi's, 
Oct. 28, 1776. 



Stoddard, Anthony 
Eli 
" Amos 
" Thomas; kill- 
ed in the war. 

Stoddard, Abiram; died 
of bloody flux in the 
army. 

Stoddard, Cap. James; 
d. in the service, 1777. 

Stoddard, Capt. Nathan ; 
killed at ^Mud Fort, on 
the Delaware, Nov. 15, 
1777, by a cannon 
ball, which entirely 
severed his head from 
his body. Lt. John 
Strong related, that he 
was standing near him 



went out one day to 
view the position of the 
enemy. He found 
La Fayette on the 
ground before him for 
the same purpose.— 
When they wished to 
retire, they found 
themselves cut off from 
camp by some British 
soldiers. There was 
no escape except by 
fording a creek. Lt. 
Strong being larger 
and stronger than his 
companion, took him 
upon his shoulders, and 
crossed the creek in 
safety, 



when it occurred, and Strong, Adino 



that for a moment 
after, he was standing 
without a head before 
he fell. 
Stoddard, Curtiss 

" Abijah ; died 
at Crown Point. 
Stoddard, Cyrenius 
" Luther 

Philo ; wound- 



Uriel 
" Anthony 

" Daniel ; teamster 
" Charles 
'• Josiah ; 
shot through the leg, 
in the Germantown 
action, and was oblig- 
ed to have it amputa- 
ted. 



cd in the arm in the Strong, Benjamin 



Germantown action 

Stoddard, Adjutant 

" Ichabod ; sick 
at Ticonderoga. 
Strong, Samuel 
" Lieut. John ; 
while iu the service he 



Benjamin, Jun. 
Smith, Daniel 
" Capt. Ebenezer 
" Capt. Richard 
" Hon. Nathaniel 
" Samuel 



63 



Smith, Stephen; sick at 
Ticonderoga. ^ 

" Phineas 
" Abraham 
" Jeremiah 
" Elisha 

" Robert ; was a ser- 
geant under Col. Seth 
Warner ; was toma- 
hawked and scalped by 
the Indians on " Four 
]\Iile Island," in Lake 
George, a small party 
to which he belonged 
having been surprised 
in the night. He lay 
four days, when he was 
found and taken care 
of. He recovered and 
survived many years 
after. 

Sperry, Ambrose 
" Enoch 

Savage, Joseph 

" Seth; died in 
New York. 

Stiles, Joseph 

Sharp, James 

Sheldon, Charlesj 

" Doct. Daniel ; 
surgeon's mate. 

Slauter, John 

Steele, Sergeant John 
" Luke 
" Sergeant Elisha 

Sanford, Capt. J. 

St. John, Adonijali 

Seymour, Capt. Moses 



786 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



Squire, Capt. Gideon 
" Abiathar 
" Joseph 
" Tiiomas, 3(1 
" Thomas, Jr. 
Skeels, Adoniram 
Stratton, Thomas 
Starr, Elisha 
Stevens, Aaron 
" Daniel 
Sedgwick, Benjamin 
" Archer 

'* Joseph 



Torrance, Thomas ; 
•wounded in the " Dan- 
bury Alarm," April 
*27th, 1777, in the 
thigh. 
Torrance, Corp. Joseph 
" Capt. Samuel 
" Samuel, Jr. 
" Ezra 
" William • 
" Joseph 
Tona, Jethro 
Twiss, Jonathan 
Turrill, John 

" Samuel 
Tallman, Ebenezer, Jr. 

" Peter 
Tomlinson, ; com- 
missary. 

" Timothy 

" Henry 

" William 

Thompson, John 



Sherman, David ; com- 
missary. 
Sherman, J^lijah 
' ' James 

" Lt. John 

" Taylor ; ex- 

press man. 
Daniel; member of the 
Council of Safety four 
years. 
Southworth, William 
Summers, Asahel 
Simons, David 

T. 

Tomlinson, Thomas 
" David 

" Lieut. 

Tongue, Jonathan 
Tossel, John 
Thorp, David 
Taylor, Simeon 
" Josiah 
'' John 

" Joel ; killed at 
New York. 
Titus, Joel 
Touseley, Nathaniel 
Thomas, Lt. Ebenezer 
" John ; taken 
sick at Fort Ann ; 
came home by advice 
of his captain, lost his 
wages, and was re- 
turned a deserter in 
consequence. 
Thomas, Isaac ; wounded 



Simons, Cummey 
Stannard, Samuel 
Seeley, Ephraim 
Strickland, Moses 
Standclift, WiUiam 
Sturgess, Aquila 
Stewart, WiUiam 
Saxton, Jo. ; died at 

New York. 
Sears, John 
Sperry, Eli 

" Ambrose 
Skilton, Doct. Henry 



in the knee at White 
Plains, Oct.31st,1776, 
by a cannon ball ; was 
removed to Woodbury 
by Asahel Thomas and 
died Dec. 9th, 1776. 
Thomas, Jacob 
" Charles 
" Charles, Jr. 
" David 

S. 
" Jeremiah 
" Joseph 
•' Enoch 
Tuttle, Aaron 

" Capt. Nathaniel 
" Ichabod 
*' Andrew 
" Thomas 
Tucker, Daniel 
Trowbridge, Lt. Elihu 
" Philemon 



Vandyke, Peter 



Warner, Col. Seth 
" Capt. John 

Daniel; killed 
at the battle of Ben- 
nington. 
Warner, Thomas 
Saul 
" Samuel 
" Capt. Elizur 
" Lt. Ebenezer 
" Eliphaz 
Wakeley, Abiel 
" Henry 



w. 

Wakeley, Abel; was a 
soldier, through the 
whole length of the 
War of Independence, 
joining the army in his 
16th year; was with 
Washington at Valley 
Forge ; at West Point, 
under Arnold, and saw 
the traitor escape ; with 
La Fayette in his me- 
morable retreat before 
Cornwallis, and with 



him stormed the re- 
doubt at Yorktown ; 
received an honorable 
discharge from ^^'ash- 
ington ; died at Green- 
ville, Green county, 
New York, April 13th, 
1850, in the 90th year 
of his age. 

Wheeler, Capt. Seth 
" Doct. Lemuel; 
surgeon. 

Wheeler, Capt. John 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 



787 



Wheeler, Benjamin 
" Benjamin, Jr. 
" Silas 
" Adam 
" EInathan 
" Agur ; sick at 
Ticonderoga, in 1775. 
Wheeler, Arclielaus 
" William; com- 
missary at the north 
end of Lake George. 
Wheeler, Nathan 
AVashburn, Edward 
" Edmond 

Wayland, John 
Whipple, Joseph 
Wilkinson, Abraham 
Wott, Adam 
Woodruff, Hawkins 

" John 
Weeks, John 
Wildman, Rev. Benja- 
min ; chaplain. 
Walker, Abel 
" Zechariah 
" Elisha 
" Capt. Joseph 
" Isaiah 
" Samuel 



Walker, Peter 

" Joseph, Jr. 
" Josiah 
" David 
" Simeon 
Watson, lion. James ; 
afterward senator in 
Congress. 
Watson, Capt. John ; 
wounded in the back 
at St. John's, Canada, 
in 1775, and the state 
granted him a pension 
of $18 per month. 
Whittlesey, Martin ; lost 
the use of his limbs by 
sickness at New York. 
Whittlesey, David 

" Asaph; killed 
at Wyoming, July 3d, 
1778. 
Wallace, Thomas , 
Waugh, Buel 
Wiscott, Joseph 
White, John 

" Joseph 
Woodward, Noah 

" Noah, Jr. 

Welch, Sergeant Luke 



Welch, Ithuel 
Welch, Michael 
Wagner, Daniel 
Wagner, David 
Wilson, Samuel 
Way, Ira 
Way, Isaac 
Wooster, Hinman 
Woodman, Samuel 
Wells, David 

'' John 

" Benjamin 
Wilcoxson, Ephraim 
Ward, Samuel 
Whitney, John 
Wheaton, Jonathan 

" Roswell 
AV right, Charles, Jr. 

" Freedom 

" David 
Waters, Joseph 
AVentworth, G. 
AA'arden, Joseph 
AValler, Thomas 

" Daniel 
Ward, Macock 
AA''ood, James 



Youngs, David 



LIST OF SOLDIERS IN THE WAR OF 1812. 



B. denotes Bcthlem. 
This list is not complete. 



AA^a. AVashington. R. Roxbury. S. Southbury. 
Those without any letter are from Woodbury. 



Atwood, Washington H. Allen, James (B.) 



Burton, Oliver (B.) 
Bates, Richard (R.)^ 
Bryant, Samuel, (Wa.) 
Blackman, Beecher 
Bunnell, Sheldon 
Barnum, Eli (B.) 
Beebee, Isaac (B.) 



Castle, Bethel S. 

" John 
Coe, Daniel (B.) 



B. 

Barlow, Elisha (AVa.) 
Bishop, Miles 
Booth, Aaron 
Brown, James (S.) 
" Daniel (S.) 
Baker, Henry (AVa.) 
Bishop, Amos 

c. 

Church, Samuel (B.) 
Canfield, Austin (B.) 
Curtlss, John 



Allen, Stephen 



Bassett, Nathaniel 
Bryant, Ira 
Baldwin, Amos (B.) 
Beecher, Lyman (B.) 
Botsford, Samuel 
Barto, Jonah 



Cunningham, Wm. (AVa.) 



788 HisTOKT or XNCIKNT "WOODBURT. 

E. 

Eastman, Daniel E. (R.) 

F. 

Fairchilfl, David (B) Fowler, Robert B. (Wa.) Farrand, Capt. N. (Wa.) 
Frisble, Benjamin (B) French, Ezra (B.) 
" Samuel (Wa.) Forbes, Robert (AVa.) 

G. 

Gordon, Jonathan Glazier, John Galpin, Pettit 

Griswold, Harvey Galpin, Stephen F. Gibbs, Spencer (B.) 

" Asa S. " Sergt. Samuel 

H. 

Howe. William Hine, Elijah (B.) Hubbell, Zalmon (B.) 

Hannah, George (B.) Hyde, Abijah (B.) Hatch, Joseph 

Hine, Austin (B.) 



Judson, Henry Jackson, Levi Jackson, Levi (B.) 

Jackson, Joel " Samuel 

K. 

Knapp, Capt. Seymour Kasson, Lt. Adam C.(B.) Kimball, Horace (B.) 
(B.) Kimball, Horatio (B.) 



Luddington, Fred. (B.) Lewis, Elisha (R.) Lum, Austin (B.) 

Lewis, Jabez (B.) Leavenworth, Philo (B.) Lambert, Fred. 

" Geo. (R.) 

M. 

Murray, David Moody, Samuel Munger, Harmon (B.^ 

" Alexander I\Iorri"ss, Edward Masters, Doct. Samuel S. 

McCoy, Hugh JSIitchell, Nathaniel (R.) 

N. 
Nichols, John 

0. 

Olds, David Osborne, Daniel 



Parker, Willis Parker, Philo (Wa.) Peet, Ashbel 

" James Patterson, Charles (R.) Price, Sheldon, (B.) 

" Lt. Thomas C. Peck, Capt. Joseph 
(Wa.) 

R. 

Reynolds, Joseph Ryan, Marcus 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY 



789 



Sandford, Thomas (R.) 
Stiles, Lyman 
Spring, Isaac (B.) 
Seymour, John H. (B.) 
Squire, John A. (R.) 



Titus, Stiles (Wa.) 
Turrill, Asahel (R.) 



S. 

Stevens, Jeremiah (B.) Strong, Daniel (B.) 
Sperry, Moses Stone, Norman (B.) 

Smith, Ens. Theodore Seeley, Freeman H. (B.) 

(B.) Steel, Joseph (B.) 

Smith, John (B.) Skidmore, James B. (B.) 



T. 

Turrill, Roswell (R.) 
Tuttle, Preston 

w. 



Tuttle, David 



Weller, Capt. Thomas ; drafted, when he went Warner, Capt. Elizur 
killed by Warner to notify him. Williams, Wm. R. (B.) 

Knapp, who had been Webb, Joseph (R.) Wilcox, Linus (B.) 

Wakeley, Harry 



LIST OF REPRESENTATIVES 



1779 
1780 

1781 
1782 

1783 
1784 

1785 
1786 
1787 
1788 
1789 

1790 
1791 



Of the Town of Washington, which 
]\Iay Session. 

Capt. Increase Moseley, 
Capt. William Cogswell, 
Capt. William Cogswell, 7 , 
Capt. Ebenezer Clarke, j 
Capt. AVilliam Cogswell, 
Capt. Gideon Ilollister, 
Capt. William Cogswell, 
Capt. Gideon Holiister, 
Capt. Nathan Hicock, ) j 
Mr. John Whittlesey, \ ^^°- 
Maj. William Cogswell, 
Mr. John Calhoun, 
Mr. John Whittlesey, 
Capt. Nathan Hicock, 
Mr. John Whittlesey, 7 ., 
Capt. Nathan Hicock, \ •^^°- 
Capt. John Whittlesey, 
ISIr. Daniel N. Brinsmade, 
Mr. John Whittlesey, 
Mr. Matthew Logan, 
Mr. John Whittlesey, 
Capt. Jonathan Farrand, 
Mr. John Whittlesey, 
Rev. Daniel Brinsmade, 
Mr. John Whittlesey, 

No choice, 
Capt. Jonathan Farrand, ) -r 
Mr. Peter Sherman, j 

Mr. John Whittlesey, 
Mr. Peter Sherman, 
Mr. John Whittlesey, 
Mr. David Judson, 
Mr. David Judson, 
Mr. John Whittlesey, 



xoas incorporated, Jan., 1779. 
October Session. 
Capt. William Cogswell. 
Capt. Ebenezer Clarke. 



Capt. William Cogswell. 
Capt. Gideon Holiister. 
Capt. Nathan Hicock. 
Mr. John Whittlesey. 



Maj. William Cogswell. 

No choice. 
Mr. John Whittlesey. 
Capt. Nathan Hicock, 



Capt. John Whittlesey. 
Mr. Daniel N. Brinsmade, 
Mr. John Whittlesey. 
Capt. Jonathan Farrand. 
Capt. Nathan Hicock. 
Mr. John Whittlesey. 
Mr. John Whittlesey. 
Capt Nathan Hicock. 
Capt. Jonathan Farrand. 
Mr. Peter Sherman. 



Mr. John Whittlesey. 
Capt. David Judson. 
Mr. Jonathan Farrand. 
Mr. John Whittlesey. 
Mr. David Judson. 
Mr. Simeon Mitchell. 



790 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURT. 



May Session. 

1 792 Mr. Peter Sherman, 
Mr. David Judson, 

1793 Mr. Daniel N. Brinsmade, 
Mr. David Whittlesey, 

1794 David Judson, 
Peter Sherman, 

1 795 Daniel N. Brinsmade, 
Peter Sherman, 

1796 Daniel Brinsmade, 
David Whittlesey, 

1797 Daniel N. Brinsmade, 
Eljah Hazen, 

1798 Daniel Brinsmade, 
Elijah Hazen, 

1799 Daniel N. Brinsmade, 
William Cogswell, 

1800 Daniel N. Brinsmade, 
Elijah Hazen, 

1801 Daniel N. Brinsmade, 
William Cogswell, 

1802 Daniel N. Brinsmade, 
Simeon Mitchell, 

1803 Daniel N. Brinsmade, 
Elijah Ilazcn, 

1804 Daniel N. Brinsmade, 
Elijah Hazen, 

1805 Daniel N. Brinsmade, 
David Whittlesey, 

1806 Daniel N. Brinsmade, 
David Whittlesey, 

1807 Elijah Hazen, 
David Whittlesey, 

1808 Daniel N. Brinsmade, 
Elijah Hazon, 

1809 Daniel N. Brinsmade, 
Noble Day, 

1810 Warren K. Fowler, 
Noble Day, 

1811 Evcts Moody, 
Noble Day, 

1812 Daniel N. Brinsmade, 
John N. Gnnn, 

1813 Daniel N. Brinsmade, 
John N. Gunn, 

1814 Daniel N. Brinsmade, 
John N. Gunn, 

1815 Samuel Leavitt, 
Noble Day, 

1816 Samuel Leavitt, 
Daniel B. Brinsmade, 

1817 Daniel B. Brinsmade, 
William Cogswell, 

1818 Daniel B. Brinsmade, 
Joseph Whittlesey, 



October Session. 

Mr. Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
Mr. David Judson. 
Mr. Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
Mr. David Whittlesey. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
Peter Sherman. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
]\Ir. David Whittlesey. 
Daniel Brinsmade. 
David Whittlesey. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
William Cogswell. 
Daniel Brinsmade. 
Elijah Hazen. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
Elijah Hazen. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
Elijah Hazen. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
Simeon Mitchell. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
William Cogswell. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
William Cogswell. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
David Whittlesey. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
David Whittlesey. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
David W^hittlesey. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
Elijah Hazen. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
William Cogswell. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
Joseph Whittlesey. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
David Whittlesey. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
John Newton. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
Joseph Whittlesey. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
David Whittlesey. 
Daniel N. Brinsmade. 
David Whittlesey. 
Samuel Leavitt. 
Noble Day. 
Daniel B. Brinsmade. 
Samuel Leavitt. 
Daniel B. Brinsmade. 
Coustantine ]\IcMahon. 
John N. Gunn. 
Noble Day. 



HISTORT OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



791 



UNDER THE CONSTITUTION. 



May, 

1819 Samuel Leavitt, 

1820 Daniel B. Brinsmade, 

1821 Curtis Hicox, 

1822 Timothy Mitchell, 

1823 Evetts Moody, 

1824 Constantine McMahon, 

1825 No choice, 

1826 Samuel Leavitt, Jr., 

1827 Coustantino McMahon, 

1828 Daniel B. Brinsmade, 

1829 John Newton, 

1830 Samuel Leavitt, Jr., 

1831 Johnson C. Hatch, 

1832 Youngs Elliot, 

1833 David C. Whittlesey, 

1834 Samuel Frisbie, 

1835 Samuel Leavitt, 

1836 Joseph Titus, Jr., 

1837 Daniel B. Brinsmade, 

1838 John Newton, 

1839 John M. Ford, 

1840 Chester Ackley, 

1841 No choice, 

1842 Frederick Chittenden, 

1843 George Steele, 

1844 No choice, 

1845 No choice, 

1846 Ithiel Hicox, 

1847 Piatt Bryan, 

1848 Daniel B. Brinsmade, 

1849 Sheldon H. Calhoun, 

1850 Abiel C. Lemon, 

1851 Arvin Burnham, 

1852 Russell W. Frisbie, 

1853 Sheldon W. Meeker, 



Joseph Whittlesey. 
Joseph Whittlesey. 
Ensign Bushnell. 
Philo Clark. 
William Cogswell. 
Abijah Tomlinson. 

No choice. 
Nathan Newton. 
Samuel Leavitt, Jr. 
Abijah Tomlinson. 
Chester Ackley. 
Daniel B. Brinsmade. 
Joseph Titus, Jr. 
David C. Whittlesey. 
Youngs Elliot. 
George Lewis. 
Daniel Wheaton. 
Charles Lemon. 
Charles Vail. 
Truman Baldwin. 
William Pond. 

No choice. 

No choice. 
Daniel Frisbie. 

No choice. 

No choice. 

No choice. 
David Whittlesey. 
Nathan H. Carey. 
Abijah Tomlinson. 
Daniel Burnham. 
Johnson L. Tomlinson. 
Moseley V. Bronson. 
Leander Odell. 
Frederick Newton. 



ASSISTANT. 

Daniel N. Brinsmade, from 1802 to 1818. 

AVASHINGTON PROBATE DISTRICT. 

Set off from Woodbury and Litclifield districts in 1832. 

.TUDGES. 

Daniel B. Brinsmade, 1832 to 1834, Ithiel Hicox, 1837, 1842, 1843 and 

1838 to 1841, 1844 and 1845, 1847 1852. 

to 1849, 1851. William Moody, 1846. 

Frederick S. Fenn, 1835 to 1836. Daniel G. Piatt, 1850. 



STATE SENATOR. 



Alvin Brown, 1839. 



792 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT -WOODBURY. 



MEMBERS OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, 1818. 

Ensign Bushnell, Hermanns Marshall. 

TOWN-CLERKS. 

Daniel N. Brinsmade, from 1779 to AVilliam Leavitt, from Oct., 1841, to 

1813. Oct., 1846. 

Daniel B. Brinsmade, from Oct., 1813, Daniel B. Brinsmade, from Oct., 1846, 

to Oct., 1841. to . 



LIST OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM SOUTHBURY. 
Southbury was set off from Woodbury and incorporated in 1787. 
following is a list of Representatives to the present time. 

October Session. 
Col. Benjamin Hinman. 
Col. Benjamin Hinman. 
Mr. Sliadracli Osborn. 
Mr. Benjamin Hinman. 
Mr. Benjamin Hinman. 
Mr. Benjamin Stiles, Jr. 
Mr. Increase Moseley. 
Mr. Joel Hinman. 
Mr. Benjamin Stiles, Jr. 
Mr. John Edmond. 
Mr. Benjamin Hecox. 
Benjamin Hinman. 
Warren Mitchell. 
Shadrach Osborn. 
Aaron Hinman. 
Warren Mitchell. 
Simeon Hinman. 
Shadrach Osborn. 
Justus Johnson. 
Aaron Hinman. 
Shadrach Osborn. 
Justus Johnson. 
Shadrach Osborn. 
Truman Hinman. 
Simeon IMitchell. 
Park Brown. 
Nathan Curtiss. 
Joel Crane. 
Joel Crane. 
AVarren Mitchell. 
Amos Johnson. 
Warren Mitchell. 



Newton Tuttle. 
Benjamin B. Osborn. 
John Pearce. 
Edward Hinman. 
Newton Tuttle. 



The 





May Session. 




1787 






1788 


Col. Benjamin Hinman, 




1789 


Col. B. Hinman, Jan. and 


May, 


1790 


Mr. Shadrach Osborn, 




1791 


Mr. Benjamin Hinman, 




1792 


Mr. Benjamin Hinman, 




1793 


Mr. Justus Johnson, 




1794 


Mr. Benjamin Stiles, Jr., 




1795 


Mr. Joel Hinman, 




1796 


Mr. Sliadrach Osborn, 




1797 


Mr. Benjamin Hecox, 




1798 


John Edmond, 




1799 


Mr. Joel Hinman, 




1800 


Shadrach Osborn, 




1801 


Justus Johnson, 




1802 


Aaron Hinman, 




1803 


Shadrach Osborn, 




1804 


Justus Johnson, 




1805 


Aaron Hinman, 




1806 


Aaron Hinman, 




1807 


Burton Canfield, 




1808 


Truman Hinman, 




1809 


Shadrach Osborn, 




1810 


Titus Pearce, 




1811 


Simeon Hinman, 




1812 


John Moseley, 




1813 


Joel Crane, 




1814 


Nathan Curtiss, 




1815 


Curtiss Hinman, 




1816 


Moses Wheeler, 




1817 


Park Brown, 




1818 


Curtiss Hinman, 






UNDER THE CON 


Mav, 






1819 


Curtiss Hinman. 


1824 


1820 


Amos Johnson. 


1825 


1821 


Truman ]\Ioseley. 


1826 


1822 


Amos Johnson. 


1827 


1823 


Gideon Judson. 


1828 





HISTORY OF 


ANCIENT 


1829 


Jolm Moseley. 


1842 


1830 


John Pearce. 


1843 


1831 


Edward llinman. 


1844 


1832 


Henry Downs. 


1845 


1833 


Charles C. Hinman. 


184'j 


1834 


Henry Downs. 


1847 


1835 


Charles C. Hinman. 


1848 


183G 


Oaniel Hinman. 


1849 


1837 


John Peck. 


1850 


1838 


Elijah French. 


1851 


1839 


John Peck. 


1852 


1840 


William Guthrie. 


1853 


1841 


Samuel Candee. 


SENATORS. 



Curtiss Hinman, 1820. 
John Pearce, 1832, 1833. 



WOODBURY. 

Erastus Pierce. 
Charles B. Hicock. 
No choice. 
Titus Pierce. 
Walter Johnson. 
George P. Shelton. 
George Smith. 
Titus Pierce. 
Oliver Mitchell. 
Henry D.Munson. 
Edwin Pierce. 
Truman B. AV heeler. 



Edward Hinman, 1843. 
Gen. George P. Shelton, 1850. 



'93 



TOWN-CLERKS. 

Increase Moseley, appointed 1787. Walter Johnson, appointed Dec, 1837. 
John Moseley, " Dec, 1805. Titus Pierce, " 1851. 

Charles C. Hinman, " Nov., 1834. 

JUDGES Of THE COUNTY COURT. 
William Hinman. Edward Hinman, from 1847 to 1849. 



LIST OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM BETHLEM. 



Bethlem was incorpor 
May Session. 

1787 

1 788 Mr. David Ambler, 

1789 Mr. David Camp, January. 
Capt. Jonathan Smith, 

1 790 INIr. David Ambler, 

1791 Mr. David Ambler, 

1792 Mr. David Ambler, 

1793 David Ambler, 

1794 David Bellamy, 

1795 • David Bellamy, 

1796 David Bellamy, 

1797 Oliver Parmeiec, 

1798 David Leavitt, Jr., 

1799 David Leavitt, Jr., 

1800 David Leavitt, Jr., 

1801 David Leavitt, Jr., 

1802 David Bellamy, 

1803 David Bellamy, 

1804 David Bellamy, 

1805 David Bellamy, 

1806 Nehemiah Lambert, 

1807 David Bellamy, 

1808 Nehemiah Lambert, 

1809 David Bellamy, 

G4 



•ated in 1787. 

October Session. 
I\Ir. David Ambler. 
Mr. David Camp. 

Capt. Jonathan Smith. 
Mr. David Ambler. 
jVIr. David Ambler. 
Mr. Oliver Parmelee. 
David Ambler. 
David Bellamy. 
David Bellamy. 
David Bellamy. 
David Bellamy. 
David Bellamy. 
David Leavitt, Jr, 
David Bellamy. 
Alexander Kasson. 
David Leavitt, Jr. 
Nehemiah Lambert. 
David Bellamy. 
David Bellamy. 
David Bellamy. 
David Bellamy. 
David Bellamy. 
David Bellamy. 



794 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



1810 
1811 
(1812 
11813 
1814 
1815 
1816 
1817 
1818 



Ma^-, 
1819 
1820 
1821 
1822 
1823 
1824 
1825 
1826 
1827 
1828 
1829 
1830 
1831 
1832 
1833 
1834 
1835 
1836 



May Session. 
Samuel Cliurdi, Jr., 
(jeorn;e D. Kasson, 
Nehemiah Lambert, 
George D. Kasson, 
Samuel Cluirch, Jr., 
Neliemiah Lambert, 
Nathan ILuvley, 
Sheldon C. Leavitt, 
Nehemiah Lambert, 



October Session. 

David Bellamy. 
Samuel Churcli, Jr. 
Nehemiah Lambert. 
Leveritt Judd. 
Leveritt Judd. 
Sheldon C. Leavitt. 
Nathan Hawlcy. 
Nehemiah Lambert. 
Joseph H. Bellamy. 



UNDER THE CONSTITUTION. 



Joseph H. Bellamy. 
Sheldon C. Leavitt. 
Joseph H. Bellamy. 
Sheldon C. Leavitt. 
Nathan Burton, Jr. 
Sheldon C. Leavitt. 
Sheldon C. Leavitt. 
Joseph n. Bellamy. 
Joseph H. Bellamy. 
Sheldon C. Leavitt. 
Nathan Jackson. 
Nathan Jackson. 
Nathan Jackson. 
Minot Smith. 
Nathan Jackson. 
Nathan Hawley. 
Isaac S. Wadsworth. 
James Allen. 



1837 


Jeriel Hayes. 


1838 


Noble Allen. 


1839 


Nathan Hawley. 


1840 


No choice. 


1841 


Charles A. Bloss. 


1842 


Abraham Beecher. 


1843 


Gideon Allen. 


1844 


Nicholas Moss. 


1845 


George T. Bloss. 


1846 


Bennett Warner. 


1847 


Nicholas Moss. 


1848 


Marvin S. Todd. 


1849 


Edwin L. Thompson, 


1850 


Sidney Peck. 


1851 


James Allen, Jr. 


1852 


James Allen. 


1853 


Henry W. Feck. 



COUNTY COMMISSIONER. 
Joseph H. Bellamy, appointed 1839, 1841. 

STATE SENATORS. 

Joseph H.Bellamy, 1841. John C. Ambler, 184 7. 

Minot Smith, 1846. 

MEMBER OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, 1818. 

Nehemiah Lambert. 



Moses Hawlov, from 

Doct. Titus iinll, from 

Samuel Churcli, from 

Isaac S. Wadsworth, from 

Doct. layman Catlin, from 

Joseph H. Bellamy, from 

Benjamin T. Lake, irom 

Homer Skidmore, from 

Joseph n. Bellamy, from 

Norman Lake, from 

Joseph H. Bellamy, from 

Philo n. Skidmore, from 

Homer Skidmore, from 



TOWN-CLERKS. 

June 20th, 1787, to Dec, 1794. 
Dec. 1794, to Dec, 1803. 
Decj 1803, to Dec, 1830. 
Dec, 1830, to Dec, 1836. 
Dec, 1836, to Dec 23d, 1836. 
Dec. 23d, 1836, to Dec, 1837. 
Dec, 1837, to 1838. 
1838, to 1842. 

1842, to 1843. 

1843, to 1846. 
1846, to 1848. 
1848, to 1853. 
1853. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUIIY. 



795 



LIST OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM ROXBURY, 



Eoxburv was 
May Session. 

1797 Mr. riiincas Suiiili, 

1728 Abrabaia Brousoii, 

17Uy Abraiiaui Bronsou, 

lyuO Epbraim Ilinman, 

1801 John Tro '..'bridge, 

1802 EHhu Canfield, 
180,3 Abncr Wakelee, 
1 804 Wells Judson, 
180.5 Abraham Bronson, 

1806 Gideon LeavenAvorlh, 

1807 Amos Squire, 

1808 Elihu Canfield, 
180i» Ephraim Hinman, 

1810 Ebhu CanfiJd, 

1811 John Trow nridge, 

1812 Asahel Bar'on, 

1813 Elihu Canfield, 

1814 Royal R. Hinman, 

1815 Silas Minor, 
ISIG Silas jMinor, 

1817 Silas Minor, 

1818 Josiah R. Eastman, 



incorporated in 1796. 

October Session. 
Elisha Canfield. 
E])braini Ilinman. 
Elihu Canfield. 
John Trowbridge. 
John Trowbridge. 
John Trowbridge. 
David Hammond. 
Elihu Canfield. 
Adna Mallory. 
Elihu Canfield. 
Samuel Weller. 
Deli\erance L. Rainter. 
Elihu Canfield. 
Elihu Crviifield. 
Ebenezer Rurritt. 
Elihu Canfield. 
Miles Bishop. 
Royal R. Hinman. 
Silas Minor. 
Asahel Bacon. 
Elisha Patterson. 
Elisha Patterson. 



UNDER THE CONSTITUTION. 



May, 

1819 Eli M.Smith. 1837 

1820 Samuel Patterson. 1838 

1821 Silas Minor. 1839 

1822 Stephen Sanfbrd. 1840 

1823 Josiah R. Eastman. 1841 

1824 Isaac B. Hawley. 1842 

1825 Royal R. Ilinman. 1843 

1826 Elisha Patterson. 1844 

1827 Eli M. Smith. 1845 

1828 Zaecheus W. Weller. 1846 

1829 David Brothwell. 1847 

1830 David Brothwell. 1848 

1831 Royal R. Ilinman. 1849 

1832 William Pierce. 1850 

1833 nosiah R. Eastman. 1851 

1834 'David Weller. 1852 

1835 Stephen Sanfbrd. 1853 

1836 David Brothwell. 



Wait Leavenworth. 
Henry L. Randall. 
Charles Beardsley. 
Daniel Botsford. 
Abiram Ward. 
Chauncey Hodge. 
John Trowbridge. 
Isaac G. Botsford. 
George Hurlbut. 
Elisha A. Weller. 
Charles Thomas. 
Everett Beardsley. 
Bennett S. Preston. 
Stephen Sanford. 
Myron Downs. 
Lacey Higgins. 
Albert S. fiodge. 



COUNTY COMMISSIONER. 
Henry L. Randall, 1850. 

Roxbury Probate District set off from Woodbury DistricLin 1842. 

JUDGES. 

Harmon B. Eastman, from 1842 to 1845. 



Aaroa W. Fenn, 



from 1845 to 1846. 



796 HISTORY OF ANCIENT AYOODBURT. 

Henry L. Kandall, from 1846 to 1847. 

Acaron W. Fenn, from 184 7 1o 1849. 

Harmon B. Eastman, from 1849 to 1851. 

Myron Downs, from 1851. 

SECRETARY OF STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
Royal R. Hinmau, from 1835 to 1842. 

MEMBER OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, 1818. 
John Trowbridge. 

TOWN-CLERKS. 

Elihu Canficld, Dec. 6, 1796. Zaccheus W. Weller, Oct. 27, 1827. 

Elisha Patterson, Dec. 14, 1818. David Brotliwell, July 21, 1831. 

Silas ]\Iiuor, Nov. G, 1820. Myron Downs. 

WOODBURY CHRONOLOGY. 

Tautannimo's (Indian) deed, April 20, 1C59. 

First, or Pomperaug Purchase, April 26, 1673. 

Second, or Shepaug " March 17, 1685-6. 

Third, or Quassapaug " Oct. 30, 1689. 

Fourth, or Nonnewaug " May 18, 1700. 

Fifth, or Kettletown " Oct. 25, 1 705. 

Sixth, or Confirmatory " May 28, 1706. 

North " June 23, 1710. 

Promisick " by Dr. Eb'r Warner, INIarch 6, 1728-9. 

South " June 18, 1733. 

Pootatuck, or Last " 1756. 

Tom Sherman (Indian) sells last reservation, INIay, 1759. 

Half-way Covenant dispute begins at Stratford, 1664. 

Pomperaug granted by General Court, ]\Iay 9, 1672. 

Pomperaug settled, 1678 

Fundamental Articles agreed upon, Feb. 14, 1672. 

Pomperaug incorporated and called Woodbury, May 14, 1674. 

First ferry to Stratford, 167 7. 

King Philip's A\\'ir, June, 1675. 

Inhabitants of ^Voodbury reti-eat to Stratford, 1675. 

" return to Woodbury, 1676 and 1677. 

Rev. Zeeheriah Walker moves his famil}^ to Woodbury, June 27, 1678. 
Woodbury first represented in General Court, IMay, 1684. 
Woodbury Patent in ample form. May 17, 1686. 
North Purchase granted the town by General Court, May, 1703. 

" " surveyed, 1723. 

First mill, 1674. 
Second mill, 1681. 
Third mill, 1692. 
First meeting-house, 1681. 
Parson Stoddard's house built, 1702. 
Rev. Zeeheriah Walker ordained. May 5, 1670. 

" " " died, Jan. 20, 1699-1700. 

Rev. Anthony Stoddard ordained. May 27, 1702. 

" " " died, Sept. 6, 1760. 

Second Church built, 174 7. 
Great Sickness, 1727, 1749 and 1760. 



H I S T O K Y OK ANCIENT "VV O O D B U K Y . 797 

Pootatuck Ferry established, 1730. 

Ilinman's Ferry '• 1752. 

Carlton's Bridge built by Gen. "Washington, 1778. 

Mine Hill spathic ore known in 1724. 

Fort "\Mlliam Henry Alarm, 17.j7. 

First Revolutionary Town Meeting, Sept. 20, 17 74. 

Great Boston Alarm, Sept. o' 1774. 

Continental Association Articles adopted by the town, Nov. 17, 1774. 

Southbury Society incorporated, ]\Iay, 1731. 

South Britain " " May, 17G6. 

Southbury incorporated as a town. May, 1787. 

Bethlehem Society incorporated, Oct., 1739. 

Great Sickness in that society, 1 7oO. 

Bethleni incorporated as a town. May, 1787. 

.Tudea Society settled in 1734; incorporated Oct., 1741. 

New Preston Society incorporated, Oct., 1753. 

Washington incorporated as a town, Jan. 7, 177i). 

Roxbury Society settled in 1713; incorporated May, 1743. 

Roxbury incorporated as a town, Oct., 179G. 

Episcopal Parish, Woodbury, organized, 1 740. 

Episcojjal Church erected by seventy persons, 1785. 

Episcopal Parish, Roxbury, organized, 1740. 

" " Judea Society, organized, 17G2. 

" " New Preston Soc, " 1 764. 

" " Bethlem " 1807. 

Baptist Church, Roxbury, " 1790. 

Methodist Church, Woodbury, '• 1792. 

" " Southbury, " L803. 

Rev. Noah Benedict ordained, Oct. 22, 17«ro. 
Rev. Worthington Wright ordained, Jan., 1811. 

" " " dismissed, 1813. 

Rev. Noah Benedict died, April 20, 1813. 
Rev. Henry P. Strong ordained. May 25, 1814. 

" " " dismissed, Jan., 181G. 

Rev. Samuel R. Andrew ordained, Oct. 8, 1817. 

" " " " dismissed, 1846. 
Third Church erected, 1819. 
Rev. Lucius Curtis ordained, July 8, 1846. 
Northern Inhabitants "sign oti'," Nov. 29, 1814. 
Strict Congregational Society incorporated, Oct., 181 G. 

" " Church, dedicated, Jan. 7, 1819. 

Rev. Grove L. Brownell ordained, July, 1817. 

" " " " dismissed, 1840. 

Rev. John Churchill ordained, April 22, 1840. 
Public Libraries established, 1772, 1823 and 1850. 
Daniel Bacon's Town Hall erected, 1823. 
New Town Hall erected, 1845. 
New Burial-Ground laid out, 1826. 
North Academy built, 1846. 
South Academy built, 1851. 
Masonic Lodge founded, 1 7G5. 
Masonic Hall built, 1839. 
Fidelity Chapter instituted, 1809. 

Pomperaug Division Sons of Temperance, organized, 184 7. 
Bethel Rock Lodge, I. O. O. F., " 1847. 

Woodbury Bank incorporated, 1851, 
Woodbury Savings Bank and Building Association organized, 1853 



798 



HISTORY or ANCIENT "WOODBURY. 



Great Freshet, Nov. 13, 1853. This was by far the largest and most 
destructive freshet that the town has suffered since its first settlement. A 
continued torrent of water fell for several hours, raising the river and streams 
to a point three feet higher than was known by the " oldest inhabitant," and 
three feet higher than the " old Indian marks." The damage done was im- 
mense. Bridges, mills, dams, stacks of ha^- and other property, all disap- 
peared before the angry flood. ^Many roads and intervales were destroyed, 
and all within reach^of danger were more or less injured. The loss of all 
kinds to the town of Woodbury, must have been from Si 5,000 to $20,000. 
To Roxbury. the loss was probably S8,000 or §10,000. The rise of the river 
at Shepaug' Falls, was about twenty-five feet, or some four fuct higher than 
had been known before. Similar damage in character aud amount was done 
in Southbury, Washington, and other neighboring towns. All this happened 
in an incn-cdibly short time, forming the most remarkable flood, in all respects, 
that ever visited these regions. 

LIST OF THE PRESENT INHABITANTS. 

This list includes the names of such persons as were inhabitants of the town 
between Xov. 1, 1852, and March 1, 1853 — the taking of the list having 0(>cu- 
pied this length of time. The whole number of inhabitants I\Iarch 1, 1853, 
was 2,201, whose names appear in the following list, except those of about 
thirty transient persons. The ^- vhites" nuvnhov 2.130 and the '' blacks" 71. 
Families are grouped together, the father and mother first, and the children 
in their order. The brace shows husband aud wife. 



Allen, 


Stephen } 
Mary ^ 


u 


Joseph 
Elmira 


u 
(I 


George P. 7 

Julia \ 


(( 


William H. 7 


(( 


Lovina A. f 


(1 


George M. 


11 


Susannah 


u 


Amos E. 


(1 


Abner 




Emily U. 
Mary J. 
Chauncey F. 


<( 


Minot M. 7 
Catherine t 


<( 


il 


John H. 


i( 


Laura A. 


il 


Harriet S. 


<l 


Henry M. 


(( 


Reuben J. 


<( 

d 


Chauncey } 
Rebecca jj ^ 





A. 








two 


od, James 




Atwooc 


1, Noble 7 
AlmaE. ; 


a 


Edward W. 


} 






u 


Eliza 


a 


John A. 7 


a 


John W. 




11 

ii. 


Lvdia A. ^ 
Oliver L. 


ti 


Garwood H. 


7 


u 


Roxana P. 


11 


Henrietta E. 


. f 


(1 


Juliette 


u 


Henrietta E, 




ti 


Emily 


il 


Elizabeth H. 




11 


William R. 7 


11 


Henry 
Abigail E. 




11 
(1 


Roxy S. ; 
Ellen S. 
Morris 








i( 


Frank 


<( 


Maria 




il 


Arvesta R. 

A'estina N. 


a 


Frederick S. 7 


t,t 


WilUam R. 


u 


Sarah 


; 


li 


Chauncey 7 
Martha ^ ' 


u 


Stephen \ 




u 


il 


Ruth ^ 




il 


Bernice 


It 


Eben J. 








" 


Margaret 




11 


BurrB. 7 

]Mary C. f 


u 


Elijah 7 
Permelia j 




u 


M'n VanBuren 


<l 




t( 


Elisha 


<( 


Roderick 




(( 


Oliver 
Mary A. 


(( 


Warner 




u 


Marion B. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY 



799 



Atwc 


lod, Nancy M. 


Atwood,'Margaret S. 


Abe] 


rnethy, John ) 
" Susan f 






i( 


Roger H. 




(( 


Charles S. I 








WiUard 


<( 


Eunice A. ) 


u 
a 


Samuel ) 
Lucinda C. ^ 




" John T. 


(( 


Wheeler 


" 


Zachery T. 




" Henry W. 


(( 


Dwight S. 








" William J. 


(( 


Lewis II. 


u 


Harvey | 






(( 


Betsey 


a 


Betsey ^ 


Armstrong, Raphael C. 


a 


Jennette 


u 


Preston 




" Harriet 


u 


Wheeler, Jun. } 
Louisa j 


u 


Leman G. | 
Delia M. ) 




'•' Jerome 


(1 


Lucy S. 


" 


Plellen 0. 


Atwater, Marshall D. 






u 


Howard II. 






(( 


Horace S. } 






Andrews, Reuben 


(( 


Maria H. ; 


u 


James 




" Caroline J. 


(( 


Julia M. 




B. 




" Charles V. 


Bull, 


Thomas > 


Botsford, Gideon B. } 


Betts, Otis W. 


(1 


Susan, 1 


u 


Polly B. ; 






" 


Elizabeth 


1( 


William C. 


u 


Marinda 


(( 


David S. 










u 


Julia A. 


(C 


David ] 


(t 


Ralph N. I 


ii 


Susan J. 


u 


Annette j" 


(( 


Anna I 






il 


Charles B. 


u 


Ralph N. 


Bacon, William T. ) 






1! 


James S. 


n 


Elizalieth L. y 


u 


Samuel ) 






li 


J. Knight 


u 


Jane E. )' 


(( 


Alfred F. } 


u 


Rebecca T. 


u 


Charles H. 


U 


Julia S. ^ 


u 


William T. 


a 


Jane E. 


(( 


Sabrina F. 


u 


Anna T. 






(( 


Gilbert S. 


(( 


Frederick A. 


Betts 


, David I 
Anna M. \ 


(( 


Walter W. 


(( 


Walter H. 


u 


(C 


Edwin 






a 


Cornelia 


u 


Perry " 


u 


John } 


u 


Henry 






u 


Augusta j 


a 


Sarah M. 


Brothwell, Almira 






u 


John 




" William C. 


a 


David C. } 








" Joseph J. 


(( 


Sarah M.|" 


u 


Charles, ) 
Jane | 










(( 


Booth, Charles 


" 


Timothy C. ) 


a 


Cornelia J. 


a 


Nelson 


u 


Catherine S. j 




William F. 
C. Edward 


" 


Sarah 


• (( 


Simeon W. ) 


(( 


Frederick W. 


u 


Hezekiah ) 
Flora ]" 


t( 


Harriet M. ^ 






u 


" 


David C. 


a 


George ^ 
Lutheria C. > 


i( 


Augusta; 






(i 


a 


Cornelia 


(( 


William II. } 


u 


George E. 






i> 


Suba i 


a 


Emma F. 


Benedict, Harriet J. 






a 


Frank M. 






(( 


Sylvester R. ) 








Abel > 


«( 


Zemira L. ) 


^l 


Marcus D. ) 
Elizabeth E. > 




" Eunice j 






It 




" Henry S. 



800 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



Benedict, Charles P. 


Bishop, Solomon ) 
" ]\Iaria I 


Bennett, John S. ) 
" Betsey \ 


11 


Sophia E. 


(( 


Edward H. 




William H. 


(1 


Julia E. 


" Noah ) 
" Abigail j 


Flora H. 






" Albert C. 


Bradley 


', Phineas S. } 






u 


Sarah S. )" 


Burton, Zcruiah 


Buckingham, Nelson } 


(( 


Robert P. 


" Mary Z. 


" Hannah B. j^ 


(( 


Harriet E. 


" Henrietta S. 


" Louisa M. 


u 


Sarah E. S. 


" Lyman 


Charles H. 






" Nathan 


." Floretta J. 


(( 


Edward E. ) 
Adaline C. I 




" Levi H. 


(1 


" Elam B. > 
" Nancy E. | 




(( 


Robert P. 


Barnum, Samuel C. 


(( 


James W. ) 
Abigail ) 


" Jesse B. ) 
Sarah J. \ 


Burnham, Harriet A. 


(( 




(1 


James M. 


" William B. 


Bunce, Leanora 


(( 


Albert H. 


" Daniel B. 




(( 


Edward B. 




Beddall, Thomas 


u 


Frank P. 


" Joseph 7 
" ]\Ielissey | 








Baldwin, Horace C. ) 
" EUzabeth D. ^ 


t( 


George 


" James 






" John 


" Lydia 


Briggs, 


Rosamond 


" Fanny 


" Judah 


(( 


^Margaret 


" William 


" Eunice 


(1 


Hannah 


" Lois 




(( 


Daniel 




" Andrew 


(1 


Isaac 


Bodicut, Thomas | 








'• Elizabeth j 


Bowas, Ann E. 


Benham, Enos 7 


" John T. 




(( 


Emily J. 1 


Bristol, Thompson \ 


Boyle, Margaret 


u 


Garwood B. > 
Maria A. j 


" Hannah M. j 


Boy son, Rebecca 


u 


" George P. 




u 


Willis M. 


" IMary^B. 
" Benjamin J. 


Beardsley, Clarinda 


(( 


Lock wood P. } 




" Grandison > 
" Marv A. | 


11 


Mary E. | 


Burritt, Charles W. 


(1 


Hiram A. 




" Stanley E. 


(( 


James A. 


Banks, Lucinda 




<l 


Jane A. 


" George 


" Everitt 


(( 


George H. 


" Mary' A. 
" Daniel C. 


WUlis 


Bishop, 


Leman 




Boulton, George ) 
" Maria II. | 


K 


Dotha D. 


Boughton, John } 


l> 


William F. 


" Dotha A. 1 


" George A. 


" 


Edward N. 


, John A. 


" Ellen M. 






" Delia L. 


" Arthur C. J. 


t( 


Deane 


" Abbey M. 


" Frederick ) 


(1 


Luman 


Bunnell, Isaac A. | 
" Sabra ) 


" Julia j' 


(1 


Mabel 




" 


Olive 


" Joseph 


Buell, Frederick }_ 


(( 


Riley 


" Wesley 


" Sarah A. J 






" Watson A. 


» Charles S. 


{( 


Sybil 




" Ameha 

" Frederick A. 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT AVOODBURY. 



801 



Buell, George N. 
" Amanda 
" Wells C. 

" Amanda E. 

Bell, John } 
" Ann \ 
" Horace 



Bates, Isaac } 

" Emeline ) 

" Julia C. 

" Johnson E. 

" Charles E. 

" Emeline A. 

" Samuel .L 

" Franklin P. 

" George R. 

" Randolph J, 

Breen, Patrick } 
" Eliza 5 



Curtis, Lucius ) 
ilv 5 



Emil 



Curtiss, David H. } 
" Anna S 
" James (i. 
David 

" Daniel ? 
" Julia F. 5 

Walter 
*• Emily A. 

Ellcii C. 
" Horace D. 
" Cordelia 
" Edwai'd J. 
" Frances 
" Elizabeth 

" Sarah 

" John } 
" Maria 5 

" Henry S. ) 
" Elizabeth L. \ 
" Henry B. 

" Benjamin S. ) 
" Martha J. \ 

" Carlos B. } 
Rachel D. 5 

65 



Bronson, Samuel 

Bailey, William } 
jNIary J. \ 
" Henry B. 

Ella ■ 

Brooks, Lemantha 

Blackman, Harriet B. 
Mary E. 

Alljert S. 

" Beecher 7 
" Mar}' ( 



Blackman, Charlie F. 
" Sarah A. 
Flora E. 

Brown, Benjamin ) 
" Diantha 5 

Barto, Chauncey ] 
" Julia ) 

" William P. 
" William H. 
" Willys L. 
" Emma J. 



Barnes, Andrew J. 
" Samantha 
Charles A.) 

Lurinda ^ Beck, Christian 
George B. 
Jane E. Ballantvue, Kate 



c. 

Curtiss, Walter H. } 
" Mary <i 

" Lorena 

Elizabeth A. 



Cogswell, Frances S. 
" Maria J. 
" ]\Iary A. 
F. Isabella 

Castle, Bethel S. ) 
" Fanny C. j>" 
" Elizabeth H. 
" Samuel 



" Joseph 

Chapin, Silas ) 
Julia S. 5 

Churchill, John ) 

" Caroline ^ 

Harriet C. 

" Nathan P. 

Cothren, AVilliam > 
IMary J. ^ 

Chittenden, William E. ) 
" Ann E. I 

William F. 
Julia M. 
M. A.lelia 
John S. 

Chi vis, Mary B. 

Cables, Almira 

Clark, Silas } 
Cogswell, William C. ) " Laura J 
" Catherine A. I " Sarah P. 
" Martha P- " William J. 

" Edward S. 



Chauncey N. ) 
Sarah A. \ 
Chauncey J. 
Henrietta Y. 



" Reuben S. 

" Polly 

" Fci'ris A. 

" Mary J. 

" Harriet A. 

" Azuba 

" Samuel 

Cole, Cornelia 

Crafts, Charles B. 



802 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY 

Capevrell, Seymour L. 



Clark, Susan 

" Sllah 
" Susan B. 

" alary 

Candee, Lewis B. 
" Betsey E. 
" Susan C. 
Frank B. 

" John A. I 
" Abigail S 
" Edward D. 



" Harry ^ 

Eliza 0.5 

" Henry G. 

Carpenter, Cyreny 

" ]\Iary 

Capcwcll, jNIark ) 
" Jane 5 
" Greorge J. 
" Eliza 

" George A. } 

" Harriet A. 5 

" George U. 

" Caroline E. 

" IMary Ann 

" Martha L. 



" Joseph T. ) 

" Sarah 5 

" Sarah Ann 

" Julia 

" Emily 

" Ellen 

" Joseph 

Coudren, Thomas 

Couden, Eliza 

" Catherine 

Campbell, George 

Crane, Henry S. ) 
" Betsey J. 5 
" Horace B. 
" George P. 
" Stephen 11. 

Camp, Eunice 

" Caroline 



George 1st 
Sarah W. 
Harriet A. 

George 2d 

IMarsjarct 

child 



Cramer, John 
" Koxy 
" Everton R. 
'' Mary E. 

Chipman, Hirara i 
" Phebe E. \ 
" Surilla L. 
" Benjamin F. 
" Chauncey F. 
" Elizabeth 

Carroll, Patrick ) 
" Mary 5 
" Mary J. 
" Catherine 
" John 

Conrad, Henry 

Collerts, William 

Coger, Mary E. 
" Charles 

Callender, Henry } 
" Charlotte S 
" Leyi 
" Caroline 
" Naomi 
" Josephine 

Carr, George 



Drakeley, IMartha 
Olive 

" Robert, ^ 

" Louisa 5 

" Augusta M. 

" Robert J. 

" Anna. 

" George ^ 

" Laura M. 5 

" Harriet M. 

" Lucius 

De Forest, Marcus > 
" Laura C. 5 
" Lucy A. 



D. 

De Forest, John P. ^ 
" Mary J. 5 

" Emily 

" George } 
" ISIary A. ) 

" Alma 

" Edward } 
" Ada S 
Delia 

" James ^ 
" Mary 5 
" James 

De Castro, J. Fernandez 



De Forest, WiUiam ^ 
" Rana i 

" Martlia 

Douglas, Levi S. } 
" Sarah A. 5 

Dickerson, James M. } 
' ' Louise 5 

Downs, Calvin H. ^ 
" Minerva A. 5 
" Catherine M. 
" Julia E. 

Wyllys I 
Melicent ) 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBUBl 



803 



Downs, Louisa M. 
Ileiir}- AV. 

Doolittle, Benjamin } 
" Betsey ) 
" Frances E. 

IMary J. 
" George 
" Thomas B. 
" Merritt E. 

" Henry } 
'' Emeline 5 
" George 

Da}ton, Charles S. 

Dawsou, William } 
'' Emmelen )' 
" Sarah J. 

Ann E. 
*' J)ianlha 

JMartha 
" Anna 

•' Josephine 



De Wolf, George AV. ) 
" Sarah \ 

■ ' Uary 

" Georgiana 

Dascum, David B. > 
" ]\Iary 5 

'' Charles ) 
" Clarina 5 
" infant 

" Robert ) 

" Almira 5 

" IVIary E. 

" George II. 

'' Charles E. 

" Ann M. 

Deming, Sarah J. 

Dewes, George I 
" Ann 3 
" Sarah 
" Edwin 
" Thomas 



Dewhurst, James ) 
" Elizabeth 5 
" Mary A. 

Davis, Nelson } 
" Sarah E. 5 
" Sarah J. 

" George 

" Frederick 

'• Clark 

Diehl, Lewis 

Dooley, John ? 
Mary C. 5 
" Eliza 

Dolan, Conrad ? 
" Bridget 5 
" Edmund 

" Bridget 

Darnley, Mary - 



Elliott, Mary A. 
" Clarina 

Elwcll, Sherman ) 
" Harriet 5 



E. 

El well, Isaac F. 
" Rebecca H. 
'' Charlotte P. 

Eastman, Amarilla 



Elwood, Zadoc f 
" Sarah A. 5 

Essig, Paul 



F. 



Forbes, Lorin ) 


Fowler, Harmon } 


Fox, 


Mary J. 


" Harriet \ 


ii 


Hannah 5 


a 


Ellen S. 


IMary W. 










'• William 


" 


John 1 


u 


Charles } 




ii 


Martha ) 


n 


Esther 5 


Fairchild, Stephen B. 


i( 


Horace S. } 


ii 


Charles B. 
Robert S. 


Fabri(pie, Benjamin 


(( 


Mary A. ^ 


>.( 


Mary E. 




it 


George B. 


(( 


Elizabeth J. 


Fuller, Calvin W. > 






a 


Mary F. 


" Marietta P. 5 


Farr, 


, Sarah M. 


u 


Martha M. 


" Emma C. 






(( 


Sarah F. 




French, Andrew 






Fowler, William 2d ) 






(1 


Peleg } 


" Amanda 5 


Fox, 


llarvcv H. } 


li 


Sabra 5 


John M. 


i( 


Julia W. 5 






" Hiram D. 


u 


(iuy W. 


i( 


Philo } 


" Lewis L. 


11 


Emily M. 


u 


Asenath 5 



804 

Fox, Russel 
'• John 
" Lucv 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBrRT. 

Foiil, PhiloJ. 
Fitzgibbens, Johanna 



" "William ^ 

" Roxy M. S 

^ Andrew 

'' Anna J. 

Foot, Lucius H. ? 

» Clarissa T. S 

" Edward A. 



Foot, Roswell^ 
" Harriet \ 
'• Sarah 
'• George 
" Elizabeth 
" Charles 



Ford, Harriet 

" John B. > 

" IMary ^ 
" Marv E. 



Fairbrother, "William ) 
" Sarah \ 

" Elizabeth 

Fuell, John 

Flotto, "NVilliam 



Gordon, Alexander ? 
Maria H. 5 
AViUiam A. 
" ^Maria C. 
" Alexander 
" Susan L. 

Green, George \ 
" Althea 5 
" Fannie 

Galpin, Samuel 

" C}TUS > 

»' Martha S 

" Daniel B. 

'' Thomas C. 

'* Jane E. 

" Stephen F. ) 
" Mary A. j 
" Leman G. 
" Hanford J. 
" John 

Marj- E. 

"WiUiamR. ) 
" Abigail E. ^ 

Galpin, Almon D. > 
Sarah E. ; 

" JuUan H. 
" infant 



G. 

Galpin, Charles > 
" Susan A. ^ 
" George L. 

Galpin, Edgar R. > 
Lovina W. | 
" Julia E. 
*' infant 

Gibson, Asahel R. } 
" Eliza y 

AsahelB. 
" Frederick W. 
" Charles J. 

Julia M. 
" Edgar E. 
" Henry 

Gardner, Mary E. 

Gillett, Sarah 
" Julia A. 



Gun, Lent 

Gun, Susannah 

Griswold, Har^■ev ) 

]Mary' ^ 

•' Lucy A. 

Gleason, Michael 1st 

Gleason, James ) 
Mary ^ 

" Marsaret, 
"William 
Ellen 

" Mary 

" Michael •2d 
Gallovin, Bridget 
Goodman, Margaret 



Gaylord, John Jay } Graham, ^Michael > 

' " Charlotte A. ^ " Elizabeth ^ 

•' Ellen L. - - - - 
" Clarion E. 

Glazier, John ) 
" Hannah ^ 
" Thomas 
" Henry 
" Clarissa 



MarA- M. 
EUen B. 
Winnafried M. 
AVilliam 
Caroline E. 



Guthrie, Evis 
Grant, Francis 



Hotchkiss, Josiah ) 
" Betsey ^ 



H. 

Hotchkiss, Reuben IL ) Hotchkiss, Sallv R. 
Elizabeth M. ) 
'• Arvesta A. " Gervase ) 

" Sarah E. ^ 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



805 



Hotchkiss, Marv T. 

" Sarah PI. 

Julia H. 

Hitchcock, George ) 
" Jane A. ) 
" Margaret J. 

Emity E. 
" Sarah M. 
" George 
" Howard L. 

" JuHa S. 

Hurlbut, Rebecca J. 

" Frances A. 

" Elizabeth M. 

'■ AVilliam 



Hurd, Horace ^ 

" Roxy ^ 

" Marcus 

" Truman 

" Albert S. 

" Sarah A. 

- Asahel T. 
'■'■ Harriet C. 
*' Willis R. 

" Dimis B. 

" Sally 

" Margaret H. 

•' Sidney 

- Albert D. 



" Benjamin Hayes. Louisa 



Hollister, Gideon } 
" LydiaJ. i' 

Huntington, Carina 

Huut, Mitchell > 
" Mary y 
" Edward A. 

Sylvester 
" Harvey D. 

'• Truman ) 
'• Sarah )' 
" Sarah M. 



Hezekiah C. ) 

Susan <^ 

Elizabeth 

Hezekiah 

" John S. ) 

" Abia \ 

" Nancy R. 

" Lydia 

•' Ephraim J. > 
Harriet ) 

Hull, Bradford J. > 
" Catherine (^ 
" Catherine A. 



Hull, William N. 

" Ammi F. 
" Susan E. 

Hatch, Faith 

Hyde, Nancy B. 

" Amelia 

Hubbell, Jerome B. 

Hodges, Leander ) 
" Sarah j 

Mary A. 
'' George J. 

Hall, John } 
'' Harriet ) 
'• John 
" Joseph 

Hill, John ") 
" Emma \ 
" Sarah 
" Charles 

Hinman, Anthony B. 

Holmes, Frederick 

Hamer, Elizabeth 

Hartford, Henry 

Hawkins, Harriet R. 

Heylur, John 

Haragan, Margaret 



Isbell, Horace > 


Isbell, 


Charles > 


Isbell, Jared S. > 
" Polly A. C 


" Sally 1 


'' 


Harriet J . j 


" Julia A. 


" 


George H. 


•• MarV E. 


" Sarah C. 




Willard A. 


" William S. 


'^ EUen L. 




T 


" Betsey L. 


Judson, Elijah } 


J. 

Judson, Herman ) 


Judson, Anar S. 


" Betsey y 


u 


Minerva ^ 


Statira D. 




'• 


Roderick B. 


'' Ackerman E 


" George N. 7 




Andrew J. 




" Caroline y 


" 


Ellen S. 


" INIary 


•' Margaret C. 






" Silas 


" Susan L. 


"■ 


Vincent, ) 


" Frederick 


Sarah M. 


a 


Sally i 


" Jane 



80G HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY 

Judson, Abigail 



Jiulson, Thomas F. ) 
" Ann B. ^ 
" Wesley 

Elijah D. } 
" Minerva F. j" 
" Elmer F. 

" Olive 

" Henry ) 
" Nancy ^ 

" Herman W. > 
" Elizur J. I 
William E. 

" Noah ) 
Ruth P. f 

" Jay R. 
" Emma B. 

Franklin M. ) 
" Louisa M. ^ 

" Keziah 

" Charlotte 
" Harriet E. 



" Theodore } 
" Julia M. f 

" Martha E. 

" Phineas A. } 
" Laura S. f 

Ellen A. 
" John B. 

" Rhoda 
•' Marcus 

" Burton ) 

Polly I 
" Mariette M. 

Henry C. 
" Harriet E. 

Ralph N. 

William W. 

" Nathan S. } 
" Flora A. ^ 
" Mary E. 

" Truman H. 
" Sarah P. 
" T. Franklin 



Judson, Albert N. 
" Harriet 

" W. Le Grand } 
Ruth S. i 

Judd, Lewis ) 
" Harriet S. ^ 

Johnson, Charles S. ) 
" Betsey | 
»' Charles B. 
" Burnette H. 
" Walter 

" Julia M. 
" Harriet L. 
*' Jennet E. 

Jackson, Samut'l 

" Jerome B. / 
'• Rebecca ^ 
" Ellen 

" Sarah 

Joice, William } 
" Jane 5 
" Jennette 



Kelsey, Charles } 
" Eliza f 



K. 

Kelsey, Sarah E. 
" Charles 



Kane, Friend F. 
« William 



Lambert, Willvs f 
Eliza ; 
" Elizabeth J. 
" Charlotte 

" Treat f 
" Maria J. ^ 

" Henry ) 
" Harriet ) 
" George D. ' 
" Hcnrv A. 
Wilbur C. 
" Margaret E. 

Liasley, Harvey J. ) 

" Mary \ 

" Jane 



Linsley, James H. } 
" Harriet ]\I. f 
" Sarah M. 

Lawson, Robert C. ) 

" Maria P. \ 

William S. 

Lemon, Daniel S. } 
" Eunice P. ^ 
" Harriet J. 

Edwin S. 

Leavenworth, Alma 

" David 



Lewis, George B. } 
>' Charlotte L. \ 

" Ephrauu } 
" Caroline ^ 

" Agur > 
" Lorina ) 
" Antoinette 

" Agur 

Lum, George } 
" Nanc)' I 
" William L. 
•' Jane E, 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT -WOODBURY. 



807 



Lawtc 


>n, George } 


Lounsbury, Franklin 


Lawle] 


V, Badelia 


" 


Hannah \ 






It 


Edward 


i> 


■ Samuel 


Lathn 


op, George | 


tt 


John 


'■ 


■ James 


" 


Emily J. ) 


11 


Mark 


u 


Hu^h 


It 


Ellen C. 






tl 


■ Fra'nk 






Leach 


, AlvaY. 1 


11 


• Martha 


Lown 


s, Jacob 


" 


Betsey A. > 
Reuben B. 




Thomas 


Lawlor, Martin ) 


" 


Laura J. 






u 


Mary ) 


" 


Adeline E. 


Lonnsbnry, Lucius tJ. } 






" 


Alva A. 




• Esther ^ 


1( 


Anna - 
Mary 

M. 


11 


Daniel A. 


Minor, Wait } 


]\Iinor 


, Betsey 


Mitchell, Charles C. } 


ii 


Susanna ) 


It 


Henry B. 


tt 


Louisa M. 5 


u 


Noah B. 


u 


Ephraim ? 


'' 


Wallace 


(( 


Judson } 


if 


Oliye 5 






(i 


Electa S 






11 


Reuben ) 
Ruth M, 5 






tt 


Charles J. } 


11 


'' 


Erastus 7 


It 


Clarissa T. 5 






(' 


iMeliuda i 


11 


David S. 


It 


Nancy 


'' 


Sarah E. 


" 


Charles D. 


tt 


Julia 


'' 


Mary 






" 


Asahel W. 


" 


Suscxn 


11 


Anthony > 
Olive S 






a 


tJane 


" 


Martin, Daniel 


a 


Horace 










(( 


Charlotte 


11 


Truman } 


11 


Rhoda 


u 


Thomas 


It 


Harriet ^ 






i( 


Maria 


If 


Truman 8. 
John H. 


1 1 


Frederick ^ 
Mary Ann 5 




AVilliam 
Sarah 


a 


Harriet E. 
Nathaniel ? 


It 
It 


Caroline E- 
Mary 0. 
Harriet E. 


li 


Nathaniel ]). } 


11 


Althea 5 


It 


John 0. 


n 


Frances 5 
Geor<fe C. 


11 
tl 


Jesse 
Fanny 


It 
It 


Frederick S. 
Sally 


il 


Josiah G. > 
Esther C. > 






It 


Electa A. 


li 


'• 


Solomon B. } 










" 


Frances A. j 


It 


Reuben B. } 


1( 


Henry ) 


11 


Fannie J. 


tt 


Susan W. 5 


" 


Altha 5 






It 


Reuben W. 


it 


James II. 


" 


Cornelius J. > 


" 


Esther Maria 


11 


Mary J. 


11 


Mary <» 


11 


Susan W. 


11 


Emily L. 










" 


Julia" 15. 


" 


Albert 


tt 


Augusta M. 


11 


Gilbert S. 


Mitchell. Ruth 


Marshall, John P. ^ 










tt -*-■.. 


.Julia ) 


11 


Frederick M. } 


u 


Asa } 


It 


Julia P. 


11 


Amelia C. ^ 


'• 


Eunice 5 


Merriam, Alva } 


11 


Thomas B. 


11 


Asahel F. 


<' 


Mary A. 5 


" 


Ellen F. 


" 


John W. 


It 


Fraukhn M. 



808 



Merriam, Edward M 
" Gilbert R. 

" Charles A. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY 
McKay, Ann Eliza 
" Sarah A. 



" Henry A. jMoody, Ashbel } 

" Sarah A. 3 
McKenney, Margaret S. 

" Amelia W. Millard, Charles ;> 

" Henry S. " Abigail 3' 

" Charles A. 



Mansfield, David S. } 
Eliza 3 
" Sireno 
" Walter 



Mallory, Abigail 
" Betsie 
" Fannie 

Polly 

" Fanny 

" Reuben i 
" Olive 3 

" Samuel M. 
" AVillis 

JNIanvill, James 
'' Harriet E. 
" James H. 
" Tlieodore S. 

" Hiram i 
" Paulina j 

" Harvey W. 

Ruth 

McCracken, Mary 

Morris, Harve}' } 
" Maria J. \ 

" Garry 
" Allathea 

" .Tames 
" Matthew 

" Hobert H. ) 
" Sarah M. > 
" George F. 

McKay, ^Villiam C. ) 

" Rosamond ) 
William H. 
Ophelia B. 



Morehouse, Joel ^ 
" Altha 5 

Munson, Charles } 
" Charlotte 5 
" Susan C. 
" infant 

" Jane 
Ellen 

Munn, Nathaniel ) 
" Pollv 5 

" Mary S. 
" Myron B. 

Markham, Sylvanus A. 
" Alvira AI. 
" Carohne R. 
" Harriet A. 

Ellen C. 
" Sylvanus W. 

Merwin, Joseph R. > 
Emily P. 3 
" Parker J. 
" Mary E. 

Maramble, John 

Munroe, Admir H. ) 

" Susan 3 
" Sarah 
" Chaunccy 

Moller, C. F. ) 
" Julia S 
" Carl F. 

Mansfield, Charles } 
Alma 3 
" Margaret S. 
" George 



Mellor, Anna 

Miller, Allen 

Morrisson, Rachel 

McCumell, Margaret 

Maghur, Patrick ^ 
" Margaret 3 

Mulhall, Mary 

Murphy, Bridget 

Minder, John D. 
" Mary A, 
" Charles A. 
" Emma E. 
" Josephine 

McDevit, John } 
^ " Abigail <i 

Marks, George L. ) 
" Emeline 3 
" George S. 
" Josephene E. 
Hellen S. 

McGloughlin, Thomas 

Nichols, Edward ) 
" Sally 5 . 

" Philander } 

" Harriet ^ 

" Loyd P. 

" John W. 

" Lucretia 
" John 

Northrop, Obediah P. ) 
" Harriet M. 3 

" George J. 

" John R. 



Nettleton 



HISTORY 


V 


A N q I E N T 


Samuel ) 
Sarah 3 


Nettleton, Josei)h > 


" 


Elizabeth 5 


Mar}- J. 


" 


Mary E. 


Augusta E. 






Sarah B. 


(t 


Stiles } 
Nancy 5 


Jehicl ) 


•' 


Lamson 


Jcrusha 5 


a 


John 


Jackson J. 




Scovill 



" (leorge 
Henry B. ) 

Elizabeth A. 5 Norton, Talcott ^ 

Frederick B. " Belinda ^ 

Josephine E. " Amelia 

Frank H. 

'■ Ann 



WOO D^ U K Y 



Newey, William ) 
" Phebe S 
" Emma J. 
'• Arthur B. 
" Anna E. 

Noyes, Hezekiah ) 
" Harriet ^ 
" Sarah M. 
" Mary 

Charles J. 

Nooney, Thomas ) 
Mary ^ 



809 



Orton, Truman } 
" Martha INI. j" 
" Harriet M. 
*' Walter J. 

Eliza E. 

" Betsey 

" David J. 
" Sarah 
" Elizabeth 

Olcott, Lucy 

" Margaret 

Preston, Nathan 

" James ) 
Eliza S 

" Maria 

Phelps, Charles B. ) 
" Amanda i 
" Amanda E. 
" S. Maria 

Peck, Peter F. 

" Frederick D. ) 

" Lucy D. 5 

" William 

" Frederick 



o. 

Olcott, IMary 
" Amanda 
" Mary T). 

Osborn, Henrv A. 
" Ellen 

" Almou } 

" Salina ^ 

" Juliette 

" Newell 

" Daniel 

" Elizabeth C. 



P. 

Peck, Lucy S. 

" Samuel F. 

" Isaac > 

" Anna ) 

" Susan A. 

" Jane A. 

" Jeremiah } 

" Polly 5 

" Nancy M. 

" Henry H. } 

" Julia 5 

" John J. 

" Frank B. 



Eunice 



66 



Osborn, Simeon D. > 
" Margaret A. \ 
" Lusella A. 
" William W. 
" Alsora A. 

" Lorinda 

Olmsted, Curtis i 
" Lois 5 
» Eftilv 
" Mary J. 
" Sarah A. 



Peck, Ephraim B. ) 
" Betsey \ 

'' George H. 

" Robert 

" Catherine M. 

" Benjamin C. 
" Hannah 
" David C. 

" Enoch i 
" LLartha 5 

I'ratt, George ^ 
" Martha ^ 

Piatt, Merrit ) 
" Mary ) 



810 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT -WOODBURY. 



Piatt, Edward B. 
" Mary E. 

Porter, George 

Parker, Truman ^ 
•' Rhoda 5 
" Jarvis 



Daniel S. ^ 
Olive J. 5 
Mary ,Tane 
Eliza A. 
Susan M, 

Norman ^ 
Eunice 3 
Hellen 

Jason 1 

Harriet L. \ 



Rufus i 
Selina s 
John M. 
Mary E. 



OrleyM. ) 
Marcia A. C 
SaUy 

James L. 



Pangman, Susan 

Paretree, Robert C. ) 
" Sarah J. \ 
Mary J. 

Pierce, Nathan } 
" Susan E. ) 
" Susan Esther 
" George E. 
" Lucy L. 
" Mary D. 

" Laura 

Prentice, Daniel S. 
*' Electa 
» Mary S. 

Percy, Clement i 

" Louisa S 

« Seth AY. 

" Harriet J. 

" Sarah M. 

" James F. 

« Charles H. 

" Julia E. 

" Samuel B. 

" George W. 

Potter, Bela 
" Rhoda 
" Alice 



Potter, Edward 1 
" Mary A. \ 

Peete, Eli S. > 
" Abigail L. S 
" Harriet E. 
" Andrew W. 

Palmer, Charles 

Proctor, Alza 

'• Nathaniel L. 1 
" Elizabeth \ 
" George N. 

Parmlee, IMahalah 
" Cornelia 
" Fidelia 

Pitt, John i 
" Ann \ 
" Georgians 

Pearles, Jacob 

Pickhardt, Christian } 
" Louisa ^ 

" Charles 

" Plenry 

" William 



Quick, Michael i 
" Mary A. J 



Rogers, Ned > 



Betsey 



John W, 

Susan 
Charles E. 
John J. 
Henry C. 
George W. 
Harvey N. 
Warren S. 



« Robert C. 1 
" Anna P. \ 
" Anna Florence 



Root, Andrew 



Q- 

Quick, William 

R. 

Root, Thomas i 

» Polly \ 

" Joseph W. 

" Wealthy A. 

" Thomas B. 

" Susan C. 

" Homer A. 

Russell, Barlow ) 
" Caroline S 
" Edna Eliza 

" Benjamin S. 

" Sarah H. 

" John B. 

" Dwight B. 

" StUes C. 



Russell, Martin C. > 
" Sebela S 
" Adelia 



" Dwight C. 1 

" Lucy A. \ 

Richards, Levi 

" William G. » 
" Celestia M. \ 
" Sylvester P. 
" Tomhnson W. 

" Henry W. i 
" Minerva A. \ 
" Emma 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURT. 



811 



Kichards, Marcena 


Randall, Columbus W. 


Reynolds, Julia E. 


u 


George P. 




a 


Catherine A. 


(1 


John T. 


Race, Andrew B. , 
" Esther E. 'i 


a 


Roderick 


(( 


Sarah INI. 


i( 


' Harriet 


" 


Fanny E. 


" Delbert A. 








Juliette 
Franklin 


" liellen L. 


u 


Betsey 


u 


Charles 


Riley, James 


Riggs, Jane E. 


Roberts, John > 


" Thomas i 
" Catherine S 


" Eri 


" 


Elizabeth ^ 






u 


IMary A. 


" Mary J. 


RoswelJ 


[, John ,1 
Emeline s 


" 


Amelia E. 


" James 


u 


a 


George A. 




" 


]\Lary 


a 


Charles G. 


" Margaret 


(( 


George 


a 


Robert N. 


Reynolds, Solomon ) 
" Alvina > 


" 


Sai'ah 


a 


Edwin ; 
Jane A. i; 


" 


Charles i 
Mary \ 


it 


" Henrietta 


u 






" Ireda 






(( 


Abraham;, 

Ann i] 




Rockwell, David S. ) 


(1 


" Noah S. ) 
" Eliza A. \ 


(1 


Emily A. if 






a 


Sarah ]VI. 


(( 


James ) 
Maria A. S 


" Henry 






u 


" James 


Ragan, 


Mary 






" Mary A. 






u 


Wilham 


" John 
" Emily 

S. 
Sherman, Lewis G. } 


Ragin, 


Joanna 


Sherman, Elijah ) 


Strong, 


, Nathaniel L. ■) 
Mary R. 5 


a 


Polly 5 


" Jennet E. 5 


(( 






" Margaret A. 


(( 


Nathaniel M. 


a 


Isaac 


" Sylvester J. 
" Julia 


,, 


Flora 


i( 


Jerusha 








(( 


Henrietta J. 


Strong, Stoddard 5 


u 


Charles P. ■) 
Elizabeth A. 5 






" Jennet 5 


a 


u 


George P. 




a 


Charles E. 


a 


Harriet E. 


" Bennet U. ) 


ii 


James P. 


(( 


Henry E. 


" Mary H. S 


11 


John E. / 
Sarah 0. ll 


u 


Cyrus ) 
Mercy 5 


" Solomon 7 
" Eliza \ 


C( 


a 






i( 


Julia 


" Seth } 




WiUiam 


(1 


Lucy 


" Harriet A. ]' 


(1 


Eli > 






" Mary E. 


(1 


Mary > 


(1 


Munroe C. } 


" Margaret L. 






u 


Ruth E. 5 


" ILarriet E. 


Stoddard, Harmon ) 


(( 


Anna J\I. 


(( 


li 


Ruth Ann 3 


u 


R. Hotchkiss 


" Anthony C. } 


u 


Charlotte 


(1 




" Julia I 








Bennet A. ) 
EmUyM. 5 


" Willys A. 


(4 


Harmon W. 


a 


" Frederick T. 


i( 


Eliza N. 


u 






(( 


Hellen S. 



Isaac, 



812 



HISTORY OP ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



Stoddard, Cyrus ? 
" Maria H. 5 

Wealthy A. 
" George A. 

*' Louisa M. } 
Charles H. 5 
Edward C- 

" Martin ^ 
Eliza B. I 

Betsey 

Smith, Nathaniel B. ) 
" Mary Ann W. ) 
" Nathaniel 

" Phineas } 

" Conielia ^ 

" Truman 

" Cornelia M. 

" Catherine P. 

" WUliam P. 

" Charles K. 

'' Catherine 

" Guy 

" Gilead H. ) 

" AnnaM. 5 

" Niles C. 

" Leslie"' P. 

" Legrand B. 

" Mary 'A. 

" Robert 

" Frederick A. 

" Sarah A. 

" Alonzo A. 

" Fanny L. 

" Frank B. 

" Isaac i 
" Hannah ) 

" Mark ^ 
" Rhoda 5 

«' Marcus D. ? 
" Charlotte ) 
" Herbert B. 

•' George ) 
" Osha 5 
" Dwight 



Smith, Frances 

" Worthington B. 
" Henry C. 

•' Elijah F. I 
Martha ] 
" Ann M. 

' (ieorge F. 
" Elizabeth R. 

•' Stephen B. } 

" Ruth A. 5 

" Cornelia 

" Henry 

" Josephene 

" Lucy A. 

" George ? 
" Maria 5 

" Hannah 
" Mary 

" Sarah A. 

" Emma 

" George G. > 

" Betsey A. 5 

" Charlotte C. 

" Emily C. 

" Martha A. 

" Mary E. 

" infant 

" Susan E. 

Steele, Laura 

Stiles, Roderick > 
" Cleora S. 5 
" Elizabeth A. 

" Mary 

Seeley, Walker S. } 
" INIary A. 5 
" Mary E. 
" infant 

Sperry, Susan 

Summers, William } 
'' Joanna S 



Summers, Eli } 
" AmeUa 
" Henry 



AmeUa 5 



Summers, David > 

" Sarah 5 

" Mary Jane 

" Sarah M. 

" Eliza A. 

" Sheldon 

" Mary 

" George M. } 

" Parthena E. 5 

Abby G. 

" Johii E. 

" Charlotte 

" Abraham 

" Nancy 

" Cornelia 



Somers, Charles A. ? 
" Cecelia F. 5 
" Eugene A. 

David C. } 
" Minerva B, 5 
" Marion D. 

Shelton, William N. ) 
" Henrietta ) 

" William M. 

Stone, Abernethy B. 
" Julia A. 
•' ISIary D. 
" Emma B. 

" Ursula 
" James 

Stilson, John B ? 
JuHa H. > 

" Daniel 

Spring, John ^ 
" Eliza 5 

Sanford, Nathan W. > 
Julia F. 5 
Hellen B. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



813 



Saxton, Si re no } 
" Julia A. 5 
" Mariette 
Ellen S. 
" Lawrence 

" (xeorge i 
" Cai'oline 5 
" Josephine 

Stienmetz, Daniel 

Schnider, Christian 

Scott, James S. • } 
" Angelina M. 5 



Scott, Mai-y E. 
Simpson, Robert 



Robert ) 
aiary 5 



Squires, Joseph W. 
Elizabeth P. 
" Wesley J. 
" Jane L. 

Scovill, Sidney } 

" Lucretia M. ^ 

Willys 
" Sheldon 

Shea, Virginia 
" Thomas L. 



Shea, Thomas ) 
" Margaret 5 
" George 

" John 

Stevens, George W. 

Sweeney, Miles 

Stowe, Benjamin M. 

Stewart, William' } 
" Margaret ) 
" JNIary 
" John 
" Jemima 



" Samuel B. 


" George 


ti 


William 


" Harriet L. 


T. . 


t( 


infant 


Terrill, Timothy } 
Dolly M. \ 


Tuttle, Charle3 


Thomas. 


, David M. 


Edward 








" Benjamin B*. 


" 


James R. ' 
Mary A. ', 


" Timothy, Jr. > 
Laura W. 5 


•' Frances A. 


" 




a 


Charles L. 


Huldah M. 


•' Rebecca 


ti 


Hellen R. 


" Margaret E. 




" 


Catherine 


" Catherine C. 


" William R. ) 
Sarah E. ]" 






Ellen A. 


Tomlinson, Samuel ) 


" infant 


" William G. 


a 


Jennette 3 




" Altha M. 


" 


Betsey J. 


" George D. ? 


" Lucy J. 


It 


Elisha P. 


Nancy B. I 




" 


Homer S. 


Charles T. 


" Philo I 
" Martha P. | 


(1 


Ellen A. 








" Nathan S. } 


" Mary H. 


" 


Joseph 


" Ijimlly 5 


" John E. 


i( 


John D. 


" James G. 


" Emily J. 
" Marvin E. 


" 


George 


EU B. } 




Thompson, Thomas M. ) 


Esther J. !i 


Albert } 


u 


Sarah < 




" Harriet ) 


a "^ 


Ellen 


" Lauren ) 


" Nathan A. 






Martha J. 5 




(i 


Augusta 


" Henry 


Caroline 


(( 


Harriet 


" Elmore 


Thomas, Ira } 








" Betsey M. 5 


n 


Sheldon 


" Orrin 


'• llortcnsia M. 








" Horatio S. 


t( 


Francis ) 


Tuttle, Lovina 


" Serina B. 


" 


Elizabeth 5 


" Jennette A. 


" Clementine S. 


•ii 


Launcelot 
Margaret 


" Henry > 


*' Isaac } 


«' 


Sarah A. 


" Esther]^ 


Elizabeth A. > 







814 



HISTOKT OF ANCIENT -WOODBURT. 



Thompson, Charles ? 
" Laura 5 

" Hobert 

Trowbridge, Edmund 
" Esther L. 

" Fanny C. 

Philo M. 
" Sarah E. A. 

Turney, Abel ^ 
" Sarah A. 5 
" WiUiam E. 
" Sarah E. 

Tolles, Sheldon? 
Abby J_ 
" Harriet A. 
" Elizabeth H. 
" Lewis N. 



Kansley 
Lucretia 
Frederick 



ToUes, Robert I. } 
" Emeline ) 
" Hellen E. 

J Teeple, George L. 

Tifftj^Henry R. 

] Tyler, Asahel 

I " Mehetable M. 

" William M. 

" Sophronia 

" Almira 

" Mary 

Town, Mary T. 
" Eli 
" John 

Taylor, Henry L. } 
Delia A. 5 
William H. 



Taylor, Roswell \ 
" Minerva ) 
" Abby F. 



)rge7 
la ^ 



" George 

" Anns 

" Charles 

" Daniel 

" Francis 

" Henrietta 

" James 

" Adaline 

Thornton, Thomas ? 
Celia A. 5 

" Mary A. 

" William 

" Celia E. 

" Joshua ) 

" Mary D. 3 

" Robert 



Umberfield, Jarius 



U. V. 

Vollmuller, George ) Vail, Anna 
" Margretha > 









w. 






Walker, Armilla 


Webster 


•, Guy 


Warner, John } 










'i 


IVIartha N. ) 


u 


Theodore ^Y. 


) Woodward, John 


u 


George B. 


il 


Almira T. 


5 




(1 


Frank P. 


(i 


Josephine 


Warner 


, Nathan ^ 
Mary 5 






u 


Margaret A. 


a 


Wellman, David, Jr. 


(1 


Theodore W. 


a 


Maria 


a 


Amanda 


u 


Leodore W. 


n 


Niram ^ 
Sylvia S. 5 




Joseph 
Benjamin 


" 


Joseph F. ^ 


(( 






u 


Estlier R. 5 


(L 


George 


Ward 


, Asher^ 
Ann 5 


(1 


Frederick A. 






(( 


(( 


AVilliam B. 


u 


Nathan, Jr. } 






(( 


Maria B. 


u 


Jennette M. ^ 




Charles N. 


ti 


Harriet C. 


(( 


Antoinette IL 




]\Iary 
Wallace 


u 


Nancy 


« 


Truman i 
Polly 5 










ii 




James ^ 
Eliza 5 


Webb 


, Charles H. ? 


u 


Morgan F. 




u 


Jennette M. i 


(( 


Harley E. 




Anson J. 


i( 


Catherine L- 








Julia P. 


>( 


Mary E. 


(( 


Elijah > 
Betsey 5 




AnnE. 


(1 


Caroline L. 


u 




James M. 






t< 


Samuel N. 




George S. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY 



815 



Ward, Wealthy J. 



Way, Isaac 

" Matilda 

" Walter 

" John } 

" Phebe 5 

" Mary 

" George 

" John T. 



Wheeler, Ebenezer ^ 
" Harriet E. 5 
" Truman E. • 

" Laura 
" Mary J. 



Young, Avis 



Wheeler, Justus 


Wickwire, Mary 


" Luthena 


Wooster, James B. 


" Nancy 






Welch, William } 


" Joseph ) 
" Polly A. 5 


" Margaret 5 


" Mary Jane 


" ^ Emily 


" Angeline M. 


" Caroline 


" Margaret L. 


" Charles 


AVilliam D. 


White, William H. } 


Yv^olpert, Frederick } 


" Sarah E. 3 


" Maria 3 


" Edward C. 


" Clara 


" Maria 


Westerfield, licvi ^ 


'• Frances A. 


" Eliza 3 




" Emma J. 


" Harriet M. 


" Julia E. 


Y. 





Broadwill, Cesar ) 
" Charlotte j 

" Harry 

Chatfield, Oliver } 
" Rosanna y 

" Benjamin > 

" Caroline L. ^ 

" Susan C. 

" Harriet E. 

" Timothy 

" George 
" Charles 

Cam, Keziah 

" Hiram } 

" Maria f 

" Hiram 

" Reuben 

Freeman, John 

" Rachel 

" Elizabeth 

" Aaron 

" Roderick 

« Crosby 

" Alice 



COLORED PERSONS. 

Graham, Charles } 
" Mary | 
" George 
"• Charles 

Hawley, Orrin } 
" ]\rarv A. j' 
" John 

" Aaron > 
" wiie I 

Jackson, Julia 
•' Henry 
" Lot 

" Henry ? 

" Eliza ^- 

" George 

" Mary A. 

" George 

Johnson, Andrew ) 
" Eliza i 
" Nancy 

Low, Charles 

Mallory, Alice 
Nettleton, Clarissa 



Nichols, Edward } 
" Ruba ^ 
" Clarissa 

Osborn, Benjamin ) 
" Maria | 

Phillips, Leveritt ) 
" Elizabeth \ 

" Edward > 
" Betsey ) 

" Leman } 

" Harriet f 

'' George 

" Charles 

" Henry 

" Ruth A. 

Peterson, Arnold } 
" ]\Iary A. ^ 

Randolph, Isaac '} 
Marv I 
Ellen 

" William 

" Roy 

Williams, William H. } 
" Eliza J. I 



816 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURT. 



ROLL OF MEMBERS OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH* 

H IN AVOODBURY. 

This church was organized as the second church of Stratford, under the 
ministry of Eev. Zcchariah Walker, May 5, 1G70. In 1672-3, the larger 
portion of its members removed, and settled the to/wn of Woodbury. The 
following is a complete list of its members from its first organization. It is 
given because it contains the names of all the church members in the terri- 
tory of " Ancient Woodbury," for nearly sixty years, and because all the 
other early churches in the territory, of whatever name, were founded, in 
the first instance, by men who had been nurtured in its bosom. The admis- 
sions only are given. Deaths, excommunications and regular dismissions are 
not noted. 



1670. 
Zcchariah Walker, May 5 
Samuel Sherman, Sen., " 
Joseph Judson, Sen., " 

John Hurd, Sen., " 

Nicholas Knell, " 

' Robert Clark, " 

John Minor, " 

Samuel Sherman, Jr., " 
John Wheeler, " 

Samuel Stiles, " 

Hope Washburn, " 

Hugh Griffin, 

Ephraim Stiles, " 

John Thompson, Jr., " 

Theophilus Sherman, " 

Matthew Sherman, " 

John Judson, " 

Samuel Mils, " 

Benjamin Stiles, " 

Edmond Sherman, 
John Skeeles, ^ 

Israel Curtis, a 

Thomas Fairchild, ) mediately 
llichard Harvey, May 6. 
Mary Harvey, " 8. 

Richard Butler, " 9. 

Robert Lane, " 9. 

Moses Johnson, " 24. 

Samuel Galpin, June 8. 
John Bartram, Oct. 20. 
Goodvvife Harvey, Nov. 3. 



1673. 
Richard Beech, March 8. 

1675. 
Sarah Hill, July 4. 
Susanna, w. of Rev. Z. Walker, July 8. 

1676. 
John Haggit, Nov. 5. 

1678. 
Roger Terrill, Dec. 31. 

1679. 
Hannah Skeeles, March 4. 

1680. 
John Wyatt, Feb. 8. 
[[ 1681. 

" Benjamin Galpin, May 1. 

The following ^ , ,, , ,, 
were added im- 'Jf^^ ^ough, May 3. 

Margaret, his wile. May 3. 
Sarah, w. of Roger Terrill, June 4. 
Matthew Mitchell, Dec. 27. 
Mary, his wife, '* 

1683. 
John Sherman, Nov. 25. 
Elizabeth, his wife, " 

1685. 



Goodwife Hurd, w. of John Hurd, William Martin, Aug. 30. 

Sen., Dec. 27. Abigail, his wife, " 

Abigail, w. of Joseph Walker, Dec. Rebecca Galpin, " 

27. Emma Preston, " 

1671. Dorcas Roots, " 

Sarah Nichols, Feb. 22. '^ohn Judson, Nov. 26. 

Susanna Hardy, Dec. 1 7. Elizabeth, his wife, Nov. 26. 

John Mitchell, " , 

1'572. Elizabeth, his wife, •' 

Samuel Beecher, March 25. Hannah Judson, " 

Thomas Dickinson, June 30. Hackaliah Preston, "• 



HISTOllY OF ANCIENT W U O D B t II 'J 



817 



Susanna Fairchild, Nov. 26. 

168G. 
Joseph Hicock, May 2. 

1687. 
Mary Nichols, Jan. 30. 

1688. 
Samuel Nichols, Feb. 26. 
Abigail Judson, " 
Caleb Nichols, April 29. 
And his -wife, '' 

John Hurd, " » 

And his wile, '' 

Mrs. Sarah Judson, " 
Mrs. Elizabeth Minor, April 21). 
Rebecca Curtiss, " 

1691. 
Mary, w. of Moses Johnson, Jan. -i. 
Hannah, w. of Titus Hinman, " 
Ehzabeth, w. of Zechariah Walker, 

Jan. 4. 
Eleazur Knowles, March 1. 
Mary, his wife, " 

Benjamin Stiles, " 

Abigail, his wife, " 

Samuel Hinman, '• 

arah Roberts, " 

udith Huthwitt, '• 

Anna Nichols 



Hannah, w. of Thomas Minor, June 

27. 
Sarah, w. of Samuel Blakely, June 

27. 
Anne, w. of John Pierce, Oct. 3. 
Jonathan At wood, " 

Mary Wheeler, " 

1698. 
Abigail Minor, May 1. 
End of admissions under Rev. Z. 

Walker, who d. Jan. 20, 1699- 

1 700. 

1702. 
Rev. Anthony Stoddard, May. 
John Roots, Sept. 6. 
Abigail, w. of Joseph AValler, Sept. 6. 

1703. 
Jane, w. of Joseph Hurd, June 20. 
Abraham Fulford, Oct. 3. 

17UJ. 
Mr. Zechariah Walker, April 2. 
Ephralm Minor, June 18. 
Rebecca, his Avife, •• 
Henry Castle, Dec. 31. 

1705- 
Abigail Castle, Jane 10. 

17U6. 



Ehzabeth, w. of Benjamin Hinman, ^yilliam Gaylord, Jan. 13. 

, '/'^"'^•^•t .w ,^ Benjamin Hicock, Feb. 2-t. 

Israel Curtiss, Jr., Oct. 18. — ■' - -■ 



Hannah, his wife, 

Sarah, w. of Jonathan Atwood. June 

Ehzabeth, wife of Samuel ^tWes, ^^^;^^^^^.^^^,^^^.^ (j^^^^ j^^^^^ .^^_ 



1G92. 



March 20. 



169j. 
Nathaniel Tuttle, May 12. 
John Minor, Jr., " 

1697. 



Mr. Samuel Bull, Nov. 3 

1 707. 

Isaac Castle, Jan. 5. 

Stephen Curtiss, June 29. 

Sarah, his wife, " 

Joseph Hicock, '• 

Ruth, his wife, " 

Ephraim Hinman, " 

Mary, w. of Titus Hinman, June 29. 

Sarah, w. of .John Judson, " 



Titus Hinman, May 26. 

Moses Johnson, " 

Ebenezer Hurd, '• 

Sarah, his wife, " 

John Judson, Jr., " 

Sarah, w. of Benjamin Hurd, May 1 ''08. 

26. John Pierce, Sen., May 9. 

John Curtiss, May 26. Joseph Ilurlbut, Jr., " 

Joanna, his wife, '' Mary, his wife, " 

Thomas Minor, " Sarah Hurd, Aug. 29. 

Samuel Jenner, " 

Hannah, his wife. May 26. -^ ' "'^• 

Elizabeth Walker, " Adino Strong, Jan. 2, 

67 



818 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 

John Wheeler, Sen., July 15. Roger Browiison, of New Milford, 

Hannah, w. of Thomas Squire, Aug. " Nov. 11. 

28. Cornelius Brownson, Sen., Nov. 25. 

, r,, ,^ John Slierman, Nov. 25. 

Mr. John Noble, of New Milford, Jan. 

2!). 1717. 

, 71 i, Helenah, w. of Samuel Hicock, June 

9. 
Joseph Judson, Oct 12. j^^^ Nichols, Sept. 8. 

Mary, his wife, " Jane, his wife, " 

Joanna, w. oi Wm. (jaylord, Dec. /. 

1718. 
1713. Stephen Terrill, April 6. 

Valentine Prentice, April 12. Ephraim Tuttle, Dec. 7. 

Sarah, w. of Nathaniel Ilurlbut, July 

26. ' , 

Serst. Benjamin Ilinman, Nov. 29. Anna, w. of Ebenezer Squire, Jan. 

11. 
l''!'!' Richard Brownson, July 5. 

Samuel Hitchcock, of New Milford, Mary, liis wife, " 

Jan. 3. Noah Ilinraan, Aug. 23. 

Mary Sherman, Feb. 7. Prudence, w. of Moses Johnson, 

Sarah, w. of Thomas AVhecler, May 7. Sept. 27. 

Mary, w. of Samuel Sherman, " 1720 

Elizabeth, w. of Thomas Mallory," 

Hannah Minor, May 7. Thomas Mallory, Jan. o. 

John Huthwitt, May 30. Ebenezer Squire, " 

Ruth, w. of John AVheeler, Sept. 26. ?o^*\V-'''™n'' 'JV^ ^'" 
Patience, w. of Elnathan Strong, John Mitchel July 24^^ 

2)q(, 10 Lydia, w. of Thomas Drakeley, July 

31. 
1715. Sarah, w. of David Mitchell, Aug. 14. 

Samuel Sherman, Jan. 30. Jonathan Mitchell, Dec. 18. 

Elizabeth Minor, " ^ --oi 

Ezra Terrill, March 6. .• . 

Joseph Minor, May 1. Hannah, w. of Benjamin Hurd, Jr., 

Susanna, his wife. May 1. Jan. 1. ^r- i n t 

William Preston, May 8. Elizabeth, w. of John Mitchell, Jr., 

Martha his wife '" ^^^- 1^- 

Mary, 'w. of Jonathan Judson, July Mary, w. of Jehiel Preston, March, 5. 

2 - Susanna Sherman, March 5. 

Hannah, w. of Jonathan Mitchell, Hannah Curtiss, April 2. 

Q(.f 23. Samuel Minor, Jr., April 30. 

Sarah, w. of John Baker, Oct. 23. Josiah Minor, June 4. 

!Mary, his wife, " 
1 716. Abraham Hurd, Oct. 8. 

Ruth, w. of Henry Castle, May 21. Martha, his wife, " 
Abigail, w. of Valentine Prentice, Mary Stoddard, Oct. 22. 

May 21. Abigail, w. of Samuel Munn, Dec. 

Abigail, w. of Cornelius Brownson, 10. 

Sept. 2. J 700 

Thomas Wcllar, Sept. 30. 
Sarah, w. of Cornelius Hurlbut, Sept. Martha Warner, Feb. 25. 

30. Sarah Thomas, " 

Anna, w. of Noah Hinman, Nov. 4. Isaac Knowles, May 6. 
Andrew Hinman, Nov. 4. Margaret, w. of Ezra Terrill, May 

Mary, his wife, " 20. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURT. 



819 



1723. 
Sergt. Ijenjamin Hiird, Jan. b". 
Jonathan Hurlbut, Feb. 3. 
Mary, liis wife, '• 

Nathan Hurd, Dec. 15. 
Eunice, his Avife, " 

1724. 
Knell Mitchell, July 2(;. 
Martha, his wife, " 
Sarah, w. of Noah Hinnian, Man-h 7 

1725. 
Bethiah, w. of Nath'I Sanford, May G 
Martha Waller, JMay G. 
Jehu Minor, " " 2-3. 

1726. 
Elizabeth Brownson, Feb. 20. 
John Orton, April .3. 
Abigail, w. of Cornelius Brownson. 

Jr., April 3. 
Hezeklah Culver, May 15. 
Thomas Drakeley, Jr., May 15. 
Isaac Judson, June 2(;. 
Ebenezer Thomas, July 10. 
Sarah, w. of Joseph Martin, July 10. 
John Pierce, July 17. 
Comfort, his wife, July 17. 
Hannah, w. of Samuel Jenner, Jr., 

July 1 7. 
Joseph Walker, July 24. 
Daniel Curtiss, ■• 

Timothy Brownson, '• 
Caleb Wheeler, 
Esther Curtiss, " 

Eunice HIcock, " 

Bethiah HIcock, '* 

Euth Curtiss, " 

Bathsheba Waller, July 31. 
John Cressey, August 20. 
Mary, his wife, " 

John Minor, Jr., " 
David Ilicock, '• 

Elisha Stoddard, '• 
Elizabeth Knowles, " 
Mary Atwood, " 

Samuel Galpin, August 2.'^. 
Rebecca Curtiss, " 
Elizabeth Preston, " 
John Skeeles, September 4. 
Sarah, his wife, " 

Ann Drakeley, " 

Kuth, w. of John Roots, Sept. 11. 
Ann riurd, " 

Joanna Curtiss, " 

Thomas Minor, Sept. 18. 



Sarah, w. of Hezeklah Porter, Sept. 18. 
David Mitchell, Oct. 30. 
Abigail, w. of David Hurd, Nov. C. 
Ebenezer Strong, Dec. 18. 

1727. 
Rachel Galj^In, Jan. 8. 
Mary Drakele}', " 
Timothy Terrill, Jan. 29. 
Thankful, his wife, " 
Feda, w. of Thomas Minor, Jan. 2f). 
Samuel Martin, March 5. 
Annlce, his wife, " 
. Joseph Galpin, '' 

Susanna, av. of Joseph Roots, iMar. 1 2. 
Mary, w. of Solomon Johnson, A\)v. 1 [K 
Solomon Johnson, Juno 4. 
Sarah Peet, " 

Roger Terrill, June 18. 
Joseph Hinman, " 
And his wife, " 
Joseph Roots, June 25. 
Ephralm Baldwin, " 
John Baker, Jr., " 
David Leavenworth, " 
Lois HIcock, " 

Robert Warner, July 2. 
Mary, his wife, " 

John Roots, '' ^ 

Elizabeth Squire, Jr., July 2. 
Abigail Jenner, "• 

Hannah HIcock, July 30. 
Sarah, av. of Titus Plinman, Aug. 6. 
Mary Judson, Sen., Aug. C>. 
Stephen HIcock, Auii;-. 13. 
MattheAv Slltchell, '" 
Elizabeth Roots, 7 • , . 

Sarah Roots, ' J" ^™lows, Aug. l.J. 

Samuel Blakeley, Aug. 20. 
j\Iary, av. of John Orton, Aug. 20. 

1728. 

Mary, w. of Joseph Sciuire, May 20. 

Nathaniel Sanford, Jr., JiUy 14. 

Sarah, w. of Timothy "Walker, Sept. 1 . 

Ebenezer DoAvn, Sept. 8. 

Dinah DoAvn, " 

Titus Hinnian, Sept. 15. 

Elizabeth, av. of John Hurd, Nov. 1 7. 

1729. 

jNIartha, Avife of Hezeklah Tuttle, 

Marcih 9. 
John Hurd, March 16. ' 

Samuel Waller, May 18. 
Esther, his wife, ' " 
Roger Karby, August 3. 



820 



HISTORY OF A-NCIENT WOODBURT. 



1730. 
Timothy Minor, February 8. 
Elizabeth, his -wife, " 
Isaac Tuttle, April 12. 
Prudence, his wife, " 
Abel Holebrook, April 1 9. 
Hezekiah Tuttle, Aujr. 9. 
Eliakim Stoddard, Sept. 27. 

1731. 
David Burnham, March 28. 
Mercy, his wife, " 

Bethiah, wife of Lemuel Wheeler, 

April 4. 
Benjamin Hurd, Jr., Aug. 8. 

1732. 

Mary, w. of Isaac Tuttle, April 2. 
Matthew Minor, Dec. 24. 

1 733. 
Lydia Hurlbut, March 18. 
Jonathan Atwood, April 29. 
Nathan Hurlbut, Sept. 23. 
Elizabeth, w. of Adam Hurd, Sept. 30. 
Sarah, w. of Hezekiah Wright, Oct. 7. 
Susanna, w. of Jeremiah Thomas, " 

1734. 

John Hunt, Jan. 27. 
tloseph Martin, March 3 1 . 
Peter Walker, " 
Hannah, w. of Jonathan Atwood, 

March 31. 
Sarah, w. of David Leavenworth, 

April 7. 
Patience, w. of John Baker, Mar. 12, 
Salmon Hurlbut, May 26. 
Abigail, his wife, " 

1735. 
Martha, w. of Samuel Castle, Feb. 2. 
Caleb Martin, Feb. 2. 
Elizabeth, his wife, " 
Joshua Hurlbut, March 23. 
Comfort, his wife, " 
Edmund Tompkins, April G. 
Mary, w. of Peter Walker, April 0. 
Sarah Baker, April 6. 
Petei; JNIinor, June 1. 
Hannah, w. of Edmund Tompkins, 

June 1. 
Mary, w. of John Mnor, Sept. 14. 
Sarah, w. of Nathan Hurlbut, " 

1730. 

John Warner, May 23. 
Jemima, his wife, " 



Hellenah, w. of Ebenezer Allen, 

May 30. 
Sarah, w. of Matthew Minor, Aug. 1. 
John Baker, y"^ aged, Sept. 5. 
Marah, w. of Nicholas Manvill, Sept.O. 
Peter Terrill, Sept. 12. 
Henry Castle, 2d, Sept. 19. 
Hannah, his wife, " 
Abigail, w. of John Nichols, Oct 8. 
Mary, w. of Gideon Walker, " 

1737. 
Mercy, w. of John Bull, of West 

Hartford, Jan. 16. 
Gideon Walker, Feb. G. 
Rebecca, w. of Elnathan Judson, 

June 5. 
Phebe, w. of Daniel Curtiss, Aug. 5. 
Olive, w. of Gideon Stoddard, Sept. 4. 
Rhodah Sherman, Sept. 25. 
Joanna Porter, " 

John Royce, Oct. 2. 
Dorcas, his wite, " 
Hannah, w. of Matthew Mitchell, 

Oct. 16. 
Esther Prentice, Oct. 30. 
Elnathan Judson, Nov. 13. 
John Barrit, Nov. 28. 

1738. 

John Ashmun, Feb. 12. 
Ephraim Smedley, June 25. 
Concurrence, his wife, " 
Susanna Minor, " 

Mary, w. of Jabez Castle, July 2. 
David Roots, July 16. 
Elizabeth Squire, " 
Deborah Royce, July 30. 
Joanna Mitchell, " 
John Judson, Nov. 12. 
Sarah, his wife, " ' 
Luke Castle, " 

Mary, his wife, " 
Miriam, w. of David Foot, Dec. 8. 

1739. 

Abigail Porter, Jan. 21. 

Ruth Porter, Feb. 11. 

Sarah Porter, " 

Isaac Hill, Jr., April 8. 

Hezekiah Hooker, Jr., " 

Ann Clark, April 9. 

Mary Steel, " 

Adino Strong, Jr., May 27. 

Deborah, his wife, June 10. 

Isaac Ilotchkiss, " 

Reuben Avered, " 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



821 



James Hooker, June 10. 
Joshua Guitteau, " 

Ebenezer Lewis, " 

Sarab, bis -wife, " 

Widow Tamar Baker. " 
Joseph Chiddenden, July 1. 
Sarah Ilollister, July 22. 
Mary Roots, •' 

Phebe Smith, '• 

Martlia Squire, Auij. 5. 
Grace Sfjuire, "• 

Eunice Mitchell, 
Josiah Avered, Aup;. 12. 
Samuel Steele, " 
Sarah Hill. " 

Experience Hurlbut, Sept. IG. 
Submit Hill, Oct. 14. 
Lydia Warner, " 
Elijah Hurd, Dec. 9. 
Abigail, his wife, " 

1 740. 
Olive Roots, Jan. 13. 
Silence Warner, Jan. 27. 
Peter Mitchell, Feb. 3. 
Jesse Roots, " 

Benajah Roots, March 23. 
Timothy Mitchell, " 
Daniel Munn, Sen., April (>. 
Gideon Roots, April 27. 
Ephraim Minor, May 4. 
Mary, his wife, " 
Aaron Mallory, Juno 8. 
Hannah Martin, June 26'. 
Mary Terrill, July 6. 
Joseph Hurd, July 13. 
Ann, his witc, " 
Reuben Sherman, Aug. 3. 
Abijah Stoddard, " 
Eunice, his wife, '• 

Esther Mitchell, Aug. 21. 

1741. 
Matthew Millard, ol" Cornwall, Jan. 8, 
Joseph Nichols, Jan. 25. 
Abigail Barker, Llarch 8. 
Nathan ^litcliell, April y. 
Mary, his wife, " 

Thankful, w. of Jonathan Rurarill, 

April 19. 
Elijah Judson, April 26. 
Enos Mitchell, " 
William Martin, May 3. 
John Prentice, " 
Elijah Baker, May 10. 
Thankful, his wife, " 
Jerusha Sherman, May 31. 
Elizabeth Stoddard, " 



Mary Barnham, June 7. 
Ephraim Baker, June 14. 
Rebecca, wife of Moses Hurlbut, 

June 14. 
Adam Hurd, July 9. 
Preserved Strong, " 
Gideon Stoddard, " 
John Rumrill, " 

Joseph ]\Iinor, Jr., " 
Joseph Judson, Jr., " 
Jesse Baker, " 

Abijah Mitchell, " 
Clement Minor, " 
Samuel Broughion, " 
Samuel Blakeley, " 
Benjamin Hinman, 3d, July 9. 
EHzabeth, wife of Aaron Hurlbut, 

July 9. 
Elizabeth, w. of Daniel Curtiss, July 9. 
Rebecca, w. of Thomas Squire, Jr.. 

July 9. 
Phebe Thomas, July 9. " 
Benjamin Hurd, 3d, " 
Elizabeth Mallory, Aug. 9. 
William Harris, Aug. 23. 
Charles Thomas, " 
David Curtiss, Sept. fi. 
Esther Preston, " 
Sarah Crissey, " 
Elnathan Baker, Sept. 20. 
Mary Wheeler, " 
Elizabeth, w. of Capt. Masters, Nov. 1. 
Sarah, w. of Ephraim Baker, " 
Jerusha, w. of Abraham Hurd, " 

1742. 
Eunice Mallory, Jan. 10. 
Daniel Wakcley, " 
Friend Weeks, Jan. 24. 
Rachel, his wife, "• 
Mary, wife of Nathaniel Hurlbut, 

Jan. 24. 
]\Iary Wellar, Jan. 24. 
Timothy Hurd, March 28. 
Tabitha, his wife, " 
Ruth Castle, " 

Moses JMatthews, June 6. 
Nathaniel Hurd, Jr., " 
James Judson, " 

Mercy Martin, " 

Zebulon Leavenworth, June 27. 
Nathan Osborn, July 4. 
.Timothy Terrill, '• 
Amos Roots, July 11. 
Joshua Hurd, " 
Francis Warner, July 11. 
Mary Baker, " 

Moses Hurlbut, July 18. 



822 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY 



Daniel Hurlbut, July 18. 
Elizabeth Warner, " 
Prudence Curtiss, " 
Samuel Jenner, July 25. 
Simeon Hurd, " 

Zadoc Ilurlbut, " 

Sarah Castle, " 

Barbary Jenner, " 
Ann, w. of Timothv Culver, Aug. 1. 
TiUey Blakeley, Aug. 8. 
Maiy, his wife, " 

Samuel Bell, " 

Samuel, y servant of Samuel Blake- 
ley, Aug. 8. 
Eunice Terrill, Aug. 29. 
Christopher Prentice, Oct. 3. 
Sarah Atwood, " 

Andrew Cooley, Oct. 17. 
Consider Hurlbut, Nov. 21. 
Gideon Hurlbut, Dec. 19. 

1743. 

Jerusha Judson, Jan. 30. 

Betty Terrill, 

Sarah, w. of Hatchetousy, an Indian, 

April 1 7. 
Nathan Warner, IMay 15. 
Daniel Hurd, July 17. 
Abraham Thomas, " 
Daniel Sherman, IS^ov. G. 
KeziaRice, Dec. 11. 
1744. 

Daniel Castle, Jan. 8. 
Joseph Prentice, Sept. 9. 
Samuel Martin, Jr., " 
Ann, his wife, " 

1745. 

Nathan Judson, Feb. 2. ' 
Mary, his wife, " 

1747. 

Mr. Peter Curtiss, March. 

Mary, his wife, " 

Elizabeth, w. of John Roots, April 5. 

1748. 

Abner Mallory, Jan. 1 7. 
Susanna, his wife, '■ 
Betterus Mitchell, June 5. 
Seth Preston, Dec. 4. 
Ehzabeth, his wife, " 
Asahel Mitchell, Dec. 1 8. 



1749. 
Mary, w. of John Mallory, April 30. 
John JMitchell, Oct. 8. 

1750. 
Sarah, w. of John Mitchell, Feb. 18. 
Dorcas, negi-o woman of Deacon 
Samuel Minor, Sept. 16. 

1752. 
Esther, w. of Eldad Spe;icer, Feb. 2. 
Solomon Martin, April 12. 
John Stoddard, Dec. 10. 
Mary, his wife, " 

1753. 
Gideon Hurd, March 4. 
Sarah, his wife, April 8. 
David Carr, July. 
David Sherman, Aug. 5. 
Hannah, his wife, " 

1754. 
Tabitha, wife of Thomas Minor, 

March 31. 
James ]\Iinor, June 23. 
Jerusha, w. of Isaac Mitchell, Oct. 13. 

1755. 
Nathan Minor, Feb. 23. 

1756. 
Abia, w. of John Edwards, May 16. 
Marv, w. of James Minor, Aug. J . 
Hezeklah Culver, Jr., Aug. 8. 
Simeon Stoddard, Sept. 26. 

1757. 
Thomas Bull, Feb. 27. 

1758. 
Sarah, w. of William Adee, Jan. 8. 
Josiah Minor, Feb. 12. 
Seth Mnor, " 

Eunice, his wife, " 

1759. 
Thomas Hoots, April 8. 
Prudence, wife of Amos Martin, 
Ajml 22. 

1760. 
Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Walker, 

Jan. 27. 
Hannah, wife of Daniel Judson, 

March 23. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AVOODBURY. 



823 



LIST OF PERSONS 

Who " owner] the baptismal" or half-way " covenant," during Rev. Mr. 
Stoddard's ministry, most of whose names have appeared in the foregoing list 
of members in full communion, having been subsequently received as such. 



1708. 
Francis Stiles, J uly 1 1 . 
John Pierce, " 

John Skeeles, '» 

Thomas Skeeles, " 

Valentine Prentice, " 
Samuel Sherman, " 
John Sherman, " 

Jonathan Judson, " 

Thomas Knowles, " 

Joseph Ilinmau, " 

Samuel Minor, " 

Stephen Terrill, " 

Daniel INIunn, "• , 

Jehiel Preston, " 

John Johnson, July 25. 
Ebenezer Squire, " 

Hannah Mitchell, 
Mary Mitchell, 
Sarah, wife of Nathaniel Hurlbut, 

July 25. 
Patience Jenner, July 25. 
Andrew liinman, " 
And his wife, " 

John Hurd, " 

1712. 
John Burr, of Newtown, Sept. 21. 

Iflo. 

Hellenah Bostwick, March 1. 
Hagar, negro maid of Rev. Anthony 

Stoddard, July 5. 
Hannah Minor, March 22. 
Benjamin Hurd, May 10. 
Abigail Prentice, May 24. 
Noah Hinman, " 

Hezekiah Tuttle, " 



Richard Brownson, Dec. 3. 

1716. 
Moses Johnson, June 17. 
Prudence, his wife, " 

1717. 
Samuel Martin, May 19. 
And his wife, " 

Jeremiah Thomas, Dec. 1. 

1720. 
Josiah Walker, July 24. 
Phebe, his wife, " 

1724. 
Mary Harriss, Aug. 30. 

172(]. 
Thomas Drakeley, March 2^ 
Richard Peet, June 20. 
Sarah, his wife, " 
Daniel Judson, July 3. 

1727. 
Matthew Mitchell, April 16. 
Samuel Muun, July 2. 

1728. 

Solomon Squire, June 23. 
Martha, his wife, " 

Thomas Pierson, Dec. 8. 
Ruth, his wife, Dec. 8. 



1729. 
John Curtiss, Feb. 2. 
Abia Curtiss, Feb. 2. 
Sarah Terrill, June 29. ' 
Lydia Hurlbut, July G. 

1730. 
Sarah Minor, Sen., March 1. 
Wait Hinman, INIarch 8. 
Lemuel Wheeler, June 7. 
Benjamin Wheeler, Aug. 2. 

1731. 
Eleazer Hinman, Feb. 21. 
John Squire, May 9. 

1732. 

l''^5. Adam Hui'd, June 25. 

Sarah, w. of John Skeeles, March 6. Elizabeth, his wife, June 25. 
Emma, w. of John Sherman, June 19. Ebenezer Warner, July 23. 



1714. 

Thomas Wellar, April 4. 
Elizabeth Minor, April H. 
Anna Iluthwitt, May 30. 
Hannah, w. of Benjamin Hurd, Jr. 

May 30. 
Susanna, w. of Jeremlali Thomas, 

May 30. 
Samuel Hicock, Dec. 1 . 



824 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



Mary, wife of Jeliu ]\Iinor, July 30. 
Salmon Hurlbut, Nov. 12. 
Sarah Baker, Jun., Dec. 24. 

1733. 
John Ashmun, Nov. 4. 

1734. 
David Squire, Feb. 4. 
Mary Munn, June 16. 
Nathan Curtiss, Aug. 26. 
Martha, his -wife, Aug. 26. 
Adino Strong, Sept. 8. 
Deborah, his wife, Sept. 8. 
Ephraim Baker, Nov. 3. 
Sarah, his wife, Nov. 3. 

1735. 

Remember Baker, Jan. 26. 
Tamar, his Ivife, Jan. 26. 
Gideon Stoddard, Feb. 2. 
Olive, his wife, " 

John Roj-oe, " 

Dorcas, his wife, " 

David Foot, ]\Iay 4. 

* 1736. 
Thomas Squire, Jr., May 9. 
Moses Hurlbut, July 25. 
Rebecca, his wife, July 25. 

1738. 

Jabez Castle, Feb. 26. 
Mary, his wife, Feb. 26. 

1739. 

Daniel Castle, Dec. 2. 
Ehzabeth, his wife, Dec. 2. 

1740. 

Elijah Baker, Jan. 6. 

1741. 

Samuel Broughton, March 22. 
Olivev At wood, March 22. 
Zadoc Clark, July 19. 
Mercy, his wife, July 19. 

1747. 
Peter Hurd, Dec. 20. 

1748. 
Enos Beech, July 10. 

1749. 
John jMasters, July 16. 

1751. 
Daniel Beers, May 5. 



Samuel Shei'mau, Aug. 18. 
David Hunt, Jr., Oct.^27. 
Isaac Judson, Jr., Dec. 15. 

1752. 

Gideon Mallory, March 8. 
William Adee, April 26. 
Benjamin Squire, May 24. 
Abigail, his wife, May 24. • 

1753. 
Elijah Atwood, Jan. 28. 
Solomon Stoddard, Oct. 28. 
Elisha Walker, Sept. 9. 
Joseph Walker, Nov. 4. 

1755. 
Elisha Judsonf March 2. 
Thomas Smith, March 2. 
Zadoc Hurd, March 9. 
Adonijah Roots, May 18. 
Richard Smith, May 18. 
John Edwards, Nov. 30. 
Abia, his wife, Nov. 30. 
Daniel Judson, Dec. 21. 

1756. 
Daniel Fairchild, April 25. 
Amos Martin, June 6. 

1757. 

Nathan Jackson, Jan. 16. 
Benjamin Galpin, May 8. 
Sarah, wife of Wm. Adee, Oct. 30. 
David Stoddard, Nov. 6. 
Nathan Baldwin, Nbv. 13. 
Elisha Martin, Dec. 18. 

1758. 
Gideon Martin, Jan. 22. 
Ephraim Baldwin, Jan. 22. 
Samuel Galpin, Jr., March 26. 
Benjamin Minor, April 2. 
Margaret, wife of Abraham Hill, 

July 23. 
John ]\Iunn, Aug. 6. 
Sarah, w. of John Wilkinson, Aug. 6. 
Isaiah Gilbert, Dec. 21. 

1759. 
Isaac Minor, June 3. 
Mary, his wife, June 3. 
John Marchant, June 10. 
Widow Lucy Baldwin, Sept. 30. 
Samuel Squire, Oct. 14. 
Jemima, his wife, Oct. 14. 
John Manvill, Dec. 23. 
Ehzabeth, his wife, Dec. 23. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 825 

1700. Joanna Peet, April 8. 

Daniel Perry, Jr., April 27. Bethel Lyon, May 20. 

End of admissions under Rev. Mr. J^'^^'"^'^' '" V'i^"' i " m, a 

Stoddard, who died Sept. 6, 1760, in Sarah,^w. oi Reuben Sherman, Aug. 

the 83d rear of hi.s a^e, and Gist of ,, , ,*" ,. j , tj .. «„ <■ o 

liis ministry Mabel, w. of John Roots, Sept. 2. 

• """''^^-^ • Elisha Walker, Dec. 2. 
17f;o. j„g. 

David Minor, Nov. 9. .,., ,, ,. . .,', _ 

Benjamin Minor, " J^!^^°'' M^^,^'"' ,^P/^^ l^- ,„ 

Isaac Judson, Jr., " ^''^'^o" Stoddard, Jr., Nov. 1 0. 

Amos Martin, Nov. 30. 1 766. 

Gideon Mallory, ' Gideon Minor, March 9. 

Ihomas Leavenworth, Dec. 7. j^^^jj^ ^^_ of Jonathan Franklin, Aug. 

1761. ;^i- 

Zadoc Hurd, Jun., Jan. 11. 

David Stoddard, Feb. 8. '^ona^ IMartln, April 12. 

Isaiah Gilbert, Feb. 15. . f-yd'a, w. of James Burgess, Aug. 9. 

Elisha Judson, March 7. Charles Taylor, Aug. 23. 

Thomas Smith, " 1768. 

Daniel Beers, March 8. ,, i- r^ ^ u rn ^,.1 i? ■[ 1 a 

77.,- 1 TVT .• ,, Mary, w. oi Caleb luttle, ieb. 14. 

Ehsha Martui, " /'■:\ \-\r- t i .-.1 

T 1 T\r A -1 1 n (iilbertMnior, l^eb. 21. 

John Munn, April 19. n tj 01 -u t- c ^i • * 

T> 1 TT-' ^T,,f ,^ Dr. Henry Skilton, iromiSoutnins;ton, 

Reuben Minor, May 10. I 1 '<^i » ' 

Rachel, wife of Matthew Minor, May -^r i-'c 1 t\t i- at c 

, ^ •' Mary, w. ot Samuel Martm, JNov. b. 

Adonijah Roots, !May 16. 1769. 

Samuel Galpin, Jr., " Martha, w. of Wm. Cressey, May 28. 

Lydia, wife of Benj. Minor, July 5. j.^^^^^ Tyhr, Oct. 22. 

Abiel Linsley, July 26. ^^,1 l,ig ,Vify^ 

Ihankful, his wife, " Widow Elizabeth Mitchell, Nov. 19. 

Elizabeth, wife ot John JManville, j^Xary, w.of Dea. Jehu Minor,Dec. 3. 

Aug. 9. -^ ' 

Asahel Martin, Aug. 23. 1 770. 

Mary, wife of John Stoddard, Nov. l.> Nathan IMallory Dec. 2. 
Ann, wife of Asahel Martin, " 

1771. 
1762. 

„,.. 1 , IT „, Nathan Pierce, March 3. 

Elijah_ Atwood, Jan 24 ^^^^^^^^ j^^^ 

Ephraim Baldwin, April 8. j^j^^^ j^jj^^^j. 

Ebenezer Thomas, May 2. Timothy I^Iiuor. 

Daniel Culver June 0. Chapman Judson, " 

Anna, Aviie of John Demmon, June 0. j,j. ^^j.^^jj^^^,j ^^ 

Ann, w. of Hezekiah Culver, July 1 8. j,^^^^ ^^^.^^^ 
Samuel Squire, Aug. lo. Lampson Mitchell, " 

Moses Galpin, Reuben Alallory. 

1763. Rhoda, w. of Rev. Noah Benedict, 

Mille,w. of Elisha Walker, Jan. 23. ...^^^J''?- ,, , . , ^ 

Phebe, w. of JXaniel Fairchild, Mav 29. fbia, w. of Sam. Galpin, Jr., June 2. 
Anne, w. of Dea. Jehu Minor, June If 7' w of Joseph Wheeler, Sept. 1. 
, 2 Nathan Stoddard, " 

Benjamin Judson, Nov. 20. ^"'^f ^^ Blackman, 

barah Judson, " 

l''C4. ' Mary, w. of David Stoddard, " 

Solomon Stoddard, Feb. 26. Phillip Pond, Jr. 

68 



826 HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY, 

Nathan Atwood, Sept. 1. Rebecca, w. of Gideon Stoddard, Dec. 

Oliver Sanford, " 10. 

Jeremiah Burton, " 178]. 

Mary, w. of Isaac Judson, Jr.. " ,, ^ I•T^ -i /-. i.- t t-. u 

Mary, w. of Edward Toml, " ^''»"^\^ ^ ^- °^ ^^^'^ C"'"^'''' '^^^ ^^^- 

Julia, "vv. of David Sherman, " r^ t> • i tt x- ^ t -r. 

Tji 1 iT^ •!/-<• c« t- ir Dea. Daniel liuntmojton, June 10. 

rhebe,w. oi Daniel Lnssev, Sept. 15. ^ i -vi- » ' 

XT ri T-k 1 Solomon Minor, " 

Henry Cramer, Dec. 1. ' 

Levi, negro servant of Peter Walker. 1 782. 

J 772. Abigail, w. of Asahel Martin, June 16. 

A c-n • ^ -MfT T ,« Isaiah Koots, Aug. 18. 

Ann, w. of Daniel Warner, Jan. 19. «„„„„„„ ^ ' r a^ c„ ^„ i o^ + 

. , ' T.T- HT 1- .. Dusanna, w. ot Aaron feantord, Sept. 
Adam JNIinor, March 1. 09 ' t' 

^'^''ir"r'r'''^'^"'^'^''''^^^'^°'^°' ^^^^^^^^^ ^inor, oct. 27. 

TT TT-if^T ^ ' r- Mary, w. of Samuel Minor, Dec. 1. 

H. Hill, June .. •' ' 

And his wife, June 7. 178."}. 

Huldah Ilotchkiss, Sept. G. Aner, w. of James Minor, June 22. 

Ann, w. of Capt. Nathan Hurd, Nov. 8. Annis, w. of Capt. Nathaniel IMitchell, 

Eunice, wife of Nathan Stoddard, Oct. 5. 

Dec. G. Lydia, wife of Capt. Nathan Hurd, 

1''3. Oct. 2G. 

Ann, w. ofElisha Stoddard, Feb. li. Phcbe,w.ofMattlicw Minor, Nov. 2.3. 

Matthew Minor, March 7. , ..„ . 

' It 8-1. 

IT^i- Elizabeth, av. of Jesse Eoots,May 30. 

Elijah Martin, Feb. 27. Richard Bradley, Aug. 22. 

Patience Jenner, March 6. Olive, his wife, " 

Abigail, w. of John De Forest, May Susanna Minor, " 

29. Mehetabcl Turner, " 

Martha, w. of David Atwood, Aug. 28. Esther, wife of Amos Leavenworth, 

Eliphalet Easton, Dec. 4. "" Sept. 12. 

Wife of Thaddeus INIinor, Dec. 4. Benjamin Eastman, Oct. 1 7. 

J..-K Elizabeth, his wife, " 

-.TT. ,. ,. m, -,,'„' ,. Mary, w. of Simeon IVIinor, Dec. 5. 

Wife of Thomas Mallory, Sept. 24. . ' 

177G ^^'"^^• 

Experience, w. of Phillip Pond, Feb. ^OP^. w.of Timothy Terrlll, Aug. 14. 

17SG. 



Widow Huldah Malby, March 26. 

Thomas Andn 
Lois, his wife. 



'Jo. 
Widow Deborah Judson, Dec. 29 

1777. 

Jacob Cleaveland, Nov. 16. ^''^''• 

- „„„ Thomas Andrus, Jan. 21. 

Mary, w. of Lt. John Martin, Apr. 22. 

Esther Minor, Sept. 27. 1788. 

Lydia, w. of Abiel Linsley, Dec. 6. Widow Charlotte Judson, Feb. 24. 

jy-Q Lee Terrill, June 1. 

^r -r , TV!-, 1 „ -^r oA Bctty, w. of Dca. Joslah Miuor, Auff. 3 . 

j\lr. Justus Mitchell, May 30. -.r ,S' o, ^^ ~ ' 

-VT -WW \i ii. n t^i c Matthew Sherman, Dec. *. 

Mr. U illiam Battell, Oct. 24. ■.,,• i ,i i • •<• u 

o 1 , • •/. ' ,, ijlizabcth, lus wile, " 

Sarah, his wuc, " ' ' 

1 780. 1 7.S9. 

Mary, w. of Solomon Minor, April 9. Caleb Abernethy, March 1. 
Azuba, w. of Jcromiali Chapman, Asenah, wife of Jeremiah Burton, 
June 18. Sept. 6. 



HISTORY O !'■ A N C I K N r AV O O D B U li Y 



827 



1790. 
Phebe, w. oi" Stephen Hull, May 30. 
Hannah, w. of Benj. Andrus, " 

1791. 
John Prudden, March G. 
Mary, his wife, •' 

Lydia, w. of Benj. Judson, Sept. 11. 

17'J-_>. 
Widow Enun Judson, June 3. 
Love Mallory, " 

Sybil Huntington, " 

Edward Pond, Aug. I'J. 
Adoniram Minor, " 
Patience, his wife, '' 
Benjamin Minor, Nov. 11. 
Seth Minor, Jr., " 

Eunice Minor, '• 

Esther Minor, " 

Phebe, w. of Capt. Anthony Strong, 

Nov. 12. 
Benjamin Judson, Jr., Nov. 25. 

1793. 
David At wood, Feb. 24. 
Capt. Joseph Peck, April 21. 
Hannah, his wife, '• 

Hollister Judson, June 2. 
Isaac Bunce, •• 

Thankful, wife of lleubcn Hotchkiss, 

June 2. 
Anna, wife of Jehiel Preston, Jr., 

June 2. 
Widow Ivuth Curtiss, July 1. 
Lt. John Strong, July 21. 
Sarah, his wife, " 

Jemima, w. of Amos Hoots, Jr., July 

21. 
Noah Pond, Oct. 27. 

1791. 
Mulford Coan, June 29. . 
Mary, his wife, " 
Noah Minor, (I)ea. in Norfolk, oldest 

living admission to this church,) 

Oct. 5. 
Concurrence, w. of Truman Martin, 

Nov. 9. 
Anna Castle, Nov. 9. 

1795. 
Mercy Tyler, Jan. 4. 
Sarah, w. of Daniel Cogshall, JNIay 10. 
Daniel Tuttle, Sept. G. 
Abigail, w. of James Hall, Dec. 6. 

179G. 
Betty Hurlbut, Nov. 27. 



1797. 
Nabby, wife of Kev. Noah Benedict, 

]March 5. 
ISIary Hurd, March 5. 
Elizabeth, w. of Jehiel Preston, Mar. 5. 

1798. 
Solomon Sherman, Dec. 30. 

1799. 
Robert Crow, Jr., May 5. 

1800. 
Thomas Oloott, March 2. 
And his wife, " 

Lydia, w. of Noah B. Benedict, Esq., 

June 1. 
Faith Martin, (now living,) June 1. 

ISOl. 
Daniel Bacon, March 1. 
Rebecca, his w., (now living,) Mar. 1. 
Samuel Dean, Oct. 6. 

1802. 

Gideon Judson, Feb. 21. 

Susanna, wife of Ebenczer Moodv, 
Feb. 21. 

Rhoda, w. of William Minor, Feb. 21. 

]\Iary, w. of Wm. Preston, May 9. 

Rebecca, w. of Nath'I Bacon, '' 

Jonathan Judson, June G. 

Ruth, his wile, '' 

Ruth Emm, w. of Capt. Abijah Mitch- 
ell, June C. 

Polly, w. of .John D. Leavenworth, 
June G. 

Anna, w. of William Lord, June 6. 

Asa Cogshall, June 27. 

And his wite, '• 

Elizabeth, w. of John Mitchell, Jr., 
Aug. 1. 

Anna, w. of Selleck Galpin, Sept. 5. 

Eunice, formerly the Avite of Joseph 
"Walker, Jr., Nov. 7. 

1803. 

Mrs. Rebecca, wife of Jabez Bacon, 
Feb. 27. 

1804. 
Mercy Drakcley, Sept. 30. 

1805. 
Anthony Minor, (now living.) June 2. 
]\Iercy Ann "Warner, Aug. 4. 
Hannah, w. of Capt. James Judson, 

Aug. 4. 
Sally, w. of Asa Minor, Sept. 22. 



828 



HISTOKT OK ANCIENT WOODBURT. 



180(). 
Joanna, w. ofJehiel Preston, Feb. 2. 
Sally, w. of Capt. Jesse Minor, Feb. 23, 
Chloe, w. of lieubcn Judson, Mar. 2. 
Peter Mitehcll, June 1. 
Phebe, his ivife, " 
Widow Mary Hobson, July 27. 

1807. 
Olive, wife of Epliraim Minor, (now 
living,) Aug. 30. 

1808. 
Adoniram Minor, July 3. 
Patienee, his wife, " 

1809. 

Thaddcus Minor, Feb. 2C. 

Uriel Strong, " 

Samuel Franklin, May 28. 

Mabel, his wife, " 

Asa Judson, " 

Sarah, his wife, " 

Stiles Curtiss, " 

Sarah, his wife, (oldest living member 
of this church,) May 28. 

Justus IMinor, " 

Aden Maltby, " 

Ruth, w. of John Manville, (now liv- 
ing,) July 23. 

1810. 

Capt. Jesse Minor, Feb. 11. 

Dea. Scoville Hinman, (now living,) 
Feb. 11. 

Isaac Martin, June 3. 

Mary, his wife, " 

Sylva, w. of Elisha Crane, Aug. 26. 

Sheldon Minor, Aug- 20. 

William P. Curtiss, (aftefvvard E])is- 
copal clergyman at Staten Isl- 
and,) Aug. 26. 

Abijah M. Minor, Aug. 26. 

Diana, w. of Moses Clark, " 

Asahel Strong, " 

Benjamin H. Andrews, (Waterbury,) 
Aug. 26. 

1811. 
Anna, wife of Isaac Bunce, (Ohio,) 

March 3. 
Wheeler Kirtland, June 2. 
Abigail Huntington, " 
Concurrence Curtiss, (wife of Rev. 

Philo Judson,) June 2. 
Keziah Walker, (wid. Asa Judson,) 

June 2. 



Judson IMinor, June 2. 

Electa IMinor, " 

Juliana Franklin, (IMrs. Shennan 
AVarner,) June 2. 

Rosanna Franklin, (IMrs. Justus Mi- 
nor, Ohio,) June 2. 

Phebe, wife of AVheeler Kirtland, 
(Mrs. Upson,) June 2. 

Susan Minor, (Mis. "\Vm. P. Curtiss,) 
Sept. 10. 

Abraham Tuttle, (out west,) Nov. 3. 

Anna, his wife, Nov. 3. 

Mary Bunce, (Mrs. B. 11. Andrews, 
Waterbury,) Nov. 3. 

1812. 
Eunice Perkins, (from Hamden,) 

July 20. 
Sarah Thomas, Aug. 23. 

1813. 

Olive, w. of Anthony Minor, Jan. 3. 
Huldah AVarner, (Mrs. Aaron Mallo- 
ry, Canada,) Jan. 3. 

End of admissions under Rev. Noah 
Benedict, who died April 20, 1813, 
aged 75 years. 

1813. 

Wait Minor, July 18. 

Susan, his wife, " 

Armilla, w. of Reuben Walker, " 
OUve, w. of Reuben Mallory, " 
IMarcus I). Mallory, '' 

Betsey IMallory, (Mrs. Asahel Strong,) 
Julia Preston, (iVIrs. Judson Black- 
man,) July 18. 
Susan De Forest, (Mrs. Ira Strong,) 

July 18. 
Percy, wife of Judson Sherman, Oct. 

25. 
Eunice YIning, Aug. 30. 

1814. 
Maria Curtiss, (Mrs. Truman Orton,) 

July 3. 
Nancv INIinor, July 3. 
Esther Strong, (Mrs. Hill, Ohio,) 

July 3. 
Eliza Beers, (IMrs. James Preston,) 

July 3. 
Jennet Mallory, (Mrs. Stoddard 

Strong,) July 3. 
Horace Minor, " 
Laura, w. of Rev. Henry P. Strong, 

July 3. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY, 



829 



AbiG;ail, w. of Marcus 1). Mallorv, 

■■ July 3. 
Sally Pollard, Sept. 
Anna Phillips, (colored,) Sept. 
Dca. Judson Blackmail, " 
Patience, bis Avife, " 

Betsey, w. of Ezra Beecber, Sept. 
Anna, w. of Peter lllbbard, Nov. (J. 
Wife of David Minor, 
Melissa, w. of Sheldon Minor, '• 
Timothy Ciesar, (colored,) " 
And his Avifc, (colored,) " 

1815. 

Elizabeth, wife of Truman Koot, 
(Southington,) July 2. 

Alice, wife of Daniel Mallory, (col- 
ored,) July 2. 

Samuel Steele, Sept. 17. 

ISK!. 
Phebe, w. of Capt. Anthony Stroii<i;, 

July 5. 
Sheldon Minor, Oct. 20. 
And his wife, " 

1817. 

Phineas Smith, July 13. 

Dr. Hiram Bunce, (Ohio,) July 13. 

Mary, w. of Jacob Bunce, " 

Thankful, w. of Simeon Pierce, •• 

Nathaniel Smith, (Judge Sup. Ct.,) 
Nov. 2. 

ISIS. 

Ruth, his wife, Jan. 4. 

Sally Chidscy, (Mrs. Elisha Minor,) 
Jan. 4. 

Clarinda Root, (Mrs. Towner of Ox- 
ford,) Jan. 4. 

Sally Root, " 

Mabel Munn, " 

Charity Tuttle, (Mrs. White, South- 
bury,) Jan. 4. 

Wife of Levi Richards, July 5. 

Ruth Ann, w. of Ilermon Stoddard, 
July 5. 

Julia Lambert, (Mrs. Anthony C. 
Strong,) July 5. 

Wife of David Oilbert, (Kent,) Sept. 
27. 

1819. 

Betsey Beers, July 3. 

Samuel Robbins, (N. Y.) Sept. 5. 

Fanny, his wife, " 

1820. 
Margaret, w. Stephen Topliff, (Mass.,) 
Jan. 2. 



.roiiathan Lumni, (Oxford,) July 1. 
And his wife, July 1. 

1821. 

Wid. Zlllah Nettleton, June 10. 

Wid. Lucy Mitchell, (Mrs. Olcott, 
June 10. 

Elisha Minor, Aug. 5. 

Louiza, w. of Enoch Hayes, Aug. 26. 

Wid. Esther Munn, Aug. 2G. ' 

Reuben Mallory, Oct. 7. 

Stoddard Strong, " 

Polly IMay, (]\lrs. Tyler,) Oct. 14. 

Yarmouth Chatiield, (colored,) Oct. 
28. 

Elizabeth, his wife, (colored,) Oct. 28. 

Mary, -w. of Rev. Samuel R. An- 
drew, Nov. 2. 

1822. 

(Jilbert Somers Minor, Jan. G. 
Sabrina, his wife, " 

John Curtiss, " 

Maria, his wife, •'• 

Rufus J. Bunce, (Ohio,) "• 
Eli Summers, '• 

Amasa Curtiss, (Maine,) " 
AYillys Lambert, " 

William Heaton, '' 

Cyrus Pierce, (Ohio.) " 
Bennet Minor, 

Phllena, w. of Joseph Minor, Jan. G. 
Susan, w. of Dr. Sam. J. Andrews, 

(North Carolina,) Jan. 6. 
Flora, w. of Hezekiah Booth, Jan. 6. 
jMaria, w. of AVilliaiu (1. Moseley, 

(iMaine,) Jan. 6. 
Mary Knap[), " 
Mary Nortlirop, (N. Y.,) Jan. 6. 
Irene Northrop, (N. Y.,) '• 
Sabra Manville, " 

Lorena Manville, (New Haven,) 

Jan. G. 
Ann Sherman, Jan. G. 
Amelia Nichols, (Mrs. Eli Summers,) 

Jan. G. 
Luia Minor, (Mrs. Pliilo Pierce,) 

Jan. G. 
Harriet Minor, (Mrs. Benj. Hiiiman,) 

Jan. G. 
Mary Summers, (Wid. H. J. J^ins- 

ley,) Jan. G. 
Parnella Pierce, (]\Irs. Dr. Andrews, 

missionary at Sandwich Islands,) 

Jan.* 6. 
Wife of Nathaniel Gray, Jan. G. 
George Miller, (went to Hartford,) 

July 7. 



830 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT AVOODBDRY. 



George H. Cable, (went Avest,) July 7. 
Wi(i. Martha Mallory, " 

Joanna, w. of Wm. Summers, " 
Charlotte Minor, (Wid. Charles Jud- 

son,) July 7. 
Susan Sherman, (Mrs. Thomas Bull,) 

July 7. 
Clarissa Chatfield, (colored,) {July 7. 

1823. 
Wid. Betsey Dudley, Jan. 19. 
Mary Ann W., w. of N. B. Smith, 

July G. 
Laura, w. of H. J. Linsley, July 6. 

1824. 
Kuth May, (Mrs. James Manville,) 

July 11. 
Abigail Huntington, Oct. 10. 

1825. 
Aaron Mallory, (Canada,) Sept. 11. 

1826. 
Dr. Roswell Abernethy, Nov. 4. 
Anna, his wife, " 

1827. 

Harvy J. Linsley, May 6. 

Eliza, w. of Willys Lambert, May 6. 

Terrissa Ray, (Mrs. Charles Peck, 

out west,) JNIay 6. 
Benjamin D. Beecher, (Prospect,) 

May 6. 
Aurelia, his wife, May G. 
Anthony Strong, Sen., Nov. 4. 
Benjamin Andrews, " 

Jehiel Preston, 
Jesse P. Lambert, " 

Stephen Allen, " 

Mary, his wife, " 

AVid. Anna Sherman, " 

Sally, w. of Solomon Sherman, Nov. 4. 
Laura, w. of Sauuiel Steele, " 
Polly, w. of Asa Mitchell, 

1828. 

Charles Judson, Jan. 6. 

Abel Benedict, '' 

Thomas D. Mallory, (Bridgeport,) 
Jan. G. 

Albert Mallory, Jan. 6. 

Henry Lambert, " 

Seth Strong, '' 

Shclden Summers, " 

Alma, w. of John DeForest, Jan. G. 

Olive Drakeley, Jan. G. 

Cornelia DeForest, (Mrs. S. M. En- 
sign,) Jan. 6. 



Maria INIanville, Jan. 6. 

Jane Minor, (Mrs. Sackett, Ohio,) 

Jan. G. 
Margaret DeForest, (Mrs. Henry 
* Lambert,) Jan. 6. 
Sally J. Bunco, " 
Fanny Pierce, (Mrs. Sturtevant, 

Ohio,) Jan. G. 
Andrew Minor, IMarch 3. 
Hermon Stoddard, " 
David Summers, " 
Laura P., w. of Marcus DeForest, 

March 3. 
Sally, w. of Geo. W. DeWolf, Mar. 3. 
Amy, w. of Jesse P. Lambert, May 3. 
Mrs. Tompkins, " 

Susan, w. of Dea. Judson Blackman, 

May 3. 
Ada, w. of Edward DeForest, May 3. 
Harriet, w. of Truman ]\Iinor, " 
Betsey, w. of Stephen Boswell, '' 
Temperance, w. of Daniel Warner, 

July G. 
Abigail Harrison, ( Waterbury,) Dec. 

21. 

1829. 
Mary, w. of James DeForest, Aug. 9. 
1830. 

Timothy C. Steele, Feb. 21. 
Hannah, his wife, " 

1831. 
Charlotte Minor, July 2. 
Jane Mallory, July 2. 
John Strong, Jr., Sept. 4. 
Nathaniel Benedict Smith, Sept. 4. 
Thomas Bull, " 

Loren Forbes, "• 

William Johnson, (out west,) " 
Dilazon L. lluggles, (Bridgewater,) 

Sept. 4. 
Pinet P. Manville, Sept. 4. 
Charles J. Blackman, (Ohio,) Sept. 4. 
Widow Esther Perkins, " 

Sally Miles, Sept. 4. 
Bhoda Dean, " 
Polly Ann Prindle, Sept. 4. 
Fanny, w. of William Perry, (Ohio,) 

Sept. 4. 
Augusta Drakeley, (Mrs. Orlin Rood, 

of Wisconsin,) Sept. 4. 
Augusta Sherman, (Mrs. Fairchild, 

Oxford, Sept. 4. 
Susan Allen, (Mrs. Silas Tuttle, of 

Middlcburv, Sept. 4. 
EUza Stoddard,' (Mrs. Treat,) S^pt. 4. 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT -WOODBURY. 831 

Laura Stoddard, (Mrs. P. A. Judson,) Sylvia Chatfield, (colored,) Sept. 6. 

Sept. 4. Widow Elizabeth Bull, Kov. 1. 

Mrs. Lucretia Woodruff", Oct. !<;. Eliza Curtiss, Nov. 1. 
Nancy Peters, (colored,) " .Tared S. Baldwin, Nov. 22. 

Truman Parker, Nov. 6. Amelia, Lis wife, " 

Samuel Nettleton, " , oo^ 

Stephen Allen, Jr., " ^.^ . n-rv -i c' t^ u i r 

Lemau Phillips, (colored,) Nov. G. ^{^ria, w. of David Summers, Feb. 15. 
Eliza, w. of Solomon Strong. Jr., " Horace Hurd, March 6 
Harriet A. Lambert, (Mrs. Seth ^urke Mmor (Plymouth,) May 29. 

_ Strong. Nov. (J. ^^'^''^' '"« ^^'^"^^ 

Emily A. Lambert, (jMr.^. Charles 1837. 

Curtiss, Nov. 6. .. Mrs. Elizabeth Nettleton, Feb. 

Ehzabetn Leavenworth (wife ot Talcott Norton, March. 

Hon. C. Delano, New ^ork ^^^^^ j^j^ ^^i^.^^ 

N nc^ lie nol'ds N v C Triunan Minor, Aug. 30. 

e II ^ " ,- ^'r 1 * Vt- /--n • Sally, widow of George Minor, Sept. 3. 

Sallv, w. 01 Eusha JMinor, (iair <-ii i i-- ^i i /r< ^■^• • \ at 

'^T ^ 1-) ,, ^ Charles Kirtland, (California.) Nov. 

l«^i'-^- 1838. 

Thaddeus Crammer, i\Iarch 4. Hannah Chappel, (Mrs. Isaac Smith,) 
And his wife, '• Jan. 7. 

Pinet Thomas, (Ohio,) " Erastus Minor, March 4. 

jg33_ Mehnda, his wife, " 

Mrs. Betsey^Mather, (Mrs. Curtiss,) is^°e"stron<I^|'"°' " 

-.-■ . T. i''i /TVT -NT 1, Charles Curtiss, (Ohio,) March 4. 

Maria Drakeley, (Mrs. Newcomb, tt . , q n J ^ u 

■ ofVt.,) Nov. 3. ^, {■ ■,, I' -n ^ -D 

'■' Carohne^ vaie ot Drake Prentice, 

1^35. March 4. 

Widow Susan Sperry, July 5. Eunice, w. of Abel Benedict, March 4. 

Sophia Sperry, " Laura S. Steele, (Mrs. William E. 

Widow Clara Leavenworth, (Ohio,) Woodruff,) March 4. 

July 5. Caroline Sherman, (Mrs. Smith, of 

Mrs. Alza Proctor, July 5. Oxford,) March 4. 

Jennet, wife of Harvey Lambert, Eliza Kirtland, (Mrs. Piatt, "Water- 

(Ohio,) Julyo. bury,) March 4. 

Eunice, w. of Norman Parker, July 5. Martha J. Strong, (Mrs. Benjamin 
Fanny Dudley, (Mrs. Gillet, Ilox- S. Curtiss,) March 4. 

bury, July 5. Joseph Nettleton, March 14. 

Cornelia Dudley, (Mrs. Jeremiah Abraham Smith, March 1 8. 

Peck,) July 5. Mrs. Nancy Lum, April 25. 

Mary E. Smith, (i\Irs. John J. Marcus D. Mallory, retui-ned by 

Monell, Newburg, N. Y.) July 5. letter. May G. 

Harriet M. Orton, July 5. Abigail, his wife, returned by letter, 

Sophia Strong, (w. of Kev. Austin May G. 

Isham, Roxbury,) Jidy 5. Samuel Sherman, May G. 

Augusta IMallory, (JMr.s. Willys George W. De Wolf, " 

Judd, of Daubury, July 5. Andrew P. Potter, " 

Sybil Chatfield, (colored,) " Bennett U. Strong, (Wisconsin,) 

Betsey M. IMorriss, (colored,) July 5. May 6. 

George Hitchcock, July 1!). Myron Hitchcock, May G. 

And his wife, " Hiram INlanville, " 

llhoda, w. of Truman Parker, Sept. G. Benjamin Kirtland, •' 
Peggy Root, Sept. C. Sarah Mallory, (Mrs. Wood, New 

Polly Mallory, " Orleans,) May G. 



832 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 



Harriet Morriss, (.Mrs. Thomas Up- 
son,) May (>. 

Elijah Judson, July 1. 

Phineas A. Judson, July 1. 

JSarah Curtiss, (]\Irs. Benjamin S. 
Russell,) July 1. 

Mary, w. of Stephen Allen, .July 1. 

1839. 

William Peck, May 5. 
Samuel Minor, (Ohio,) May 5. 
Abner Munson, May 19. 
And his wife, " 

Widow Abigail Hurlbut, May 19. 
Mrs. Eunice Camp, June 22. 
Wife of William Peck, Sept. 15. 
Amanda, w. of Chauncey N. Castle, 
Sept. 15. 

1840. 
Julia, w. of Silas Chapin, Feb. 2;J, 
EUza, w. of Albert Manville, May 3. 
Mary, w. of INIerrit Piatt, " 

James S. Orton, (Genesco, N. Y.,) 

Sept. 5. 
Widow Flora Strong, Sept. 5. 
Harriet Hurlbut, " 

1842. 

Aurelia Beebe, Jan. 23. 

Mary Elizabeth Andrew, (Avife of 

Rev. Mr. Aitchison,) May 1. 
Charlotte Rogers Andrew, " 
Charles C. Mitchell, July 3. 
Samuel M. Mallory, " 
Heniy P. Stronsr, (Bridgeport,) 

July 3. 
Marcus J)eForest, Jr., July 3. 
Mary, w. of Sheldon Summers, July 3. 
Mary J. Steele, (Mrs. William Coth- 

ren,) July 3. 
Augusta Thompson, July 3. 
Abigail DcForcst, (Mrs. John A 

Candee,) July 3. 
Elsie Ann Chappcl, July 3. 
Augusta Booth, " 

Fanny Mallory, " 

Mary A. Hull, (Mrs. James 11. 

Thomas,) Sept. 11. 
Clarisk Glazier, " 

1843. 



Eli B. SpeAy, March 19. 
Emily S.,w.ot James S. Orton, Aug. 
Elizabeth, wif^of Henry S. Curtiss, 
December. 



1844. 
EmeUne Perkins, Jan. 
Sydney B. Whitlock, July 7. 
Mary, his wife, " 

Eliza F. Whitlock, 

1845. 
Joseph B. Beadle, July C. 
Daniel S. Lemon, " 
Eunice P., his wife, " 
Eunice, w. of Asa Mitchell, July 13. 
Caroline, wife of Barlow Russell, 

Aug. 17. 
Catherine E. Russell, (Mrs. A. J\ 

Lyon,) Aug. 17. 
Olive J. Parker, Sept. 21. 

184G. 
Amelia C, w. of F. M. Minor, Jan. 4. 
Eli Strong, 
And his wife. 

End of admissions under Rev. Mr. 
Andrew, who resides in New Haven, 
Conn. 

1847. 
Mrs. Rebecca Jackson, Jan. 1. 
Mrs. Clarissa Nettleton, (colored, 

returned by letter,) March 1. 
Emily M. Strong, (Mrs. Bennet A. 

Sherman,) Sept. 5. 
Harriet M. Curtiss, (Mrs. James H. 

Linsley,) Sept. 5. 
Susan F. DeWolf, " 
Sarah E. DeWolf, " 

1848. 
Hai-riet, w. of Henry Lambei't, Jan. 2. 
Harriet Manville, " 

Henry T. JNIygatt, Feb. 27. 
Fidelia Chatfield, Nov. 5. 
Betsey A., wife of Enos Benham, \ 

Nov. 2G. 

1849. 
Mrs. Emily C, w. of Rev. Lucius 

Curtis, Jan. 6. 
Mrs. Luthcria C. wife of George 

Betts, Feb. 4. 
Mrs. Maria Finley, Feb. 11. 
Charles H. Bradway, March 25. 
Eunice, his wife, " 

Elizabeth, w. of Horace C. Baldwin, 

April 29. 
Edmund Trowbridge, Sept. IG 
Esther L., his wife, " 



HISTORY OF ANCIENT "WOODBURY 



833 



Philo M.Trowbridge, Sept. UL 
Sarah E., his wife, " 

Fanny C. Trowbridge, " 

Mary Root, wife of Nathaniel L. 
Strong, Xov. 25. 



1850. 



Jnly 7. 



Widow Fanny Summers, 

Cornelia Booth, " 

Emily J. Minor, (Mrs. Enos Ben- 
ham,) July ''• 

William Cothren. 

Benjamin Fabrique, 

John E. Strong, 

David S. BuU,"^ 

Merrit Piatt, 

Frederick P. Pond, 

George DeForest, 

George Drakeley, 

Laura M., his wife, 

George H. Bacon, 

Enos Benham, 

Sophia E. Benedict, 

Mary A., w. of George DeForest, 

Elizabeth M. Hurlbut, 

Frances A. Hurlbut, 

Martha Hinmau, (Mr; 
Sept. 1. 

Willys R. Hurd, 

Harriet E. Judson, " 

James H. Linsley, " 

Loiza M., w. of Charles C. Mitchell, 
Sept. 1. 

Betsie S. Mallory, ■ " 

Paulina, w. of TLliram Manville, " 



Sept 



F. P. Pond,) 
Sept. 1. 



Ellen Osborn, Sept, 

Ransom S. Reynolds, ' 

Elizabeth, wife of Charles P. 

Strong, Sept 

Mary E. Strong, 
Willys A. Strong, 
Nathaniel L. Strong, 
Truman Smith, 
Cornelia Smith, 
Cathei'ine Smith, 
Charles A. Summers, 
Cecelia F., his wife, 
Duncan P. Whitlock, 
Cornelia Summers, Nov 

Catharine A. Hull, 
Augusta E. Nettleton, 
Sarah B. Nettleton, 
Mary J. Nettleton, 
Charlotte M. Lambert, 
Julia E. Bull, 
Henry P. Summers, 
William E. Towner, 
Truman S. Minor, 

1851. 
Edwin S. Lemon, Feb. 26. 

Charlotte, wife of George B. Lewis, 
June 2d. 



1853. 



Maria J. Lambert, 
Lucinda Banks, 
Roxv Hurd, 
Julia W. Fox, 
Eliza Revnolds, 



May 1. 

May 15. 
Sept. 4. 



69 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



A. 

Abemethy, Doct. Roswell, 

345, 466, 479. 
Abemethy, J. J., 466, 477. 
Allen, Gen. Ethan, 183, 273, 

412, 506. 
Allen, Ool. Ira, 475. 
Ambler Family, 501. 
Andrew, Rev. Samnel R., 

305, 466, 478. 
Andrew, Samuel W., Esq., 

466, 478. 
Andrews, Dr. Sam. A., 466. 
Andross, Sir Edraond, 76. 
Atw'ood Family, 490. 
" Dr. Jonathan, 66, 

35, 466, 490. 
Atwood, Rev. Anson S., 

466, 477, 495. 
Atwood, Dr. Garwood H., 

323, 351, 466, 477, 499, 

597. 
Atwood, D. S.J Esq., 495. 
" Curtiss, 477. 
" Henry C, 466. 
AvERiLL Family, 484. 
" Augustin, Esq., 487. 

B. 
Bacon Family, 516. 
" Jabez, 351. 
" Daniel, Esq., 328, 
427. 
Bacon, Rev. Wm. T., 354, 

466, 477, 518. 

Backus, Rev. Azel, 253, 

478, 466. 
Backus, Fred. P., 477. 
Babbitt, Rev. P. T., 292, 

467, 478. 

Baker Family, 502. 
" Remember, 156. 
" Capt. Remember, 
183, 273, 427. 
Battell Family, 508. 
Baldwin, Dr. N. C, 467. 

" Rev. Wm., 467, 478. 
Bellamy Family, 507. 
" Rev. Joseph, 241, 
245, 249, 467, 478. 
Bellamy, Jonathan, Esq., 

467, 474. 
Bellamy, Hon. Joseph H., 
355, 467, 477. 



Bellamy, Rev. David, 467. 
Benedict, Rev. Noah, 301, 

303, 466. 
Benedict, Hon. Noah B., 

306, 357, 466,478, 476. 
Benedict, Col. Thos., 406. 

" Bennet, M. D.,475. 
Beaumont, Petre, 165. 
Beers Family, 513. 

" Hon. S. P., 426, 466. 
Beers, Zechariah, 286. 359, 

466. 
Bedient, Dr. Butler, 74„466. 
Beecher, Rev. J. W., 598. 
Berry, Rev. J. I)., 297, 467. 
Bishop, Dr. Reuben, 466. 
Bissell, Dr. G. G., 467, 479. 
Blakeley Family, 504. 
Blakeslcv, Sammis, Esq., 

466. 

Blakeman, Dr. W. N., 467. 

Botsford, Chus., M. D., 466. 

Boardman, Rev. Dan., 105. 

" Rev. Charles A., 

270, 466. 
Booth Family, 508. 

" Henry, Esq., 467, 477. 
" Harvey M., 46S. 
Bostwick, Hon. Isaac W., 

467. 
Brinsmade Family, 511. 
" Rev. Daniel, 262, 

467, 478. 
Brinsmade, Zechariah, 166. 
" Hon. Daniel N., 

322, 854, 467, 476. 
Brinsmade, Wm. B., 477. 
Bkoxson Family, 504. 
" Dr. Abraham, 137. 
" Rev. Tillotson. 291, 

467, 478, 732. 
Brownson, Dr. Ira V., 467. 

Dr. , 467. 

Brown, 'Rev. Garret G., 

467, 477. 
Brownell, Rev. Grove L., 

314, 467, 478. 
Bull Family, 511. 

" Dea. Samuel, 78. 

" Maj. Thomas, 187, 

204, 207, 466. 
Bull, Hon. Thomas, 467. 

" Rev. Edmond C, 292, 

467. 



X 



Burhans, Rev. Daniel, 292 

467. 
BuRi;iTT Family, 510. 
" Dr. Anthonv, 358 

467. 
Burritt, Dr. Anthonv B. 

359, 467. ■', 
Bulkley, Rev. Peter, 120. 
Butterfield, Rev. 0. B., 236 

466. 
Bushnell, Rev. Horace, 467 

478. 
Bushnell, Rev. George, 467 . 

C. 

Calhomi, Rev. Geo. A., 407. 
" Rev. Henry, 467. 
" Dr. Jolui, 187, 363, 

467. 
Campfield, Rev. Robt. B., 

271, 468. 
Camp, Rev. Joseph, 467, 

476. 
Caneield Family, |529. 
" Rev. Thomas, 276, 

280, 467, 476, 478. 
Cantield, Orlando, 477. 
Castle Family, 528. 
" Dr. Silas, 467. 
Catlin, Dr. Conant, 361, 

467, 479. 
Cathn, Dr. Evraan, 467,479. 

" Dr. Wm. C.,467, 429. 
Cazier, Rev. Matthias, 467. 
Chittendeti, Fred.,Esq.,467- 
Churchill, Rev. John, 315, 

467, 479. 
Church Family, 526. 
" Hon. Samuel, 475, 

527. 
Church, Hon. John R., 476. 
" Leman, Esq., 475. 
" Nathaniel, 527- 
Clark, Rev. Daniel A., 230, 

467. 
Clark, Rev. John, i67. 

" Rev. Jehu, 467. 

" Amos, 1.^7. 

" Dr. He-nan, 467. 
Chauncey, Jtov. Israel, 32, 

33, 129, 224, 133. 
Cher.avo.i , Philemon, 165. 
Cheesbrough, Dr. R. M., 

407. 



n 



INDEX OF NAMES, 



CocnBANE Family, 619. 

" William, ben., 5il. 
" William, Jr-, S^^- 
" Samuel, 525. 
Cothren, David, 5-2.3. 

" Capt. W lUiatn, 523. 

» William, Esq., 32^, 

338 3."y, 340, 341, 361, 

Couch, Bcv. Paul, 256, 467, 

Co^well, Wra., Esq-, ^f- 
^" Fred. W., 467, 478. 
Covell,Kcv..T.S.,297,468. 

Cotton, Kev.Josmh,4-8• 
Coxe,Kev.Kicb'd,292,468. 
Crane, Dr. Kob't 46^,4.9. 
" Ur. Joel, 468. 
. Ci^AFTS Family, 526. 

" Gen. Chaunccy,527. 
CuETiss Family, 531. 

" Capt. Wm., 35, 60. 

" A cur, 187. 

u |:!ls;ael,61,77,119. 

" Kev. Lucms, 306, 

cSfiS'- Holbrook, 

Chapman, Hon. Asa, 515, 

Chajm^"' Hon. Charles, 

515, 667. 
Cramer, Moll, 159. 

I). 



Eastman, Dr. Azariah, 363, 
364, 468. , . , T> 

Eastman, Dr. Josiah K., 
325, 365, 468 542. 

Eastman, Dr. John R., 468 

« Richard H., 468. 
Easton, Hon. Rufus, 468. 
Edmonds Family, 542. 
Robert, 187. 

» Hon. Wm., 201, 

434,468,476. 
Edmonds, David, Esq., 468, 

Everitt, Hon. Daniel, 174, 
176, 187, 434, 468. 



F. 



Davies, Rev. Thomas, 293, 

295,433,468,475. 
Davies, Thomas J., 468 
" Prof. Chas. J., 468 
» John, 468. 
" Dr. Thomas, 468. 
Day, Kev. Jeremiah, 270, 

468,478. . , T. T. 

Day, kev. Jeremiah, D.D., 

270,429,466,468 

Day, Thomas, LL. D.,27u, 

430, 468, 476. 
Day, Tut. 'Mills, 468 476 

"Prof. Henry N., 468, 

477. 
Day, Charles 47-. 
Downs, Dr. Myron, 468. 
» David, 282. 
" Captain Ebenezer, 
174, 187. 
Do^-dnev, Rev. John, 292, 

Davidson, Uev. David B., 

468, Xs- T 

DeForesf4)r. Marcus, Jr., 

Dundonald,W of, 520. 
Dunning, Ci^Ehas 176 
Dkakeley1'aW,539. 
Dutchers, Buloolvloh. 

F 
Eastman Family, 541. 



Fakrand Famii^y, 544. 
» Capt. Nathaniel, 

Farmid,Jonath'n,l76,187 
" Wm. P., 46, 47b. 
Fairchild, Dr. S. B., 366, 

468. „ , 

Fansher, Dr. Sylvanus, 

■864,468. 
Fenn, Dr. iUron W., 468. 
" Fred. J., Esq., 468. 
Flint,Rev.Seth,29l 468- 
Foote, Rev. George L., 29d, 

Foote, Dr. -— , 468 

" Dr. E. T., C14 
Foster, Dr. Isaac, 321. 
Ford, Dr. Setli P., 468. 
Fowler, Dr. Parlemon B., 

365, 468. 
Fowler, Dr. Warren R., 

365,468,479. 
Fo\vl(*r, Dr. Remus M.,36j, 

468,479. 
Fowler, Dr. Henrj', 468. 
Eraser, William A., hiq-, 

468, 733. 
Eraser, Hugh, 7j52. 
" Simon, 732. 
Frisbie, Rev. Wm. Henry, 

297,468. 
Fuller, Rev. Samuel, 292, 



Graham, Dr. Andrew, 176, 

187, 226, 366 468, 647. 
Graham, Hon. John A.,;226, 

441, 469, 549. 
Graham, Rev. Chauncey, 

469, 475. 
Graham, Dr. Isaac Gilbert, 

441 548. 
Graham, Col. John L., 226, 

553,475. 

Graham, Capt. John Hodg- 
es, 552. . - 

Graham, John Lorimer, Jr., 
554. 

Graham, Nathan B., Esq., 

554 
Graham, James Lorhner, 

I'^sq., 555. 
Gray, kev. Cyrus W., 26 <, 

Gunn, Fred. W 272,477 
Garrow, Dr. John L., 469. 
Gridley, Dr. Horatio, 469. 



H. 



Fulford, Abraham, 73. 



G. 



Galvin Family, 544. 

" Rev. Samuel, 4b9. 

" Dr. Leman, 469. 
Gilbert, Rev. Sturges, 291, 

''97 469. 
Gilbert, Rev. Raphael, 299, 

GloveV, Rev. Bennet, 291, 

469. _, .^a 

Goodsell, Dr. Thomas, 469, 

Goo^lsell, Dr. Isaac, 469, 

GrIham Family, 645. 
» Rev. John, 222, 
223,468,479,546. 
Graham, Rev. J., Jr., 478. 



XI. ^ 

Hannah, James, 176, 18/ . 
Hall, Dr. Charles A., 732. 
Harriman, Rev. Fred. D., 

292 470. 
Harrison, Rev. Fosdick, 

256,281,470,478. 
Hastings, Dr. Seth, 380, 469. 

» Prof. Thomas, 469. 
" Dr. Seth, Jr., 470. 
" Orlando, Esq., 470. 
» Eurotus, Esq., 4/0. 
Hartwell, Sam. E., Esq., 

307,470. 
Hart, Rev. Seth, 478. _ ^ 
Hawley, Dr. Benjamin, 

188,368,470. 
Hawley, Winiam,Esq.,.368, 

470 476. 
Hawley, J^Ioses, Esq., 322. i 
Hard, Dr. David B. W., 

469, 479. 
Haves, Rev. Gordon, 26-, 

469,478. 
Hayes, Charles G., 4/8. 

HicocK Family, 564. 
Lyman, 47/. 
Capt. Nathan, 176, 

Hicock, Simeon, 4/6._ 
HiNMAN Family, 5ob. 
" Noah, Esq., 469. 

Sergt. Edw'd, 556. 

Edward, Esq., 176, 

187, 369 469. 
Hinman, Hon. Edward, 370, 

Himnan, Hon. Timothy, 
476, 469. ^ , . 

Hinman, Gen. Ephra.m, 
367, 469. T. „i T? 

Hinman, Hon. Royal R., 
370,469,476. 

^^T-i£!jS4l2!469. 
a Capt. E., 442, 469. 



INDEX O V NAMES. 



•Hinman, Hon. Curtis, 469. 

" Hou. William, 469. 

'■ Col. Benjamin, 166, 

169, 174, 183, 237, 371, 

469. 

Hinman, Gen. Robinson S., 

373, 469. 
Hinman, Simeon, Esq., 373, 

476, 479. 
Hinman, Simeon, 476. 
" Shennan, Esq., 476, 
479. 
Hinman, Capt. Wait, 150. 
" Capt. Adam, 166. 
" Eliiah, 187. 
" Titus, 561. 
" Cyrus, 476. 
Hitchcock, Hon. Sam. J., 

444, 469, 477. 
Hitchcock, Kev. Solomon 
G., 287, 291, 292, 469, 478. 
Hooker Family, 569. 

" Asahel, 476. 
Hill Family, 567. 

" Hon. Charles J., 470. 
Hollistee Family', 583. 
" Lt. Jokn, 583. 
" Gideon H., Esq., 
369, 470, 477. 
Hollister, David F., 470, 

478. 
HoTCHKiss Family-, 579. 

" Dr. , 470. 

" John, 332. 
Hubbell, Peter, 150, 167. 

Comfort, 187. 
Hull Family', 577. 
" Ebenezer, 187. 
" Hon. Andrew C, 444, 
469. 
Hull, Rev. Lcverett, 444, 

469. 
Hull, Gen. Ehas, 444, 469. 
" Dr. Zeph., 366,469. 
" Dr. Titus, 367, 469. /. 
'• Dr. Laurens, 443, 469. 
" Rev. Charles, 469. 
HuKD Family, 570. 
" John, 66. 
" Capt. David, 176. 
" .Samuel, 187. 
" David, 187. 
" Dr. Curtis, 469. 
" Dr. Nelson L., 469. 
" Dr. Theodore C, 469. 
" Dr. Fred W., 469. 
" Monroe, Esq., 469. 
HuRLBUT Family-, 580. 

'• Joseph, 259. 
HuTHWiTT Family', 568. 
Huntington, Dr. Daniel, 

368, 470. 
Huxley, Dr. Asahel M., 
368,''470. 

I. 

Isham, Rev. Austin, 281, 

470. 
Ingersol, David B., Esq., 47. 
Ives, Rev. Reuben, 291, 478, 



Jenner Family-, 602. 
Johnson Family, 600. 
'' John .J., 80. 
" Amos M., Esq., 470. 
Jones, Rev. Isaac, 297, 470, 

478. 
Judd, Rev. Reuben, 261, 

470, 478. 
Judd, Bethel, 1). D., 291, 

470, 478. 
Judd, Rev. Win. H., 292, 

470. 
JuDsoN Family, 587. 
" Lt. Joseph, 135, 54, 
61,74, 116, 128, 588. 
Judson, John, 61. 
" William, 587. 
" Gen. David, 470, 
476, 595. 
Judson, Rev. Adoniram, 

448, 470, 476, 596. 
Judson, Rev. Adoniram, 

D. D., 575, 596. 
Judson, Rev. Ephraim, 448, 

470, 476, 595. 
Judson, Rev. PhiJo, 445, 

470, 478, 597. 
Judson, Rev. Albert, 446, 

470, 477, 598. 
Judson, Rev. Gould C, 

470, 598. 
Judson, Rev. Everton, 447, 
- 470, 477, 599. 
Judson, Rev. Samuel, 445, 

470. 
Judson, Rev. Ben. B., 470, 

599. 
Judson, Philo M., Esq., 475. 
" Dr. Elnathan, 596. 
" Isaac E., 476. 
" Gen. Herbert, 598. 
" Dr. Oliver A., 600. 
" William F., 600. 
't " Dr. Frederick .T., 
-■ 470, 477. 

Judson, Charles A., 470. 
" David, Jr., 470. 
" Curtiss, 476. 
" George PL, 470. 
" Israel, 476. 

K. 

Kasson F-\mily, 603. 
Keese, James D., Esq., 385, 

470. 
Kirby, Hon. Ephraim, 332, 

450, 470, 479. 
Knowles Family, 604. 
" Dr. Thomas, 385, 

470. 

L. 
Lacey, Capt. Thaddeus, 

176. 
LaFayettc, Gen., 213. 
Lambert Family, 607. 
Langdon, Rev. John, 256, 

470, 478. 
Langdon, Dr. Tunothy, 470. 



I Lawrence, Rev. Amos E., 
I 236. 

I Leavenworth Family, 
I 612. 
Leavenworth, Capt. David, 

196. 
Leavenworth, Isaac, Esq., 

470. 
Leavenworth, Dr. AJston, 

470. 
Leavenworth, Dr. Thomas, 

470. 
Leavenworth, Rev. Thad- 
deus, 292, 471. 
Leayitt Family', 614. 
" Rev. Freegrace, 614. 
" Rev. .Jonathan, 614. 
" Sheldon, 615. 
" Harvev F., 615. 
" Sheldon C, 476,615. 
Lemmon, Dr. Sheldon, 470, 

477. 
LiNSLEY Family, 605. 
Logan, Rhoda, 272. 
Loomis, Rev. Aretus G., 

257, 471. 
Lyman, Rev. Ephraim, 267, 

470. 
Lyon, Hou. Matthew, 320, 

471. 
Lucas, Rev. William, 292, 
471. 

M. 
Marshall Family-, 631. 
" Rev. John R., 184, 
288, 289, 291, 387, 471, 
478. 
Martin Family-, 020. 
" Wm. Seaborn, 621, 
622. 
Martin, Samuel, G23. 
" E. T. Throop, 630. 
" Henry, Esq., 630. 
" Henry Hull, 475, 
630. 
Martin, Capt. Andrew, 198. 

" Caleb, 99. 
Mallory Family, 615. 
" Hon. Garrick, 471, 
477. 
Mason, Rev. Stephen, 267, 

471. 
Mason, Ebenezer P., 471, 

477. 
Masters, Nicholas S., Esq., 

452, 471. 
Masters, Dr. SainueJ S., 

388, 471. 
Meigs, Dr. John, i86, 471. 
" Dr. Phiuea', 387, 471. 
" Dr. Abne.', 471. 
" Rev. R'njamin C, 
471, 477. 
Merwin, Rev. Noali, 262, 

471, 475. 
Minor i''AMiLY, 642. 

" Capt. John, 35, 36, 
37, 50, 51, 54, 58, 71, 77, 
79, 643. 



INDEX OF NAMES, 



Minor, Col. Joseph, 98, 139, 

6-14. 
Jliuor, Dea. Samuel, 153, 

154. 
Minor, Capt. Matthew, 174. 
" Dea. Clement, 187. 
" Rev. .Jehu, 233, 234, 
471, 476, 651. 
Minor, Hon. Matthew, Jr., - 

889, 471, 476, 655. 
Minor, Dr. Garry H., 471, 

479, 652. 
Minor, Samuel, Esq., 390, 

471, 478. 
Minor, Charles S., Esq., 

471, 478, 652. 
Minor, Israel, Esq., 471, 

657. 
Minor, H. J., Esq., 475, 655. 
" Kev. Sherman, 645. 
" Hon. Joel, 648. 
" Rev. Lamson, 648. 
" Josiah H., Esq., 477, 
649. 
Minor, Rev. Timotliv, 650. 
" William, Esq., 653. 
" Wm. T., Esq., 475. 
" Rev. Thomas, 476, 
653. 
Minor, Dr. Thomas, 475, 

653. 
Mitchell Family, 633. 
" Rev. Jonathan, 

633. 
Mitchell, Abijah, 187. 

" Eleazur, 94, 176. 
" Rev. Ehsha, 452, 
471, 477, 641. 
Mitchell, John, Esq., 471, 

476. 
Mitchell, Rev. Justus, 452, 

471, 476, 641. 
Mitchell, John G., Esq., 471. 
" Hon. Henry, 471. 
" Enos G., 471. 
" Dr. Henry, 635. 
" Capt. Garwood, 637. 
" Mitchells., 639. 
" Mordauut S., 639. 
" Minot, Esq., 641. 
" Chauncey R., Esq., 
641. 
MosELEY Family, 619. 
" Hon. Increase, 
174, 176, 187. 
Moselev, Col. Increase, Jr., 

i74, 176, 187, 209. 
Mo^Icv, Dr. John, 471. 
Montxosi', Duke of, 545. 
MonellvJohu J., Esq., 677. 

" Wy E., 471. 
Moody, B»v. Martin, 292, 

471. \ 
Morris, Dr. JShn E., 479. 

MUNN FAMILTV618. 

" Dr. Samiiii, 72. 
" Dr. Daniel, Sgo, 471. 
" Dr. Nathan, hd, 471. 
Murray, Rev. Rufu^, 292, 
453, 471. 



Murray, Philo, Esc^., 388. 
Munson, Rev. Fred. E., 

453, 471. 
Munson, Hon. Harris B., 

471. 
McEwen, Rev. Abel, 677. 

N. 
Nichols Family, 657. 
North, Dr. Loomis, 390, 471. 

0. 
Okton Family, 658. 

" Dr. Samuel, 321, 
392, 471, 476,'6m). 
Orton, Hon. Philo, 660. 
" Dr. John, 392, 471, 
661. 
Orton, Dr. Samuel, Jr., 392, 

471, 061. 

Orton, Dr. Henry T., 392, 

472, 661. 

Orton, Dr. David J., 392, 

472, 661. 
Orton, Dr. James, 392, 472, 

661. 
Orton, Rev. Sara. G., 661. 

" Samuel D., Esq., 661. 
OsBOKN Family, 658. 
" Shadrach, 36, 193, 

390, 472. 
Osborn, Timothy, 187. 

P. 

Palmer, Jo. M., Esq., 395, 

472. 
Parker, Rev. Daniel, 472, 

478. 
Parker, Dr. Joseph, 472. 
" Col. Amasa, 453, 

472, 477. 
Parker, Hon. Amasa J., 

475. 
Pai'sons, Rev. Benjamin, 

271, 472. 
Parmely, J. E., Esq., 472. 
Pkestom Family, 662. 
" Hon. John, 662. 
" Rev. Wm., D. D., 

662. 
Preston, Hon. William, 62, 

292, 472 662. 
Preston, Hackaliah, 62. 
" Hon. Nathan, 155, 

332, 393, 472, 476, 664. 
Preston, Jehicl, 78. 

" Rev. William, 472, 

477, 665. 
Percy Family, 674. 
Perky Family, 666. 

" Rev. Joseph, 475, 667. 

" Dr. Joseph, 321, 332, 

392, 472, 478, 666. 
Perry, Dr. Nathaniel, 392, 

472, 479, 668. 
Perry, Nathaniel P., 475. 

" Col. Henry, 454, 472, 

667. 
Perry, Hon. Nathaniel, 393, 

472, 668. 



Perry, Rev. Philo, 292, 472, 

666. 
PeiTv, Rev. Phillips, 292, 

472. 
Perry, Rev. Bennet, 472, 

667. 
Pettigi-ee, Alexandre, 165, 
Phelps, Hon. Charles B., 

286, 312, 394, 472, 632. 
Peet, Harvey P., LL. D.', 

472, 477. 
Peck, Dr. John, 472. 
Pierce Family, 699."^ 
" Joseph, 176. 
" Justus, 176. 
" Amos, 476. 
" Dea. John, 174. 
" John, 476. 
" Rev. George E., 455, 
477, 472, 670. 
Pierce, Cyrus, 476. 
Pitcher, Hon. Nathaniel, 

472. 
Porter Family, 668. 
" Rev. Ebenezer, 263, 
478. 
Prindle, Rev. Chauncey, 

472, 478. 
Pond, Rev. Sam. W., 472. 

" Rev. Gideon, 472. 
Powell, Dr. William, 472. 
Powers, Dr. Peter, 472. 
Prime Family, 674. 

" Rev. Benjamin, 472, 

476, 674. 
Prentice Family, 672. 

" Dr. Curtiss, 472, 

673. 
Prentice, Rev. Thomas H., 

472, 673. 
PiTiitice, Rev. Charles, 455, 

472, 476, 673. 
Prentice, Rev. Charles T., 

475. 
Prentice, Prof. David, 472, 

477, 673. 
Prudden,Rev. Geo. P., 231, 

472, 479. 

Putnam, Rev. Charles S., 
292, 472. 

R. 
Raymond, Rev. Moses, 472, 

477. 
Read, Dr. , 472. 

" Rev. Hollis, 271, 472, 
Richmond, Edmund, Esq., 

472. 
Rogers, Rev. Robt. C, 292, 

472. 
Root Family, 674. \ 

" Rev. Judson A., 472, . 

477. 

S. 
Sanford, Hon. Johm 473. 
" Henrj' Shelton, 

473, 479. 

Sanford, Bev. David P., 
292. 



INDEX O F NAMES. 



Sayre, Rev. James, 289, 

291, 473. 

Sackett, Dr. , 473. 

Scott, Rev. Joseph, 292, 

297, 473, 478. 
Scott, Rev. James L., 293, 

473. 
Scoville, Joseph A., 473, 

665. 
Scisceau, Hem-ie, 165. 
Seelye, Dr. Thomas T., 397. 
Shove, Dr. Harmon W., 

398, 473, 479. 
Sheltoii, Gen. Geo. P., 473. 
Sheldon, Dr. Daniel, 396, 

472, 475. 
Sherman Family, 679. 

" Hon. Samuel, 35, 
60, 679, 682. 
Sherman, Hon. John, 61, 

79, 155, 683. 
Sherman, JIatthow, 61. 
" Hon. Daniel, 151, 
176, 187, 190, 213, 321, 

473, 655. 
Sherman," Father" Elijah, 

290, 299. 

Sherman, Rev. Henrj' B., 

291, 292, 473, 687. 
Shennan, Taylor, Esq., 473. 

" Rev. Charles, 

473, 686. 
Sherman, Hon. Charles, 

475, 685. 
Sherman, Rev. Josiah, 680, 

681. 
Sherman, Hon. Roger, 680, 

6S2. 
Sherman, Hon. Roger M., 

681. 
Sherman, Rev. John, 679. 
" Capt. John, 680, 

681. 
Shipman, Rev. Thomas L., 

231, 473, 478. 
Skeel Family, 709. 

" Sergt. Thomas, 80. 
Skilton P'amily', 711. 
" Dr. Henry, 396, 

473, 711. 
Skilton, Dr. Avery J., 473, 

712. 
Smith Family, 677. 

" Hon. Nathaniel, 155, 

327, 398, 473, 477, 479, 

677. 
Smith, Hon. Nathaniel B., 

405, 473, 677. 
Smith, Hon. Nathan, 461, 

473, 479, 677. 
Smith, Hon. Truman, 463, 

473, 477, 592. 
Smith, Hon. Perry, 461, 

473. 
Smith, Phineas, Esq., 473, 

477, 677. 
Smith, Hon. Ralph D., 473. 

" Dr. Abraham L., 473. 

" Rev. Deliverance, 

473, 475. 



Smith, Rev. Noah, 236, 473, 

678. 
Smith, Rev. Sylvester, 

300. 
Smith, Rev. Levi, 478. 

'' Rev. Zephaniah H., 

567. 
Smith, Ebenezer C, 477. 

" Elihu, 187. 

" Walter, Esq., 475. 
Snow, Rev. T.W., 297, 473. 
Sjjrague, Hon. Leman [B., 

398, 473. 
Squike Family, 709. 
Stanton, Rev. Ben. F., 256, 

473. 
Stanton, Rev. Thomas, 59. 
Steele Family, 688. 
'' Hon. John, 688. 
" Doct. Samuel, 692. 
" Rev. Julius, 473, 

477. 
Steele, Rev. Nathaniel, 473, 

476. 
Stephens, Ann S., 473. 
Stewart, Rev. Philander, 

473. 
Stiles Family, 693. 

" Rev. Ezra, D. D., 

093, 695, 698. 
Stiles, Benjamin, Esq., 322, 

395, 473, 475, 699. 
Stiles, Benjamin, Jr., Esq., 

395, 473," 476, 699. 
Stiles, David J., 18, 37. 

" Nathan, 476. 
Stoddakd Family, 713. 
" Rev. Anthony, 

66, 79, 103, 135, 137, 140, 

157, 472, 478, 714. 
Stoddard, Maj. Amos, 456, 

472, 714. 

Stoddard, Col. Henry, 459, 

473, 714. 

Stoddard, Dr. Israel, 459, 

473, 475. 
Stoddard, Jonathan, Esq., 

719. 
Stoddard, Capt. Gideon, 

176, 187. 
Stoddard, Rev. Judsou B., 

719. 
Stoddard, Capt. Nathan, 

205. 
Stoddard, Thomas, 720. 
" Wilham, 720. 

Rev. Elijah W., 

717. 

Stoddard, Dr. Abiram, 717. 

" Dr. William, 717. 

" Rev. Goodwill, 

717. 

Stoddard, Rev. Eliakim, 

716. 
Stoddard, Rev. Solomon, 

713. 
Strong Family, 701. 
" Elder John, 701. 
•' Rev. Nathan, 473, 
475, 703. 



Strong, Rev. Joseph, 4.75, 

703. 
Strong, Hon. John, Jr., 3J>7, 

473, 477, 707. 
Strong, Rev. Nathan, Jr., 

475, 703. 
Strong, Rev. Henry P., 304, 

473, 478. 
Strong, Timothy, 187, 

" lion. Henry, 475. 
Swift, Rev. Zephaniah, 281, 

473. 
Slade, Hon. WiUiam, 475. 



Taylor, .Jonathan, 78. 
Terrill Family, 721. 
" Hon. Hazard Bailey, 
476, 722. 
Terrill, Hon. T. Lee, 475, 

722. 
Thompson Family, 727. 
" Hezekiah, Esq., 
155, 174, 176, 232, 405, 

473, 730. 
Thompson, Hon. William 

A., 463, 473, 476, 733. 
Thompson, Charles, Esq., 

473; 735. 
Thompson, Rev. James, 

292, 474, 476, 734. 
Thompson, Dr. Samuel, 

474, 476, 735. 
Thompson, Dr. Ebenezer, 

405, 474, 737. 
Thompson, Charles C, 518, 

736. 
Thompson, Egbert A., 478. 

" Thomas M., 478. 

" Hon. Smith, 730. 

'• Anthony, 728. 

" Rev. Caleb, 740. 
Thayer, Dr. Nathaniel, 474. 
Thomas Family, 722. 
Tliroop, Enos T., 730. 
Toucey, Thomas, 178. 
Tomlinson, Dr. Abraham, 

406, 474, 476. 
Tomlinson, Dr. Jos., 474. 

" Rev. George, 474, 
477. 
Trowbridge Family, 

737. 
Trowbridge, Dr. Joseph, 

474, 744. 
Trowbridge, Dr. ThoBlas, 

739. 
Trowbridge, Dr. Josiah, 

740. 
Trowbridge, Otis, F>q-, 740. 
" Dr. Isrrel L., 741. 
" Samush lisq., 
741. 
Tuttle FaniI'Y, 723. 
" Nah'ian, 724. 
« KiV. Isaac H., 297, 
474. 
Tyler. Rev. Bennet, 235, 
474, 476. 



VI 



I K D E X OF N A 31 E S 



W. 



Walker Family, 744. | 
" Rev. Zechariah, j 
33, 48, 51, 66, 121, 124, , 
130, 131, 133. 134, 474, 
744. 
Walker, Sarah, 90. 

" Gideon, Esq., 1(4, 
176, 187. 
Walker, Reuben, 312. 
W'akeley Family, 754. 

Abel, 209. 
Wadhams, Rev. Noah, 269, 

270, 475. 
Watson, Rev. Wra., 297, 

475. 
Watson, Hon. James, 463, 

475, 476. 
Washington, Gen. Geo., 

150, 324. 
Warner Family", 752. 
" Dr. Ebenezer, 1st, 
74, 294, 406, 474, 753. 
Warner, Dr. Ebenezer, 2nd, 
474. „ , 

Warner, Dr. Ebenezer, 3d, 

474. 
Warner, Dr. Ebenezer, 4th, 

474. 
Warner, Dr. Benjaram, 4.4, 

753. . . ^ 

Warner, Dr. Benjamin, Jr., 

753. 
Warner, Lt. Ebenezer, 99. 
" Dr. Reuben, 474, 753. 
" Dr. Abner, 474. 
" Dr. John, 474. 
" Col. Seth, 183,201, 
273, 2>-7, 407, 474, 753. 
Warner, Dr. Ephraim, 474. 
" Curtiss, 476. 



Warner, George W., Esq., 

474, 478. 
Warner, Lyman, Esq., 474. 

" Thomas, Esq., 174. 

176, 187. 
Ward Family, 755. 

" Hon. Levi, 474. 
Waller Family, 754. 
Weeks, Rev. Dr., 314. 
Webb, Dr. Chaa. H., 406, 

474, 479. 
.Weller, Lt. Thos., 283. 
Welton, Rev. Jo. D., 291, 

474. 
Welton, Rev. Willard, 29(, 

474. ^ ■ 

Wheeler Family, 747. 
" Benjamin, Esq., 

474. „ , 

Wheeler, Rev. Ulysses M., j 

292, 474. 
Wheeler, Dr. Lemuel, 406, I 
474. ^ I 

Wheeler, Rev. Russel, 29., I 

474. 
Wheeler, Lt. Thomas, 22. 

Dr. Obadiah, 186. 
Whittlesey Family, 756. ' 
" Rev. Samuel, 

270, 474. 
Whittlesey, Hon. Elisha, 

465, 474, 476. 
Whittlesey, Elisha, Esq., 

474, 758. 
Whittlesey, Hon. Freder- 
ick, 474, 477, 759. 
Whittlesey, Charles C, 

Esq.,47'4, 477. 
Whittlesey, Dr. Henry N., 
474. 
r 



Whittlesey, Rev. William, 

762. 
Whittlesey, Rev. John, 763. 
" Frederick A., 

Esq., 763. 
Whittlesey, Stephen, Esq., 

756. 
Whittlesey, Rev. Samuel, 

7*56. 
Whittlesey, Ambrose, Esq., 

756. 
Whittlesey, Rev. Chaun- 

cey, 757. 
Whittlesey, Rev. Samuel, 

757. 
Whittlesey, Rev. -Joseph, 

474, 477. 
Whittlesey, Lunian, 477. 
'John, Esq., 322. 
" Luman, 760. 
Wliittemore, Rev. Williams 

H., 231, 474, 479. 
Wildman, Rev. Benjamin, 

199,227,228, 474, 478. 
Williams, Dr. William C, 

474. 
Wi"don, Rev. Samuel, 298, 

4*75. 
Wyatt Family, 754. 
Woodward, Rev. Fred. B., 

474. 
Wood, Rev. Elijah, 230, 

474. 
Wright, Rev. Worthington, 

303, 474. 
Woodburv, definition of, 45. 
Wheaton," Rev. Nathaniel 

S., 474, 477. 
Wheaton, Rev. Salmon, 
474, 477. 



ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. 



ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. 

A few errors which escaped fittentiou while the work was passing througii the 

press, are here coiTected, and a few additional facts presented, which have just been 

bi'ought to the notice of the author. Some errors in orthography, &c., the reader will 

easily con-ect for himself. 
/ 

Page 31, fourth line from top, for Manquash read Mauquash. 

" 38, twelfth line from top, omit the tirst particle to. 

" 62. The account of Hackaliah Pi-eston is en'oncous in the statement concern- 
ing the place of his nativity. A correct account will be found in Chap- 
ter XXL, in the history of the " Preston Family," page 663. 

" 101, seventeenth line from top, for farefatliers read forefathers. 

" 185, fourteenth line from toj), after the word closed, occurs a period, which 
should be omitted, so as to make a single sentence with the first of the 
quotation. 

" 195, nintli line of the first note, for Truller read Fuller. 

" 225, eighth line from top, for twenty-one read twelve. 

" 226, fii-st line from top, for fortij-five read ffty-iwo. This includes the whole 
time from his ordination at Stafford, till his death, though he was unable 
to preach much during the last eight or nine years previous to his 
decease. 

" 239, eleventh line from top, for Bachus read Backus. 

" 306, fourth line from bottom, tor ff teen acres valuable of land vr^iff teen acreg 
of valuable land. 

" 339, nineteenth line from top, for Chapman read Chapin. 

" 341, tliirteenth line from bottom, for Robert J. Tolles read Robfrt f. Tolles. 

" 345, twentieth line from top, omit the word almost. 

" 430, second line from bottom, for teas read is. 

" 452, thirteenth line from bottom, for sister read niece. 

" 461, fifteenth line from top, for Benjamin Hurd read Nathan Hurd. 

" 474, fourth hue from bottom, for Samuel read Lemuel. 

" 478, seventeenth line from top, for 1737 read 1740. He was the son of Rev. 
John Graham, of Soiithbury parish. 

" 498, fifteenth line from top, for 271 read 211. The side numbers, as will be 
seen, are erroneous from the third to the twenty-eighth line. 

" 501, eighth Ihae from bottom, for Lawrens read Laurens. 

" 508, seventh line from bottom, after Goshen introduce Cotin. 

" 555, fourteenth line from bottom, for JllcKoskay read McKoskry. 

" 592, tenth line from bottom, after the words " Indian interpreter" introduce 
June 30, 1736. 

" 596, twenty-second line from top, omit the yvord fi-st. 

" 657, first line from top, for Samantha read Amelia C. 

" 657, twenty-second line from top, for Fanny Dolson, Ajtril 7th, read Fanny J. 
Dolsen, April 8th. 

" 657, twenty-fourth line from top, for Louis,'''^ b. March, read Lewis D., b. 
March Sd. 

" 663, twentieth line from top, for William^ (10) read U'iUiam^ (9.) 

The reader is requested t" take a peticil and make the foregoing con-ections on the 
appropriate pages. 



V 



